Japanese-Style Meatloaf

Stewed Cabbage

This is a family favorite that my mother-in-law fixed for me while I was visiting her home last year. Serve over white rice, if desired.

Slow Cooker Green Beans, Ham and Potatoes

This crockpot green beans and potatoes recipe is easy to make in your slow cooker. I make this dish often, but I have never measured the ingredients, so this recipe is a reasonable approximation. Freeze the leftover cooking liquid and add it to bean soup, ham and cabbage dishes, or use it to boil dumplings. It's delicious!

Quick and Easy Paella

Consider this a gateway paella and the first step to a serious, lifelong addiction. When I first do a version of a classic dish like paella, I try to use a minimum number of ingredients and steps to focus on technique. After learning the method, you'll ideally use a wider variety of ingredients, like clams, mussels, squid, and chicken, which will make your rice that much more interesting. Garnish with extra virgin olive oil, freshly chopped flat-leaf parsley, and lemon wedges.

Chef John's Pizza Rustica

Some people describe pizza rustica as an Italian meat-filled quiche, but I think this traditional Easter recipe is way closer to a savory cheesecake filled with a massive amount of goodness. The light, flaky crust holds together an embarrassment of riches — sausage, smoked ham, salami, and pepperoni, plus ricotta, mozzarella, and Pecorino Romano cheeses. It's definitely not like pizza!

Slow Cooker Sauerkraut Pork Loin

We invented this crockpot pork loin and sauerkraut recipe both out of hunger and to use up a large batch of sauerkraut my mother-in-law made one summer. It takes just seconds to throw into your slow cooker, and you come home to a yummy dinner.