Sauces

The aioli cayenne sauce shortcut recipe, using mayonnaise as a base instead of making it from scratch in the blender, was such a success that I decided to try the same thing with a tarragon flavored sauce. It worked. It was simple, too. I served it with cornbread...

Tartar Sauce

Tartar sauce is probably the most popular sauce to serve with fish, and has a flavor that all ages enjoy. Of course you can buy it in bottles, but in a pinch, or if you want to make your own flavor, it's easy to make it yourself. 1 cup mayonnaise1/4 cup sweet pickle...

Spaghetti (Marinara) and Lasagna Sauce

All, Italian, Pasta, Sauces

Here's a recipe for a sauce you can use both for spaghetti and lasagna. This is a contribution from sister-in-law Sherry. Of course you can use bottled sauce for both spaghetti and lasagna. And there's nothing wrong with that if you don't have the time. In fact, I...

Salsa

All, Mexican, Sauces

A good salsa is useful as an appetizer dip, as a garnish on beans and meat, and as a sauce on tacos and enchiladas. This is a very good salsa to use on tacos and fish tacos. As usual, I encourage you to start with this recipe and, in the future, modify it according to...

Rooster Steak Sauce

No, this isn't a sauce for rooster steaks. This steak sauce gets its name from an oriental chile-garlic sauce with a picture of a rooster on the bottle. The bottle is also labeled "Sriracha", which refers to the Thai seaside town of Si Racha, where the sauce...

Remoulade Sauce and Shrimp Salad

All, Salads, Sauces

Remoulade sauce is a delicious accompaniment to shrimp cocktail or the shrimp salad shown in the photo. It's also good with fish, or as a dip for fresh vegetables. When you taste it, you'll be looking for places to use it! This elegant and tasty sauce is easy to make,...

Red Wine Pan Sauce

Here's a delicious steak sauce you make right in the pan after you cook or brown the steaks. If the steaks are 1/2 to 1" thick, you will season them with garlic salt and pepper, Montreal Steak seasoning, or whatever you prefer. Then heat a mixture of butter and oil in...

Quick Tomato Sauce

Here's a quick tomato sauce (or gravy) that is delicious over egg dishes, tamales, or chiles rellenos. It doesn't have any chile powder in it, so it's flavor is different than enchilada sauce. It's also easier to make. In the photo at right, it is shown on a delicious...

Peanut Sauce

This recipe is based on a widely-used Thai sauce. When you taste it, you'll know why it's so popular. Of course it's good served with oriental food, such as Chicken in Lettuce Cups. I think you'll also use it as a dipping sauce for appetizers and chips. This is a...

Orange Tarragon Mayonnaise

This is another quick and easy sauce that really tastes elegant. And rather than fuss with the blender making a sauce from scratch, this is another one that takes advantage that a lot of the sauce-making effort has already been done for you by the nice folks at Best...

Gravy

As you might already know, gravy can either be one the highlights of the meal or a disaster. I've struggled myself sometimes, trying to rescue a tasteless greasy mess into a decent gravy. Well, it turns out it's not as hard as I used to think. One surprise is that the...

Enchilada Sauce

You can probably buy enchilada sauce in a can, depending on where you live, but you quickly discover that it doesn't taste like the sauce in a restaurant. I don't know why. Once I asked the proprietor of a taco shop, and she told me that they also start with canned...

BBQ Dry Rub

Dry rub is used to marinate meat before grilling or barbequing, and is also frequently used during cooking to form a tasty crust on the meat. An example is my recipe for barbequed spare ribs. You don't have to make a dry rub; there are normally quite a few to choose...

Seafood Cocktail Sauce

Seafood cocktail sauce is probably most often served with shrimp. But it is also delicious with crab meat and seafood cakes. You will probably normally have a bottle of your favorite seafood sauce on hand. But if you run out, or if you want to make your own formula...

Barbeque Sauces

Of course there are many excellent barbeque sauces in the store, and you might already have your favorite. So why make your own? Well, for one thing, you might not have enough and don't want to make a trip to the store. Or you might want to experiment to see if you...

Avocado Relish

Here's a delicious relish, or salsa, recipe that is fast to prepare and delicious to eat. Serve it as an appetizer with tortilla chips, crackers, or pieces of toast or pita. I served it as a relish with steak, and it was great. You can make it hot or mild depending on...

Au Jus Sauce

This sauce, which literally means "with juice", is a classic accompaniment to prime rib. However, it is also delicious when served with a French Dip sandwich. You might make if differently if you are already roasting a rib roast or tenderloin, as opposed to making it...

Aioli (Garlic) Cayenne Sauce

Aioli means two things in French. One is a garlic sauce, and the other is a huge feast served to family and friends on special occasions. The classic recipe for aioli sauce requires you to make it in a blender or food processor like you do homemade mayonnaise. But the...

Appetizers

Crispy Brussel Sprouts

All, Appetizers, Vegetables

1. Trim and slice the sprouts lengthwise and mix in a bowl with a drizzle of olive oil, salt, and pepper. 2. Dump in the air fryer,or, as shown, in the crisper basket of the Ninja Foodi. 3. Air fry at 390 or 400 degrees for six minutes, open up, toss and fry for...

Tortilla Chips and Strips

Tortilla chips and strips have lots of uses, either as a snack, an appetizer, or part of a main dish. You can make them or buy them, and of course this page is about making them. I make chips and strips out of both flour and corn tortillas, depending partly on the...

