Oregano

This minestrone is the type of hearty throw-everything-from-the-fridge-in soup that I love this time of year.

Ingredients1/2 Pound Ground Lamb1/2 Onion diced 2 Teaspoons Oregano1 Teaspoon Cumin1 Teaspoon Sumac1 Teaspoon Coriander1 Cup Diced Cucumbers1 Cup Diced Tomato1/4 Cup Minced Parsley1 Clove Garlic (grated or pressed) 1 Lemon (juice) 1 Cup Yogurt (give or take) For: 8 PeoplePreparation: 10 minCooking: 30 minReady in: 40 min InstructionsSaute the onion in some butter to…

As I mentioned earlier, My sisters and I threw a big party for my parents last weekend and it was a great success. For the main meal at the party, I did kind of a vaguely middle eastern/greek feast for everyone, the centerpiece being these marinated chicken drumsticks and pork tenderloins. The marinade might seem like a bit of work and a little pricy, but the fact is, it can transform cheaper cuts of meat into a luxurious treat fit for a king.

Porchetta is normally eaten as a roast for a special occasion dinner, but when I was in Italy recently, we actually had it as a thin sliced sandwich meat. We got some porchetta, salami, and cheese for a train ride from Venice to Florence, and I was completely hooked on the porchetta. I happen to have a commercial meat slicer in my possession, so I thought it would be a fun theme for a party to make some different sliced meats for sandwiches. So here we are, lunchmeat week on TFimB! This porchetta tasted EXACTLY like the one I had in Italy which is pretty lucky because I just sort of winged the recipe. It was fairly easy to make and everyone loved it so I would consider it a big success!

Roger Mooking has a commercial on Cooking Channel where he whips together a tasty looking simple plantain gratin and it inspired me to make a more intricate deeper version of a plantain casserole. I wanted lots of layers of tasty things that I think go with plantains, like black beans, cojita cheese, onions, tomato, and habanero. I also mixed in a little quinoa just to add a little more substance and protein to the veggie dish. The whole thing turned out great, but make sure you use really ripe plantains. Most of mine were nice and yellow, but a few still had a little green to them and they were very noticeable and we mostly ate around them.

I have wanted to try my hand at homemade combos for years now but never really had a reason to, I finally got my chance this past weekend. They came out soooo good! I made the pepperoni pizza variety and they far exceeded any expectations I had in 3 categories. Way more delicious than expected, way easier than expected, and way more combo-y than I thought I would be able to achieve! If you are still looking for that perfect super bowl snack, you should really make these!

Mac and cheese loaded with a bounty of summertime veggies and herbs.

A rustic sausage stew made for The Walking Dead

Deep savory flavors are developed in this pork, corn, and habanero chili

Ingredients2 Tablespoons Cumin2 Tablespoons Coriander2 Tablespoons Cardamom2 Tablespoons Black Pepper1 Teaspoon Clove3 Inches Cinnamon1 Bay Leaf Bay LeafSalt1 Tablespoon Cumin1 Tablespoon Coriander1 Tablespoon Cardamom1 Tablespoon Black Mustard Seed1/2 Tablespoon Fenugreek1 Teaspoon Clove1 Teaspoon Black Pepper1 Teaspoon Allspice1 Inch Cinnamon10 Dried Arbol Chiles2 Teaspoons TurmericSalt5 Ancho Chiles5 Chipotle Chiles2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar2 Tablespoons Cumin1 Tablespoon Oregano1/2…

Ingredients1/2 Cup Olive Oil2 Medium White Onions7 Cloves Garlic18 Ounces Tomato Paste1/2 Pound Ground Beef5 28 Ounce cans Whole Peeled Tomatoes3 Cups Water1/2 Bunch Basil1/4 Cup Oregano (less if dried) 1/2 Cup Parm1/2 Teaspoon SugarSplash BalsamicSalt, Pepper, Crushed Pepper Flake InstructionsDice onions, Mince garlic, Chiffonade basil and oregano (small thin strips), Grate ParmOpen cans of…

Ingredients1 Pound Ground Beef1 Onion Diced 2 Jalapenos Diced 2 Cloves Garlic Minced 2 Tablespoons Chopped up Chipotle in Adobo3 Teaspoons Cumin1 Teaspoon Coriander2 Teaspoons Mexican Chile Powder1 Teaspoon Cayenne2 Teaspoons Oregano1 Teaspoon Smoked PaprikaSalt and PepperSometimes I dump a beer in there… InstructionsSalt and pepper the meat about 10 minutes before cooking. Brown the…