Meal Prep

Rick Rodgers, cookbook author and teacher, says, "The inspiration for this recipe came to me one Thanksgiving when my friends and I were sipping mugs of mulled wine while preparing dinner. I was doing a basic cranberry sauce and tossed in a bit of the spiced wine. The result was a fabulous mix of sweet and spice—and I've been making it this way every year since."

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. This sauce is great with roast beef, grilled steaks, and roasted chicken. It is also delicious as a sandwich spread or as a dip for crudités or tortilla chips. The "heat" of the mayonnaise will depend on the variety of chili you use. In a bind, chili powder can be substituted for the chili paste.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less, but requires additional unattended time.

A simple dessert sauce that is absolutely delicious spooned over scoops of vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt.

This recipe was created to accompany Roasted Marinated Cornish Hens . Can be prepared in 45 or less.

This recipe was created to accompany Crisp Scallops with Horseradish Lime Sauce . Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Onions, olives, basil and lemon accent this unusual combination from Un Grand Café in Chicago, Illinois. If you cannot find Yukon Gold potatoes, regular white-skinned potatoes will do nicely.

This recipe originally accompanied Grilled Lamb Sandwiches with Grilled Onions . Two easy sauces from a single recipe: plain aioli here and one with red bell peppers .

Active time: 5 minutes Start to finish: 5 minuts

Active time: 5 min Start to finish: 50 min

This sauce uses roasted fresh poblano chilies and their dried form, ancho chilies.

This recipe is used to prepare Cod Cannelloni with Swiss Chard and Roasted Peppers . Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This recipe is an accompaniment for Ginger Salad .

Kao Kua Active time: 10 min Start to finish: 25 min

I typically toast 1/4 cup peppercorns at a time (it's hard to grind much less) and use any extra powder in seasoning rubs, flatbreads, and stir-fries. However, once ground, this spice quickly loses its pungency—discard it once it is no longer vibrantly fragrant.