New Orleans Shrimp

Here's a good shrimp recipe that cooks up in a jiffy and makes a simple but special dinner. I usually use frozen shrimp, but fresh is OK if it's really fresh. Your nose knows. Frozen shrimp comes cooked, raw, with or without shells, and in various sizes. For this...

Shrimp Cocktail

I guess I've loved shrimp cocktails as far back as I can remember. Here's a shrimp cocktail recipe that's just a little different. The photo shows a shrimp cocktail that has both a seafood cocktail sauce and a Remoulade sauce. Of course you can make the shrimp...

Salami & Provolone Snack

All, Appetizers, Italian

Here's a recipe for a fast, easy appetizer that everyone I know likes. The reason this is so easy is that Gallo sells a package that contains pre-sliced Italian Dry Salami and Provolone cheese. It should be hanging on a peg in the deli section of your...

Quesadillas

This is probably the number one quick snack around here. But we also frequently make them for breakfast, appetizers, or a fast lunch. You can either start with cooked or uncooked flour tortillas. I usually prefer the uncooked, but for quesadillas it doesn't make much...

Nachos

We make nachos a lot, and hardly ever do them the same way twice. Depends on what's on hand. If there are leftover refried beans, use 'em. But if you don't have any, make nachos anyway. There aren't any beans in the nachos at the ballpark. As my oldest son is bound to...

Jalapeno Peanut Butter Boats

OK, it seems strange, but once you taste these appetizers, you'll believe. And they are always a big hit with our guests (well, maybe not all our guests). The photo shows home-grown and pickled jalapenos, but most of the time, most people, including me, use pickled...

Guacamole

All, Appetizers, Mexican, Sauces, Vegetables

Fried Quesadillas

We try to always keep uncooked flour tortillas and shredded cheese on hand for quesadillas. Great for a quick lunch or breakfast, we just throw a tortilla on the griddle, turn it over when it's brown on one side, fill it with cheese, and fold in half. That's a normal...

Fresh Pickled Jalapeños

Of course you can buy pickled jalapeños, and I have for years. But this year after I grew a few jalapeño plants in my garden, I was surprised at how many peppers I had. Fresh jalapeños are good, and you can roast them, stuff them, or dice them in dishes. But the...

Deviled Eggs

I suppose most deviled eggs are made after Easter, to use up the hard-boiled eggs. But they are always a welcome treat as a appetizer for pot-lucks, picnics, or barbeques. Or keep the leftovers in the fridge for a quick breakfast, as I often do. Put the raw eggs...

Chimichangas

Chimichangas are a real taste treat! They are actually deep-fried burritos, usually filled with refried beans. If you don't have a deep fryer, it doesn't matter much; just heat 1/2 or so of oil in a skillet and cook them there. It's a little slower because they only...

Cheese Crisp (Crisp Quesadilla)

Here's one of our favorite easy and delicious appetizers. And they bring back fond memories for me. Back in my college days in Tucson, most of the Mexican restaurants served a big cheese crisp as a free appetizer. I didn't realize until I had moved away that this was...

Hot Wings

All, Appetizers, Poultry

Buffalo Hot Wings are a very important part of football. Either tailgating or watching the game from your favorite seat, whether at home or at the game, this special appetizer treat can't be beat. You can fry them or bake them, buy them in a bag or make them from...

Avocado Relish

Artichokes

Artichokes are definitely a family favorite, and for our guests as well. Depending on the crowd, I usually fix one for every three or four people. Some like just the leaves, and some, like our Cooking Dudette, like carving up the heart at the end. You can fix them in...

Soups

Green Chili (Chili Verde)

All, Mexican, Pork, Soups

This dish goes back to the ranching side of our family, and was Lucy's secret for many years. I don't know for sure, but I imagine Lucy has long ago gone to the big roundup in the sky. But we mere mortals can still enjoy her signature dish, and I'm sure she is proud...

Easy Beef Stew

We don't wait for St. Patrick's day around here to have corned beef and cabbage. It is certainly one of the easiest and tastiest meal you can fix. It is also useful if you have company over, because it will feed 6-8 people, and maybe even then provide some leftovers....

Chili Con Carne

We're all in agreement here at home. This chili is the best. But I'm going to give you some options depending on how much time and effort you want to spend making the chili. But either way, I'm sure you'll agree that this is very good chili. (Notice that the fruit...

Turkey Soup

All, Soups

This is the best turkey soup recipe I've ever tried, by far. And the family and guests who have eaten it all agree. I'm confident that you will, too.1 turkey carcass4 quarts water 4 chicken bouillon cubes, or 4 teaspoons instant chicken broth powder 2 tablespoons Beau...

Tortilla Soup

In our house, this is the substitute for chicken noodle soup. Mrs. Cooking Dude swears that this soup is not only delicious, but kills viruses and bacteria. Maybe so, but if you need to clear out your sinuses, just increase the white pepper. This is basically a...

Tomato Chile Soup

I had a bountiful harvest of tomatoes and chile peppers, and needed to use them up. I found a recipe for red bell pepper and tomato soup, and thought that might be a good starting point. I made it with a variety of peppers, and found I still needed to add some herbs...

Split Pea Soup

All, Soups

This classic soup recipe is not only delicious, but easy to make. It's so popular around here that while the ham is in the oven, I'm already being asked when the pea soup is coming. Hey, let's eat the ham first, have some sandwiches, maybe some ham & limas, and...

French Onion Soup

All, French, Soups

Whether it's for a first course or the main event, French Onion Soup is a classic every cook should be proud to serve. Here's the best recipe I have, bar none. I've also pointed out some alternatives that you can experiment with. Onion soup isn't complicated, but the...

