Barbecue Pulled Chicken Sliders

• 1/2 cup no-salt-added ketchup
• 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
• 2 cups shredded skinless, boneless rotisserie chicken breast
• 8 (1.3-ounce) sliders mini buns (such as Pepperidge Farm)
• 8 bread-and-butter pickle chips

Combine first 10 ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer; cook 3 minutes or until slightly thick, stirring occasionally. Add chicken to ketchup mixture; stir to combine. Cook 2 minutes or until chicken is thoroughly heated.

Spoon 3 tablespoons chicken mixture on bottom half of each bun; top each with 1 pickle chip and top half of bun.

Salsa Verde Carnitas

• 3 1/2 pounds pork butt (pork shoulder)
• 2 cups salsa verde
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 cups chicken stock
• 2 teaspoons cumin seeds, toasted
• 2 teaspoons coriander seeds
• 1 Tbsp chopped fresh oregano (or 1 teas dried)
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• Salt
• 12 to 16 corn tortillas, heated and softened
• 1/4 head of cabbage, very thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon seasoned rice vinegar (if you only have unseasoned, add 1/4 teaspoon of sugar to it)
• Salt and pepper
• 1 avocado, peeled, seeded, and chopped
• 1/2 cup crumbled Cotija Mexican farmer's cheese, or some grated Monterey Jack cheese
• Crema fresca, crema Mexican, or sour cream
• Chopped cilantro leaves for garnish

Trim the excess fat from the pork shoulder roast. Put the roast, the salsa verde, onion, chicken stock stock, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, and oregano in a large, thick-bottomed pot, and heat on high heat. Bring to a boil, and reduce heat to a low simmer. Cover and simmer until meat pulls away easily with a fork, about 3 hours.

Preheat oven to 400°F. Remove meat from liquid in pot and put the meat into a roasting pan. With 2 forks, tear the meat into large shreds, spreading them out in an even layer in the roasting pan. Roast meat for 15 to 20 minutes until parts are brown and crispy.

While the meat is roasting, skim and discard fat from the liquid in the large pot. Heat the pot on high and vigorously boil the remaining liquid, stirring, until reduced to 2 1/2 cups, 8 to 10 minutes.

Return the meat to the pot with the liquid. Stir in chopped cilantro. Season with salt.

Serve with heated and softened corn tortillas (20 seconds each in the microwave spread out over a paper towel will heat and softened packaged tortillas sufficiently), diced avocado, crumbed Cotija or grated Monterey jack cheese, sour cream (or crema fresca), and seasoned cabbage slaw.

Place thinly sliced cabbage in a medium sized bowl. Sprinkle on olive oil, seasoned rice vinegar, salt and pepper. You can substitute white vinegar or apple cider vinegar for the rice vinegar, if you do, sprinkle on some sugar to help balance the acidity of the vinegar. Toss. Adjust seasonings. Let sit for 10 minutes for the cabbage to absorb some of the dressing.

Mushroom and Burgundy Stew

• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 4 ounces pancetta, chopped or 4 slices bacon, chopped, optional
• 2 pounds crimini mushrooms, halved
• 2 medium onions, chopped
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 2 ribs celery, chopped
• 4 large cloves garlic, sliced
• 2 bay leaves
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• A sprig fresh marjoram, finely chopped or 1 teaspoon dried

• A few sprigs fresh thyme, leaves picked and finely chopped
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 1/2 cups, half a bottle, dry red burgundy wine
• 4 cups beef or mushroom stock
• 1 pound egg noodles
• 2 tablespoons butter
• A handful fresh parsley, finely chopped

Heat the extra-virgin olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, add the pancetta or bacon, if using, until crispy. Add the mushrooms and cook until brown and tender, about 15 minutes or so. Add the onions, carrots, celery, garlic, bay leaves, salt, pepper, marjoram, and thyme. Cook, covered, 10 minutes more, stirring occasionally, to soften the vegetables. Stir in the flour for 1 minute, then add the tomato paste and Worcestershire sauce. Add the wine and reduce by half, a couple of minutes, then add the stock and simmer to thicken a bit. Cool completely and store for make-ahead meal, reheat over medium heat to bubbly.

