Kicking store-bought sticks doesn't mean you have to stray too far from the familiar: Making them from scratch gives you way more control over quality, ingredients and fat.
My love of cooking started when I was trying to earn my Girl Scout cooking badge. My family savors the sweet sauce on these skewers. --Joanne Haldeman, Bainbridge, Pennsylvania
Tender chicken in a tangy sauce, topped with pretty pineapple, makes a mouthwatering main dish. The recipe comes from Jean Ecos of Waukesha, Wisconsin.
This recipe for ma po tofu, a Chinese stir-fry, is simple to make and good for you, too. Add a side of chilled melon and a cold glass of dry riesling for a satisfying supper.
Carrots and red and green bell peppers add lots of color to this classic sweet pineapple and sour soy-vinegar chicken stir fry with just a whiff of ginger.
Relates Debbie Terenzini Wilkerson of Lusby, Maryland, 'I love these tender pork chops smothered in a mouth-watering sauce. It's the perfect blend of mustard, soy sauce, ketchup and orange marmalade.'
Eggplant, ginger, garlic, shrimp and beef get sauteed and spiced-up, Szechuan style. Chicken stock and soy sauce provide the base for the thick, tasty sauce.
Root vegetables and lentils cook all day in a slow cooker with a mixture of spices to deliver a comforting, vegan-friendly soup perfect for a chilly fall dinner.
Black beans mingle with onions, peppers, garlic, cornmeal, and spices in this tasty taco filling. Try it in burritos or as a dip for tortilla chips. No black beans? Red, pink, or pinto beans are great subs.