Black Bean Soup

All, Soups

Black bean soup is definitely one of the favorites around here, and is the soup most requested by other family members and friends who are coming over for dinner. There are quite a few recipes around, including those on the bag the beans come in, but I think if you...

Salads

Tuna Salad

All, Salads, Sandwiches

Tuna salad is delicious either as a salad or as a sandwich. Use this recipe for both, and then modify it to your own taste if you want to. I normally purchase canned tuna. There are several brands and several varieties of tuna available. Regardless of the brand name,...

Southwest Salad

All, Mexican, Salads

OK, I admit that the idea for this salad came from Jack-In-The-Box. But their salad was very good, and I made it at home for those who hadn't had it at JBox yet and got lots of complements. With quesadillas on the side, this recipe made a great and fairly light...

Red Onion Salad

OK, I'll admit that this simple salad is a takeoff on one of our favorites at Morton's. But this one is a LOT cheaper! To make the salad, you really only need a few ingredients. Obviously, you need a red onion. However, it is unfortunately true that most red onions...

Potato Salad

All, Salads, Vegetables

Potato salad is just plain yummy, and I make it around here a lot in the summer. We have it with barbeque, burgers, sandwiches, and about anything else where we want a cool and delicious salad. Of course there are lots of recipes for potato salad, and they fall into a...

German Potato Salad

This salad is a big hit for lots of occasions. Pot lucks, picnics, as a side dish with BBQ or grilled meats, or, as shown in the photo above, with Schnitzel, either veal or chicken. German potato salad also helps satisfy your bacon habit. This recipe only takes about...

Egg Salad

All, Eggs & Cheese, Salads, Sandwiches

Egg salad is delicious either as a salad or made into a sandwich. Here I'll give you a recipe that you can start with, along with suggestions you can try when developing your own personalized recipe. You start with hard boiled eggs, and you can follow the link if you...

Dorf Salad

When Mary Ann made this salad for us, I at first thought it was a Waldorf Salad. But it has pecans instead of walnuts (and we like pecans better, anyway), and it didn't have grapes in it. Well, we were out of grapes. But she put in apple slices and carrot pieces and...

Coleslaw

There are lots of recipes for coleslaw, and you might very well adapt some of these to come up with your own favorite. I tend to try new ones from time to time, since there always seems to be room for improvement. There are two main categories of coleslaw; those with...

The Original Caesar Salad

The Caesar salad originated in Tijuana, Mexico in 1924, more or less by accident. Caesar Cardini, an Italian-American, owned and operated Caesar's Hotel. It was during prohibition in the U.S., on the Fourth of July weekend. The hotel was packed with the usual tourists...

Broccoli Salad

I know, food that's good for you isn't supposed to taste good. But here's a great exception. Sure, I was a little skeptical when Susan said she was bringing this salad for a family get-together, but with lots of people I figured everything would get eaten. But I was...

Avocado and Shrimp Salad

All, Salads, Seafood

Here's a quick and delicious salad recipe, either for an appetizer or for a light supper on a summer evening. The salad shown in the photo uses Remoulade sauce, but if you don't have the time or energy, use bottled or home made salad dressing, tartar sauce, or seafood...

Remoulade Sauce and Shrimp Salad

All, Salads, Sauces

Sandwiches

San Diego Cheese Steak Sandwich

Yes, I know the Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich is delicious, and is a well-deserved classic unto itself. But one evening when I had a leftover baguette and some deli roast beef, I made up this similar sandwich. We had some large sweet onions from CostCo that were so...

Reuben Sandwich

Other than maybe the cheeseburger, this has got to be the world's greatest sandwich invention. Here I will show you how to make a delicious but simple version of this sandwich. Rueben's are almost always made of corned beef, Swiss cheese, and sauerkraut. Usually...

Pulled Pork Sandwiches

This is not only a great way to use up leftover BBQ pork, but leftover pork roast, as well. Or if you are having a football party, make 'em from scratch. If you don't have leftovers, how much pork you buy depends on how many people you are planning to feed. For...

Hot Dogs

I don't care what anyone says, hot dogs are definitely not just for kids. Ballparks get rated for their dogs, and this morning there was a list of local golf courses, and in addition to all the other ratings, there was a rating of their hot dogs! Count me in as a hot...

Grilled Ham & Cheese Sandwich

I get hungry just looking at this picture. You can use a skillet or a griddle for this, but you have to spread butter or mayonnaise on the top side after it's cooking, so the griddle makes it easier not to burn you knuckles on the side of the skillet. Ah, you noticed...

Breakfast Sandwich

All, Eggs & Cheese, Sandwiches

The sandwich shown in the photo is an open-faced knife and fork sandwich. But if you want a hold-in-the-hand type of sandwich, just use two pieces of bread. This one is made of bread, ham, egg, and cheese. Of course instead of ham you could use whatever else suits...

Cheeseburgers

My favorite sandwich in the whole world is the cheeseburger. And I've eaten them (or variations) all over the world, and some are definitely much better than others. Anybody can make a cheeseburger, you say? Well, yes, but not necessarily a good one. Some of the most...

BBQ Pork Sandwich

I made these out of a couple of leftover pork chops for a delicious lunch during the halftime of a football game. Very easy and very good. Of course you don't have to use leftovers. You can always buy a few chops and cook them first. But somehow pork brought home from...

Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato (BLT) Sandwich

Frying bacon to make a sandwich is some trouble. But let's face it, a BLT is worth the effort. But now, even that step is no longer necessary. Hormel (and maybe some others) now packages pre-cooked bacon in a re-sealable bag! Hurry to your nearest CostCo and get some....

Tuna Salad

All, Salads, Sandwiches

Egg Salad

All, Eggs & Cheese, Salads, Sandwiches

Eggs and Cheese

Mac and Cheese, Smoky Four-Cheese Version

All, Eggs & Cheese, Favorites, Pasta

This is a different version of the original Mac & Cheese recipe on the Cooking Dude website. It is slightly more work, but, according to my taste testers, is well worth the extra effort! John McLemore’s Mac and Cheese recipe in his “Dadgum That’s Good” smoker...

Pearl Onions in Parmesan Cream Sauce

All, Eggs & Cheese, Vegetables

Here's an onion casserole that is really hard to beat. The flavor gets rave reviews, and the dish looks beautiful on the buffet table. I served this with Dr. Pepper Ham and Easy Cheesy Potatoes for Christmas Day dinner for a family mob, and everyone wanted more! You...

Easy Cheesy Potatoes

All, Eggs & Cheese, Vegetables

I found this recipe in the CostCo cook book, and decided to try it more or less for fun. Well, it was a huge hit. Everyone from the kids to Grandma absolutely loved it. The following day, I found that someone was raiding the leftovers for a snack. And Ms. Cooking Dude...

Chiles Rellenos

Chiles rellenos means stuffed chiles. Typically, this means either Anaheim (or California) chiles or Poblano chiles stuffed with a white cheese, such as Jack, coated with an egg batter, and fried. This is a delicious and elegant Mexican dish, well worth the effort to...

Mexican Breakfast

Of course there are dozens of Mexican breakfasts, and probably many more. But here is my favorite quick Mexican breakfast. Quick meaning you have leftover refried beans and pre-cooked bacon on hand. Or you can microwave raw bacon wrapped in paper towels for about 1...

Macaroni and Cheese

All, Eggs & Cheese, Pasta

I guess we all ate macaroni and cheese when we were kids, and lots of kids still do. But an interesting thing has happened over the past few years. Mac and Cheese has begun appearing on more and more menus, from diners (as usual) to steakhouses and fancy restaurants....

Joe’s Eggs (Joe’s Special)

All, Eggs & Cheese, Italian

Joe's Special apparently comes from Joe's Restaurant in San Jose, California, although it doesn't appear on their menu by that name. However the menu photo of one of the specials, Italian sausage and eggs, looks a lot like the Joe's Eggs and Joe's Special recipe you...

Green Chile Casserole

Technically, maybe this is a "strata" rather than a casserole. But whatever you call it, it is always a huge hit around here. I generally make it for breakfast for special occasions or when we have overnight guests. Last time I made it the compliments (and requests...

Corned Beef Hash and Eggs

All, Eggs & Cheese

One of the great benefits of fixing corned beef is using the leftovers to make corned beef hash. And one of the best times to eat corned beef hash is for breakfast. Most cooks make fried eggs to go with hash, so that you have the yolk available to run into the hash...

Egg and Poblano (or Anaheim) Chile

This dish is to show you an example of a delicious breakfast that can be made quickly in one pan. And the variations are practically endless. Look what you have in the fridge and invent. For this breakfast, I had leftover Poblano chiles, but it could just as easily...

Deviled Eggs

All, Eggs & Cheese

Breakfast Sandwich

All, Eggs & Cheese, Sandwiches

Egg Salad

All, Eggs & Cheese, Salads, Sandwiches

Beef

One Pot Tacos

One pot tacos? Cooking Dude’s latest invention! This will work with the Ninja Foodi and probably most air fryers. Sorry, Instant Pot can’t do this. The other night I wanted some homemade tacos, but it was only for me, and it seemed like a lot of work for only a couple...

Ninja Foodi makes Cooking Dude’s Meatloaf

I decided to use the Ninja Foodi’s Air Crisp (air fryer) feature to brown a meatloaf that had cooked in it in the Pressure Cooker mode. I figured it would take much less time than baking in an oven, would drain itself of the fat, and would make cleanup much easier. I...

Taquitos (Rolled Tacos)

This has to be one of the biggest hits of any easy meal I fix. For starters, the refried beans are usually left over from another meal, and the salad and taquitos themselves fix up in a jiffy. Taquitos are usually served with guacamole, and making that is also fast...

Tamale Pie

Out here in the Southwest, a good tamale pie is about as good a cozy winter dish you can find. Although delicious year-round, it always seems to hit the spot when it's cold and rainy outside. Served with a warm buttered tortilla, its flavorful filling and crunchy corn...

Tamale Casserole

This is similar to a tamale pie, but a LOT easier. In fact, I used to make this is huge batches to take to corporate parties, and it was always a big hit. This is proof that yummy doesn't mean difficult. The main tool needed here is a can opener. You also need a...

Tacos

All, Beef & Veal, Mexican, Poultry

Taco night is always popular at our house. They aren't much work, and they are always fun to make and to eat. We usually use ground beef in our tacos, but there's no reason not to use chicken, pork, fish, shrimp, or just beans if you want to. Sometimes the taco's...

Steak Frites

Here's my favorite French bistro dish. And you can do it at home very easily. The name means steak and fries. (In French, French fries are pomme frites. Now pomme by itself means apple, and this is not fried apples. Potatoes are pommes du terre, or apples of the...

