This is a fiery version of a traditional pork and beans dinner. Boneless butterflied pork chops can be found in the meat section of most markets. If they are unavailable, buy boneless loin chops about 1 inch thick and slice them nearly in half horizontally, leaving one edge intact. Open the chops like a book and flatten. The meat will be about 1...Read more

You can stir up a colorful noodle/veggie meal in a flash with this lo mein dish. I chose the vegetables for their variety of flavors, colors and textures.

Most supermarkets sell fresh Chinese noodles in the refrigerated section of the produce department. Dried Chinese noodles can be found in the Chinese food section of the market. Either type ...Read more

Sweet-fresh basil, tomatoes, pasta and hard ricotta cheese (ricotta salata) are staples in Apulia. Apulia, known as Puglia in Italian, is the heel of the boot of Italy.

Ricotta salata is a milky-white hard sheep's milk cheese. It's used for grating and shaving.

Orecchiette is a pasta shaped like small round disks or little ears.

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Red Flannel Hash is a tasty mixture of beef, potatoes and beets. It's a New England specialty and takes its name and color from the red beets.

This is a great recipe for leftover meat and potatoes. Simply add them to a skillet with some diced canned beets and the sauce ingredients from this recipe.

There are many versions using all types of ...Read more

With thoughts of spring, tender lamb gently sauteed and served with fresh mint rice is a perfect quick dinner. Cubes of lamb cut from the leg are best for this recipe. You may have to ask the meat department to cut the lamb for you. To save time, go to the meat department first and ask for lamb cut from the leg or for shish kabob lamb. You can ...Read more

This mock "risotto" made with orzo rather than rice makes a quick Italian-inspired supper with very little effort. Risotto made with rice takes about 30 minutes to make and needs to be constantly stirred. Using the rice-shaped orzo pasta means you can let it cook on its own with just an occasional stir.

Serve the risotto with this Italian salad...Read more

Cod, a popular Irish fish, is coated with an Irish whiskey sauce for a quick dinner that is perfect for St. Patrick's Day or for any quick dinner. Fresh chives add flavor and green color to celebrate the day.

Broccoli and Potatoes complete the meal. Start the potatoes first and the entire meal can be made in 20 minutes.

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--Look ...Read more

Brighten up your winter with this chicken cooked with rum and pineapple. It's a recipe I found on a recent vacation to the Caribbean island of Martinique. The French/Creole cuisine there creates intriguing, flavorful dishes. Rum is part of their culture and they like to use old rum, but any rum will work for this quick dish.

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Roasted or other cooked chicken breast is used for this quick and easy Curried Chicken Pot Pie. Curry powder added to the sauce gives this pie an intriguing flavor. Using prepared ingredients from the supermarket, you can put this pie together in minutes and it's a one-pot meal.

A ready-to-bake pie crust makes this dish a breeze. This recipe ...Read more

Enjoy this Mexican-inspired turkey and refried bean enchiladas dish that takes 5 minutes to make using a microwave oven. It's topped with a spicy tomato sauce.

Esquites, or fried corn, is a typical Mexican side dish. Using diced onion and green peppers found in the produce department and frozen corn kernels, it takes only minutes to prepare.

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Garlic produces magic in many cuisines. With thoughts of the start of the Chinese New Year, I mixed it with soy sauce, brown sugar and peanuts for this quick Chinese Garlic Steak.

Shortcut tip: To make the meal even faster, buy beef cut for stir-frying at the market.

For the Asian Noodles, look for fresh or steamed Chinese noodles in the ...Read more

Thai peanut sauce and coconut milk add an intriguing flavor to tilapia. For this recipe they are simmered together creating a flavorful sauce to gently coat the fish.

Peanut sauce is the base for many Thai dishes and is made from roasted peanuts, soy sauce and spices. There are several types in the supermarket. I choose a thick one when it is ...Read more

Chili con carne is as American as Football. Some like it hot, some like it mild, but almost everyone likes chili. Here's a recipe that's great for parties and great for a quick, easy dinner for two.

Serve the chili with bowls of sour cream chopped onion and cilantro. Chili freezes well. Double the recipe and freeze half for another quick dinner...Read more