This soup is loud. Beefy, spicy, smoky, textured and complex, ten times better than I even knew pumpkin soup could be. It has no cream. It is thickened by coarsely-pureed black beans.
Never in my days have I come across a cabbage recipe that had a Mexican flare to it. Eating it cooked with tomatoes, beans, sweet corn, onion, cumin and chili powder was a whole new yummy experience.
The chicken is tender and flavorful from simmering for hours in the sauce, and the sauce itself has a lovely balance of sweet and savory instead of the near-cloying sweetness you might be used to.
CANDY. Yes it's totally bad for you, addictive even, spikes your blood sugar, gives you diabetes, and has little other nutritional value. It makes for excellent stained glass when melted inside gingerbread cookies.
Old El Paso salsa and seasoning mix add Mexican flavors to this cheesy casserole that's filled with beef and Progresso beans and topped with Pillsbury pizza crust.
I like to make and freeze a big batch of Asian dumplings like these tofu and kimchi-filled Korean mandu. They're easy to heat up as a bite to eat between running to events and make a nice appetizer for guests, too.
Fruitcake is great, but often in smaller portions. These individual loaves have a soft, spiced crumb and lots of candied fruit. They make the perfect size for gifting.