Sausage and Sauerkraut

I always think of sausage and sauerkraut as German food, but this particular recipe comes from the Alsace region of France. So if you want to impress your guests, call this dish Saucisse avec Choucroute. In the photo you see how I served it with Bratwurst, but it is...

Salisbury Steak

Salisbury steak is a fancy name for hamburger patty, and of course there's nothing wrong with frying a patty for dinner. Cheaper than steak and plenty tasty. So if you don't want to get fancy like this recipe, just season a patty (using 85% lean beef) with garlic salt...

Chipotle Short Ribs

This is without a doubt the family's favorite short rib recipe. I think I could make it several times a week without any complaints. And it's special enough for company. This recipe will serve four or five, so if you need to increase it, it's easy to do. Chipotle...

Prime Rib

This beef rib roast, although commonly called Prime Rib, is not usually of Prime quality unless you're eating in a restaurant. But Choice Rib doesn't sound as good, and why quibble with tradition? Anyway, it's formal name is Standing Rib Roast. Yes, you can roast a...

Spicy Wine Pot Roast

This has been a favorite family recipe since my kids were little. And they still make it today for their families. It was originally a Crock Pot recipe, and most of the time we still make it that way. But what if you don't have a Crock Pot? Well, I'm happy to report...

New York Steak Arrachera

Arrachera is a delicious Mexican steak made from skirt steak. But the Arrachera marinade was so good that I decided to try it on a New York steak, barbeque it, and see what the family thought. Well, it was a big hit, so I think it deserves a spot on Cooking Dude. You...

New York Steak (New York Strip)

All, Beef & Veal, Favorites

As I have mentioned elsewhere, the New York steak is our favorite compromise of the best steaks. The filet is more tender but with less flavor, and rib eye steaks are more flavorful but with more waste. The New York cut wins by being second in every category. But we...

Navajo Fry Bread and Tacos

All, Beef & Veal, Breads

I first had Navajo Fry Bread, often called Indian Fry Bread, along with steak, pinto beans, and salad at a dinner at the Kowboy Kountry Klub in Flagstaff, Arizona back when I was a kid. We just tore pieces off the bread and ate it like rolls. It was very tasty, and...

Meat Loaf

Without exception, when I announce I am making meat loaf for dinner there are cheers all around. Far from being an unappetizing budget dish, a good meatloaf is a first class dish in itself. I know that good meat loaf doesn't just happen. There are hundreds of lousy...

Lasagna

All, Beef & Veal, Favorites, Italian

Lasagna is always a crowd-pleaser, and this recipe, from my sister-in-law Sherry, is about the best. Buy either dried lasagna noodles or the newer pre-cooked version. If you use dried, boil them according to the package directions and set them aside to assemble the...

Kielbasa and Cabbage Skillet

Here's an adaptation from a recipe I saw in Taste of Home, a publication I recommend highly. It's an easy comfort dish, especially good when the weather's bleak, and contains a complete meal: meat, potatoes, and vegetables. I modified the procedure a little bit,...

Easy Beef Stew

Corned Beef Hash

I usually make corned beef hash out of leftover corned beef, but if you need to make a huge amount for a crowd, you obviously can start from scratch. As you can see below, I start with roughly equal volumes of potatoes, beef, and onion. This is a pretty simple...

Corned Beef & Cabbage

Cincinnati Chili and Hot Links

Cincinnati chili is unlike any other chili. For one thing, it is usually served with spaghetti. For another, it is ordered and served several "ways". For example, the chili by itself is "one way chili". With spaghetti, it is "two way" chili. And by adding cheese,...

Chicken Fried Steak

Whether it's a truck stop in Texas or the Denny's down the street, chicken fried steak is a taste treat that's hard to beat. It's got to be the most flavorful way to fix an inexpensive cut of beef, and as a bonus you get delicious milk gravy that goes over potatoes or...

Chipotle Short Ribs

Chili Con Carne

Carne Asada and Carne Asada Tacos

Carne asada tacos are a delicious, and somewhat special, departure from our normal taco night. In this case, carne asada is used as the meat for the filling, and either corn or flour tortillas, either soft or fried, can be used for the shell. The photo above shows a...

Stuffed Bell Peppers

All, Beef & Veal, Vegetables

Here's one of the family's favorite comfort foods. But it's important to make them correctly, or they may wind up a tasteless pasty or greasy mess. Like meatloaf, there are many more bad recipes out there than good ones. This one is great, and even if you don't think...

Beef Stroganoff

This is a delicious but fairly simple recipe that you can use for either steak or hamburger. Either way it tastes great, and, particularly using steak, makes a great company dish. This recipe is a little unusual for Stroganoff, because it uses some tomato sauce. I...

Hot Dogs

Cheeseburgers

Pork

Smothered Pork Chops

Smothered in what? In onions, that's what! If you're in the mood for a soul-satisfying delicious dinner, here it is. As you may know by now, I generally prefer rib chops, of the various pork chops available. But if you have other chops, that's fine. For this dish you...

Pork Shoulder Roast with Caramelized Onion Sauce

Roast pork is always a good bet when a flavorful, hearty meal is called for. And this recipe has a delicious caramelized onion sauce to go with it. I prefer a shoulder roast over the more popular pork loin roast because modern pork has become so lean that juicy...

Piedmont Pork Chops

All, Italian, Pork

From the Piedmont district, which includes the famous city of Turin, comes this delicious Northern Italian dish. However the recipe I found had a flaw, which is corrected here courtesy of the Cooking Dude. The original recipe I found required you to add the balsamic...

