Cowboy Caviar by Lynn Yamamoto

This is fresh, healthy and delicious. People love it, even kids. You can make it ahead, so it's great for a summer party. Serve it with scoop-shaped tortilla chips, or have it on the side as a relish. I add extra cilantro, because there can never be too much cilantro!

Italian Chick Pea Soup by John Spottiswood

Chickpeas are one of my favorite ingredients in soup. They don't lose their texture or their nutty flavor. Whether in a spicy Harira (served during Ramadan) or in this mild flavored Italian soup, Chickpeas make soup both nutritious and delicious. This soup has been popular in Italian homes for over 1000 years, and it was…

Curry Lentil Soup by John Spottiswood

This is a surprisingly light and tangy lentil soup. If you are used to thick and heavy lentil soups, this one will surprise you. It's very tasty and was a great complement to the pizza recipe I just put up. This is also adapted from a Greens restaurant recipe.

Alton Brown Lentil Soup by John Spottiswood

I adapted this recipe from one by Alton Brown. I added spinach, potatoes, and scallions and removed grains of paradise. Our whole family really enjoyed this recipe. I made it alongside an Indian curried lentil soup recipe, and while both were good, this was the hands down winner. If you're looking for a tasty, hearty, and healthy…

Hearty Red Lentil Soup by John Spottiswood

This is a wonderfully flavored soup that our whole family really enjoyed. I'm a huge fan of traditional Turkish Red Lentil soup which has more exotic flavors, but I was impressed by the down home goodness of this soup. I had three medium sized helpings, and even then I nibbled a bit more as I was putting the remainder into the…

Curried Lentil Stew with rice by Nancy Miyasaki

This curried lentil stew is an awesome winter dish. It will warm you and sooth you with its soft texture and rich flavor. Vegetarians can leave out the bacon and ham. Those who relish Indian flavors can double the tumeric, cumin, ginger, and cloves.

Homemade Refried Beans by John Spottiswood

I'm ashamed to say that though I LOVE refried beans, this is the first time I've ever made them myself. It's just so easy to buy them in a can, or at a mexican restaurant, that I haven't bothered. But this recipe is simple and it is definitely worth the effort in my mind. I figure my kids are the true test, since they aren't that…

Yellow Split Peas with Vegetables (Dal Takari) by John Spottiswood

Wow, this is such a wonderful dish and so easy to cook! The keys to this dish are the yellow lentils, fried potatoes, and cumin seed. You can change out the other vegetables (spinach is a nice addition as it adds to the creaminess of the dish). Make sure you fry the cumin seed and potatoes over sufficiently high heat that the cumin…

Texas Chuck Wagon Pinto Beans by Amos Miller

This dish is all about FLAVOR. San Antonio and Ft. Worth are my two favorite places to be when in Texas. This recipe was inspired by some dining experiences there and, to my palate, is as Texas as bluebonnets in Spring. Sweet and spicy, richly textured, these beans cry out for anything BBQ'd, grilled or broiled. Corn on the cob,…

Amazing Red Lentil and Tomato Soup by John Spottiswood

I never thought I would have a red lentil soup that could match the Turkish red lentil soup that I have been served in Turkish restaurants and that I've learned to make. So I had low expectations for this Indian spiced version. It completely destroyed my expectations and was absolutely delicious. It was great last night, and I had…

Eurasian Lemon Soup with Chick Peas by Nancy Miyasaki

This is a wonderfully flavored soup that is good for the first course of a dinner party, or the main meal for a regular weeknight. And it's extremely quick and easy to prepare, especially if you use canned chick peas. Serve it with crusty artisan bread. If you are meat eaters, you can add a little rotisserie chicken to it, but don't…

Mom's Sausage & Bean Soup by Amos Miller

Also called "Mom's Escarole & Bean Soup" - for our vegetarian guests. I prefer to use all fresh ingredients and bring dried beans to life, but you can pick up all these ingredients at your market. So let me give you the best recipe I have for a tasty, nourishing and economical soup - and who doesn't want that these days! And…

Braised Lamb with Beans by Joyce Leung

This is a delicious French country dish. Hearty and heart warming! It is also beautiful to behold and delicious to smell!

Pork & Chickpea Stew by John Spottiswood

Super easy to make. Toss all ingredients in the pot (or slow cooker) and forget about it until dinner time. Healthy...and is good vegetarian with vegetable broth and no pork.

Pork and Hominy Chili by Nancy Miyasaki