'I'm a teacher and work most of the day, so slow-cooked meals are a great help,' relates Jacqueline Blanton from Gaffney, South Carolina. One of her family's favorites is this moist slow-simmered chicken. For an appealing look, choose a darker brown barbecue sauce.
Here's a spicy Texas favorite. Black-eyed peas and black beans are marinated in a fiery, flavorful mixture. This is great with tortilla chips or bread -- and plenty of cold iced tea!
Chipotle peppers give this creamy soup a bit of heat, while smoked Gouda cheese adds earthy richness. Butternut squash and apples provide a buttery texture.
Delicious white bean chili. Cha Cha says: 'It's kinda spicy, so watch out!' Substitute mild green chiles for the jalapenos if you're scared! Use more chicken and cheese as desired.
This is an unusual no-bean chili made with ground beef, cinnamon, cloves and unsweetened chocolate in a beef and tomato base. Serve over spaghetti noodles with shredded cheddar cheese.
This authentic Italian-style risotto is cooked the slow, painful way, but it's oh so worth it. It's the perfect complement for grilled meats and chicken dishes.
Definitely pasta with an oriental flair. Bean sprouts, sesame oil and soy sauce are tossed into freshly cooked fettucine pasta, with a sprinkling of garlic, white pepper and cayenne. And a splash of sesame seeds when you bring it to the table.
A sweet, savory saute of bell pepper, green onion and bean sprouts is tossed with strips of cooked chicken and angel hair pasta, and coated with an exotic blend of peanut butter, soy sauce, chicken broth and fresh ginger.
This popular Southeast Asian street fare is known as mee goreng (fried noodles). Look for the sweet bean sauce and noodles (which are sometimes frozen) at Asian markets; substitute dried linguine for lo mein. You can always use less chile paste to make a milder version.