Indoor Country Ribs

Need some ribs, but your barbeque is covered with snow? Or just want to stay inside and enjoy the barbeque aroma? Read on, and learn to cook the most tender, juiciest, most flavorful ribs this side of Kansas City. This recipe uses boneless pork country-style ribs....

Green Chili (Chili Verde)

All, Mexican, Pork, Soups

French Pork Chops (Côtes de Porc)

All, French, Pork

Here is a simple and yet delicious pork chop dish you can make in practically no time. And it's plenty good enough for company or a special occasion. As usual, I recommend buying rib chops if they are available, and brining them for an hour before cooking, if you have...

Dr. Pepper Ham

Well, OK, you can use Coke or Pepsi or whatever your favorite is for this recipe, and either way, I'll bet you and your guests like it better than honey. And in case you don't know, you can buy excellent spiral sliced ham at Costco or other markets now. I made this...

Crown Roast of Pork

Here's a way to serve a crowd an elegant and delicious meal. You have your butcher put two pork rib roasts together to form the crown. The resulting roast weighs about 10-12 pounds, and serves 20-25 people easily. The roast will cost about $50-$55, which isn't too bad...

Pork Rib Chops

There are three kinds of pork chops: center cut, blade cut and rib. And the greatest of these is rib. This recipe will work with any of them, and they will all be delicious, so if you don't have rib chops, don't worry about it; go ahead anyway. If you have time, I...

Cashew Pork

All, Chinese, Pork

Here's a perfect example of how to make a great hit while improvising a menu based on what you find in the refrigerator. We had several left over pork chops; not enough for a meal by themselves, but way too good to waste. Prowling through the fridge, I also found a...

Barbequed Spare Ribs

All, Favorites, Pork

Most people confuse barbequing and grilling. This page is going to cover both, so you will know the difference and can do either. Grilling is what we do over charcoal or gas, directly over the heat, like cooking hamburgers or steaks. Real barbequing is not done...

Pulled Pork Sandwiches

BBQ Pork Sandwich

Lamb

Rack of Lamb

All, Lamb

Here's a special romantic dinner for two. Of course you can buy two racks, double the recipe, and invite two others, but they better be special people. Or at least people you want to impress, like your boss or your parents. Most often you will find racks in a vacuum...

Lamb Chops Cooking Dude

All, Lamb

Lamb chops are always a treat, but this Cooking Dude original was the biggest hit yet. They are enhanced by a Dijon mustard, red wine, garlic, and rosemary sauce. In the photo, notice how the wine has turned the garlic pink. For this recipe you should use loin chops,...

Grilled Leg of Lamb

All, Lamb

I fixed this for Easter, and what a hit! Two people in the crowd thought they didn't like lamb, and after they tasted this, they were converted instantly. This was one of the most raved about holiday meals I've fixed. I purchased a leg of lamb at the market, and asked...

Mexican

One Pot Tacos

Tamales

All, Mexican

Tamales have been a Christmas Eve tradition for many decades among those of Mexican ancestry. My dear Mom (R.I.P.) taught English for over 30 years in Arizona, and of course had many Mexican-American students. One year she had the students write essays about what...

Shrimp Vera Cruz

All, Favorites, Mexican, Seafood

Here's a delicious shrimp recipe that's fast and easy to make. Use medium to large shrimp, and to save time and trouble, you can usually buy them peeled, de-veined, and frozen. One bag of 15-20 shrimp is enough for four servings, unless there's a hog at the table....

Mexican Rice

This Mexican rice recipe is better than any other I've tried so far. The flavor is outstanding, and the colors and textures make any dish look better. This makes enough for six or seven servings, so you might have some left over. If so, that's a bonus, because it can...

Fish Tacos

All, Mexican, Seafood

We fell in love with Rubio's fish tacos way back when we first came to San Diego. Mr. Rubio had a small taco shop in Pacific Beach, which has now grown into a publicly-owned chain of restaurants. The original recipe is said to have come from San Felipe, a small...

Enchiladas

All, Mexican

Some enchiladas are stuffed with cheese, some with chicken, some with beef, some with pork, some with green chiles -- well, you get the idea. Also, some are rolled and some are flat. This page will teach you how to do all of these. Personally, I prefer chopped onion...

Chiles Rellenos

Chicken Loco

All, Favorites, Mexican, Poultry

This grilled chicken recipe came about as I was trying to come close to the flavor of Pollo Loco's grilled chicken. It's citrus-based, like theirs, but not quite the same. I have a hunch their recipe is simpler, but what the heck, this recipe turned out so good I may...

Pinto Beans, Refried Beans, and Drunken Beans

There must be a million bean recipes. Maybe a billion. Anyhow, I've tried and collected dozens myself trying to get the taco shop bean flavor, and finally I'm darn close. If I come across an improvement, you'll be the first to hear about it. The beans always start out...

Green Chili (Chili Verde)

All, Mexican, Pork, Soups

Taquitos (Rolled Tacos)

Tamale Pie

Tamale Casserole

Tacos

All, Beef & Veal, Mexican, Poultry

Chipotle Short Ribs

New York Steak Arrachera

Carne Asada and Carne Asada Tacos

Mexican Breakfast

Green Chile Casserole

Egg and Poblano (or Anaheim) Chile

Southwest Salad

All, Mexican, Salads

Tortilla Soup

Tomato Chile Soup

Tortilla Chips and Strips

Quesadillas

Nachos

Guacamole

All, Appetizers, Mexican, Sauces, Vegetables

Fried Quesadillas

Chimichangas

Cheese Crisp (Crisp Quesadilla)

Avocado Relish

Salsa

All, Mexican, Sauces

Chinese

Chicken of the Gods

Tom Ham, the late owner of the Bali Hai restaurant in San Diego created this dish, which was a favorite of many people for years. Although no longer on the menu, you can sample his well-known dish at home, thanks to the staff at Bali Hai. The recipe calls for chestnut...

