As Fall descends upon us, it's time to bring out our slow cookers for the soups and stews that warm our souls during the cold weather months (if they ever arrive!). Shredded chicken This recipe from Southern Living contains only 5 ingredients and is the flavorful, healthy basis for multiple meals. You can serve it over rice, or as a filling for tacos. How about taco salad or quesadillas? Tonight we're enjoying leftover salsa chicken on jacket potatoes, the British term for ba

This Mediterranean-inspired recipe hails from the Weight Watchers recipe box. It's crazy low in calories/WW Points and is a longstanding favorite for easy, savory late summer dining. The salad is a mixture of grape tomatoes, Kalamata olives, feta cheese and either mint or basil tossed together with olive oil and lots of lemon juice. If you're not into chicken (or you've eaten so much you're beginning to sprout feathers) why not air fry some salmon instead? Chicken, salmon, s

When you air fry assorted bell pepper slices, you've got the beginnings of an almost endless supply of meals. Here are just a few examples: Eggs: add them to scrambled eggs or an omelet. Add some feta cheese. Chicken and peppers: Toss them with grilled chicken, add some Parmesan and serve over rice or cauliflower rice. Pasta: Toss with pasta, garlic, cherry tomatoes and maybe even some spinach. Top with Parmesan. Fish topping: Warm them up and serve them over air fried salmon

Sprinkle on some grated Parmesan cheese when serving If you own an air fryer, did you know that it’s a great way to roast vegetables? An air fryer cooks at intense heat in a small space. Vegetables come out perfectly cooked and crisped around the edges in less time than it takes for conventional cooking. This recipe calls for just enough to serve two. You can vary amounts to suit your needs, but remember that for optimal browning, it’s best to place veggies in a single layer

Chutney is an optional, but delicious condiment. Chicken Country Captain is a beloved Southern chicken stew made with curry, tomatoes and bell peppers. Its origins date back to the early 19th century when British trade ships brought exotic spices from India to the ports at Charleston, SC and Savannah, GA. If you’re not from the South, you may not be familiar with this dish but you’ll find it in most Southern Junior League cookbooks. It’s that iconic. Here is a trimmed down v

When I first saw this recipe from Mark Bittman in the NYT Cooking section, I had reservations. How could such simple ingredients become a savory soup in less than 10 minutes? Mark has been a major influence on American cooking for 30 years and is known for his straightforward style and simple recipes, so I decided to give it a try. I followed his directions with one exception: instead of adding just "a splash of stock," I added 1/2 cup of broth, knowing that I may need more a

Bruschetta is an Italian appetizer consisting of grilled bread topped with garlic, olive oil and tomatoes. I found this bread-free version in a Sunset Magazine article titled, 25 No-Cook Recipes Because, Come On, It’s the Middle of Summer!" This delightful salad is also lettuce-free and it's packed with protein and fiber. The recipe calls for one can of cannellini beans and two cans of water-packed tuna. Since there are just two of us, I used one can of tuna but still used th

Back in the day, Weight Watchers used to give out weekly recipe cards to members. This one from 2023 for a roast turkey breast reminded me of my mom. We visited her every year and when we walked in her front door from the airport, there was always a cooked turkey breast sitting on a rack in a roasting pan in the kitchen. She vowed that turkey sandwiches made with freshly roasted turkey breast were infinitely tastier than ones made with deli turkey slices, and she was right. I

Next time you make a salad, forget the romaine and make this leafless salad instead. It's named after the small cafes in Greece, or tavernas, that serve traditional Greek cuisine. Greek salads usually contain tomatoes, cucumbers and feta cheese. This version, adapted from the NYT Cooking section, also includes chickpeas, bell peppers, Kalamata olives and capers. It's so filling that you can serve it as a main course for a healthy lunch or light dinner. Want more options? Leav

Texas has become famous for many things, but haute cuisine hasn't been one of them. That is, until 1941 when Dallas department store Neiman Marcus hired chef Helen Corbitt to bring more sophisticated fare to hungry Texans raised on chicken-fried steak and BBQ. Helen had never heard of black-eyed peas when she moved from the East Coast to Texas, but since they were so popular in the South, she decided to combine them with a tart vinaigrette on New Year's Eve and Texas Caviar

I offered crumbled feta cheese to each family member when this was served. When we think of salad, lettuce usually comes to mind. Romaine and iceberg are two popular leafy greens, but nobody is buying them these days for obvious safety concerns. Here's a leaf-free alternative salad made with corn, cucumbers and grape tomatoes. It's refreshing and it takes advantage of one of summer's best vegetables: farm fresh corn. You can use either raw corn in this delightful salad or you

From the NYT Cooking section, a recipe for salsa verde chicken that you can prepare either in a slow cooker or the Instant Pot. Directions for both are below. Think of this recipe as a meal-in-a-bowl that you can change up depending on what you have on hand: add 1 cup of frozen or fresh corn or a drained 15-ounce can of black beans or pinto beans. (Add them at the end along with the fresh cilantro and scallions.) You can serve the chicken alone or over rice, or use it as a