2,500 leaf recipes

Indian cucumber raita salad with yogurt, cumin, mint, and lemon juice. Cool, creamy, and ready in 5 minutes. A refreshing side for spicy curries.

Classic crab quiche with lump crab meat, Swiss cheese, and a silky egg custard in a flaky pie crust. Baked until golden with a gentle cayenne warmth.

Macaroni and cheese quiche turns boxed mac and cheese into the crust for a hearty egg, ham, mushroom, and cream-of-mushroom-soup bake. A retro casserole hack with two dinners worth of comfort.

Chicken in white wine: floured breasts pan-seared, then simmered in a bright white wine sauce with garlic, bay, and lemon zest, finished with scallions and butter. An elegant, fast 30-minute skillet dinner.

Sri Lankan omelette, a thick, savory egg pancake studded with onion, green chili, and curry leaves, stabilized with a teaspoon of cornstarch for that firm pancake-like bite. Ready in 15 minutes.

Braising can turn a tough piece of meat into a tender, fall off the bone, comfort food. I can think of no better example than the classic dish osso buco, made from veal shanks.

Note: In lieu of fresh trout, 1/2 lb cooked and flaked fish may be used. Make smaller protions and serve as an appetizer. Oatcakes that have been gently warmed in the oven go well with this dish.

Beef brisket marinated 48 hours in red wine vinegar with herbs, then smoked 6-7 hours at 225°F for tender, aromatic slices.

Country Captain is a storied Southern curried chicken stew with tomatoes, green peppers, garlic, and warm spices. A whole hen simmered tender and served over rice. Feeds 8.

Poached salmon steaks for two, simmered in an aromatic bay-dill-peppercorn broth and served with a cool yogurt-cucumber sauce. Light, elegant date-night dinner.

Spatchcocked roast turkey with cream gravy: backbone-removed bird that cooks in half the time, finished with a rich gravy of turkey stock, heavy cream, and nutmeg.

Hot spiced crab soup with whole cracked Dungeness crab simmered in a buttery white wine and chicken broth, spiked with garlic, cayenne, and hot pepper sauce. A messy, hands-on bowl built for cracking and slurping.

Microwave creamy mushroom soup with fresh mushrooms, onions, sour cream, and Worcestershire. A quick single-serving soup ready in 15 minutes for two with no stovetop required.

Radishes in cream: a 10-minute peppery radish salad in a tangy sour cream, yogurt, and horseradish dressing. Served in crisp lettuce cups. A classic Eastern European spring side.

Cream of artichoke and oyster soup poaches plump oysters in butter, then folds them into a tarragon-chervil pureed artichoke veloute finished with cream. Elegant French Creole first course.

Leg of lamb Nicoise marinates butterflied lamb in a Provencal paste of anchovy, garlic, rosemary, thyme, and red wine vinegar. Broiled or grilled to a juicy pink center for a Mediterranean dinner.