Chicken in Lettuce Cups

We enjoy a similar dish to this when we eat out, so I decided to find a way to do something like it at home. After a little research, I came up with this recipe. When I served it the other night, it was a huge hit. It was also a nice change from some heavy robust...

Chicken Chow Mein

You can make this dish with either fresh, canned, or a combination of noodles. And you have to use noodles, because that's what mein means. If you use rice, call it chop suey, although chop suey is usually made with pork. Shoot, it's all good. Make it the way you want...

Cashew Pork

All, Chinese, Pork

French

Chicken with 40 Cloves of Garlic

This is one of the most delicious and elegant of all chicken recipes. This is a French classic from Provençal. If you're having company over, print a menu and call it "Poulet à Quarante Gousses d'Ail." I've adapted several recipes for the one shown here, so it's not...

Bistro Roasted Chicken

This chicken, like most bistro fare, is simple enough for any time, but tasty and elegant enough for company or to impress an important date. A real bonus is the delicious sauce you get with very little extra work. As usual, I recommend brining the chicken if you have...

Bistro Carrots

All, French, Vegetables

These delicious carrots can be made from baby carrots, as in the photo, or from larger ones cut to size. Either way, this has to be one of the most delicious and easy carrot recipes. 2 lbs. carrots 3 tablespoons butter sprig of thyme or 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme 3...

French Pork Chops (Côtes de Porc)

All, French, Pork

Steak Frites

Sausage and Sauerkraut

French Onion Soup

All, French, Soups

Italian

Pan Roasted Zucchini

In addition to roasting vegetables in the oven, you can get nearly the same flavor and look roasting them in a pan. It depends on how much zucchini or other similar squash you need; for small amounts, like four or five servings, you might not want to heat up the oven....

Tilapia Sorrento

All, Italian, Seafood

This is an absolutely delicious Italian recipe for baking or pan frying fish. Of course, you don't have to use tilapia; that just happens to be one of our favorites that's always available from CostCo. But you can use flounder, halibut, catfish, or any reasonably mild...

Shrimp Linguini with Vodka Cream Sauce

For shrimp linguini with vodka cream sauce, it is not necessary to use linguini noodles. It's OK if you use spaghetti, penne, or fettuccini noodles. Actually, this shrimp recipe would also be delicious served over white rice. See, don't get hung up over details. Just...

Shrimp Fra Diavolo

I think if I could only have one shrimp recipe from now on, this would be it. And after serving it the other night to the family, it's clear they all feel the same way. "Fra Diavolo" means "Brother Devil", and is a classic Italian dish. It's spicy, so it's not for...

Oven Chicken Parmesan

All, Italian, Poultry

This is a very easy, tasty, and good looking meal that you can fix for a crowd, and still have enough time and energy left over to enjoy the party yourself. To save time and trouble, you can buy the skinless, boneless chicken breasts all ready to go, either fresh or...

Green Beans Italiano

Here's an easy one-skillet way to make delicious green beans. The flavors are wonderful, and always get a rave review around here. Green beans for four or five people (about 1 pound) Small onion, chopped 3 garlic cloves, minced 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon...

Chicken Cacciatore

All, Italian, Pasta, Poultry

This dish gets A++ from everyone every time I make it. Plus the house smells great the whole time. One of the reasons it's so good might be that the tomatoes, mushrooms, and onions are oven roasted first. Plus, don't forget to brine the chicken after cutting it into...

Piedmont Pork Chops

All, Italian, Pork

Lasagna

All, Beef & Veal, Favorites, Italian

Joe’s Eggs (Joe’s Special)

All, Eggs & Cheese, Italian

Salami & Provolone Snack

All, Appetizers, Italian

Spaghetti (Marinara) and Lasagna Sauce

All, Italian, Pasta, Sauces

Poultry

Roast Turkey

When roasting a turkey, your main concern is that the dark meat inside the thigh gets done enough before the breast gets over done and turns into shoe leather. Now this is tricky, because the turkey's lying on its back with the dark meat down in the pan while the...

Mediterranean Chicken

Last night Ms. Cooking Dude said that this was the best dinner of the year! I was very glad to hear that, especially since took so little time and cooked all in one skillet. This dish is also sometimes called Chicken Primavera, since fresh veggies in the springtime...

Jerk Chicken

Most of the folks in the household here haven't been to the Caribbean, and have never tasted jerk chicken. So I made it the other night and it was a huge hit. Youngest son was working late and missed dinner, so he attacked the leftovers and went back for more. The...

Fried Chicken

I've been fooling around with fried chicken for longer than I like to remember. This recipe is the best so far for crispy, spicy fried chicken. This recipe got rave reviews from the whole family (and some guests). Plus, it's just as good cold as hot. My next trick is...

Chicken Schnitzel

Well, of course you can make this with veal if you want real Weiner Schnitzel. It's so good, I'm even going to try this with boneless pork. But I made this for a recipe to include in my Chicken Cooking Dude Cookbook, so this is for chicken. If you change the meat, the...

Rotisserie BBQ Turkey

Barbequed turkey is a special treat around here, and I've used the method on the Barbequed Turkey page many times. But this Thanksgiving, my friend Big Al told me that I should cook it on the rotisserie, and that I would really notice the improvement. The self basting...

Barbequed Turkey

In order to barbeque a turkey, there are a few things you need besides the turkey. This is real barbeque as opposed to grilling, like you would a hamburger or steak. Barbeque means cooking slowly in smoke, which means the meat can't be directly over the heat, the...

Oven Chicken Parmesan

All, Italian, Poultry

Chicken Cacciatore

All, Italian, Pasta, Poultry

Chicken with 40 Cloves of Garlic

Bistro Roasted Chicken

Chicken of the Gods

Chicken in Lettuce Cups

Chicken Chow Mein

Chicken Loco

All, Favorites, Mexican, Poultry

Tacos

All, Beef & Veal, Mexican, Poultry

Hot Wings

All, Appetizers, Poultry

Seafood

Shrimp San Diego

Here's another Cooking Dude original, and, according to the eaters around here, it's one of the best shrimp recipes we've tried. I serve it as a main course salad with some good bread and wine. Whether you buy fresh or frozen shrimp, get the ones labeled 31-40 per...

Poached Salmon with Orange Tarragon Mayonnaise

I learned this recipe in a class by Chef Larry in San Diego, and it has been a household favorite ever since. One interesting difference is provided by the use of orange rather than the typical lemon flavor in this dish. Our favorite salmon comes from CostCo, where...

King Crab Legs

Here's an elegant but easy feast for special occasions. Better plan on $10 or more per person. But that's still cheap compared with the cost of such a nice dinner out. Most of the time, the king crab legs are available already cooked. We get ours at CostCo, and while...

Grilled Shrimp

This recipe is for fixing a delicious open-faced sandwich using grilled shrimp. You can cook the shrimp either inside under the broiler or outside on the grill. You can also serve it other ways, such as over pasta or rice. The important thing here is the marinade,...

Fried Shrimp

With breaded fried shrimp, you have two basic options. You can buy frozen shrimp that are already breaded, and they are usually very good, or you can do it yourself. I'm going to cover the latter here, because I can make them a little spicier. Of course, as I've said...

Fried Catfish

I buy both talapia and catfish from CostCo, and because the quantities are usually too large for our family, I put about half of each purchase in the freezer. Well, the other night I got some fish out of the freezer and announced that we were going to have fish and...

Fish and Chips

This English favorite is always a hit. There are lots of varieties of fish you can use, as long as you use boneless filets of a mild fairly firm fish. My personal choice are the tilapia filets from CostCo, and the folks around here agree. If you're new to cooking,...

Cornbread Shrimp

I saw a recipe like this and decided to try it. But all they did was dredge the shrimp in the cornmeal to fry it, and not much cornmeal stuck to the shrimp. At times like that, you wonder if they even tried the recipe before writing it. Well anyhow, it was easy to...

Tilapia Sorrento

All, Italian, Seafood

Shrimp Linguini with Vodka Cream Sauce

Shrimp Fra Diavolo

Shrimp Vera Cruz

All, Favorites, Mexican, Seafood

Fish Tacos

All, Mexican, Seafood

Avocado and Shrimp Salad

All, Salads, Seafood

New Orleans Shrimp

Shrimp Cocktail

Crab with Tequila Cilantro Sauce

All, Sauces, Seafood

Vegetables

Pan Roasted Zucchini

Green Beans Italiano

Bistro Carrots

All, French, Vegetables

Mexican Rice

Chiles Rellenos

Pinto Beans, Refried Beans, and Drunken Beans

Stuffed Bell Peppers

All, Beef & Veal, Vegetables

Green Chile Casserole

Potato Salad

All, Salads, Vegetables

Chimichangas

Avocado Relish

Bread

Yorkshire Pudding

Yorkshire Pudding is the classic accompaniment to Prime Rib, as you probably know, especially in England. But you might never have eaten it, and might be surprised to learn that it is not pudding as we Yanks think of pudding. Over here, we call things like this...

Old South Cornbread

Here's an authentic Old South Cornbread recipe given to me by my sister-in-law Martha. She probably got it from her mom, Sara. We all agreed that this was the most flavorful, crusty, and delightful cornbread recipes we've tried in a long time. The cornbread you are...

Nawlins Hush Puppies

Now I don't know for sure that this is the way they fix hush puppies in New Orleans, but I modified a Cajun recipe according to instructions from someone who lived down there. Well, I served them the other night, and they were a huge hit. So whatever else we call...

Grilled French Bread

Sometimes a baguette or loaf of French bread needs a little more than just butter. And if you're not up for garlic bread, and don't want to heat up the broiler, here's an easy solution. For this bread, I slice the baguette on a steep diagonal, to make the slices...

Garlic Bread

Good garlic bread enhances about any meal you can imagine. It's a natural with Italian food, like the Oven Chicken Parmesan, but it's also perfect for steaks, roasts, barbeques, and stews. If you can, buy fresh baguettes. They are increasingly available at...

Croutons

Like me, you probably normally purchase croutons in a bag or box at the supermarket. But if you need some on the spur of the moment to garnish a salad or soup, it's nice to be able to make your own. You can also season them as you wish, and might come up with some you...

Cornbread

This cornbread is excellent with soup, chili, and stews. It's quick and easy to make, and is basically fool-proof. The recipe here is very similar to the one on the Albers Cornmeal box, modified only slightly. As noted below, you can also add other items to the recipe...

Beignets