While the stew simmers, bring water to a boil, salt it and cook off the egg noodles just before you're ready to serve. Drain them when they have a little bite to them and add back to the hot pot, stir together with butter, salt, and parsley. Serve the noodles in shallow bowls with stew.

Fontina Polenta with Mushroom Sauté

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 (4-ounce) packages exotic mushroom blend, chopped
• 1 (8-ounce) package presliced cremini mushrooms
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh oregano
• 3 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1/3 cup organic vegetable broth
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 cups 2% reduced-fat milk
• 1 1/2 cups organic vegetable broth
• 3/4 cup instant polenta
• 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded fontina cheese, divided
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Heat oil in a skillet over high heat. Add mushrooms; sauté 4 minutes. Add herbs and garlic; sauté 1 minute. Stir in 1/3 cup broth, juice, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and pepper.

Bring milk and 1 1/2 cups broth to a boil. Stir in polenta; cook 4 minutes, stirring constantly. Stir in half of cheese and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Divide polenta among 4 gratin dishes; top with remaining cheese. Broil 5 minutes. Top each serving with 1/2 cup mushrooms

Chicken Paillard with Curry Gravy

• 4 (6-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 clove garlic, grated or minced
• 1 teaspoon orange zest
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• Juice of 1/2 lemon
• Juice of 1/2 orange
• 2 sprigs fresh tarragon, leaves chopped
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 large shallot, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon mild curry powder
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
• 1/4 cup frozen green peas

Cut each chicken breast across but not all the way through the meat and open the breast up; pound gently and flatten to form large, very thin cutlets. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Combine the garlic, zest, juice, tarragon and extra-virgin olive oil in a shallow dish and turn the chicken to coat evenly in the mixture. Let marinate 15 minutes.

Heat a griddle or grill pan over medium-high heat. (Alternatively, chicken can be cooked off 1 at a time in a large skillet.) Shake the excess marinade off the chicken and cook 2 to 3 minutes on each side until cooked through and lightly browned. Discard the marinade.

Meanwhile, heat a small skillet or pot over medium heat, melt the butter and add the shallot; cook gently 3 minutes. Sprinkle with the curry powder and stir; whisk in the flour and cook 1 minute more. Then whisk in the broth and bring to a bubble. Add the peas and simmer in the sauce for 2 minutes.

Spoon the gravy into small pools on a platter and top with the chicken.

Turkey-Hummus Sliders

• 1 English cucumber, diced
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon dried mint
• 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1 1/2 pounds ground turkey
• 1 cup hummus, preferably spicy or roasted red pepper (about a 7-ounce container)
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 2 teaspoons ground coriander
• 16 mini pita pockets, preferably whole wheat, split open and warmed
• 2 to 3 plum tomatoes, sliced

Toss the cucumber, feta, vinegar, mint, 1 tablespoon olive oil and a pinch each of salt and pepper in a bowl; cover and refrigerate.

Mix the turkey, 1/2 cup hummus, the parsley and coriander in a bowl; season generously with pepper. Dampen your hands and shape the mixture into 16 small patties, about 1/2 inch thick.

Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil in a medium cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add half of the patties and cook until browned and cooked through, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate. Cook the remaining patties in the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil.

Mix the remaining 1/2 cup hummus with a splash of hot water in a bowl. Spread some of the hummus on the inside of each pita; fill with a tomato slice, turkey patty and some of the cucumber mixture.

Bulgur Veggie Burgers with Lime Mayonnaise

• 1/2 cup chopped onion, divided
• 1 tablespoon olive oil plus additional for brushing
• 1/2 cup bulgur
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup canned pinto beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 1/2 tablespoon soy sauce
• 3/4 cup walnuts (2 1/2 ounces)
• 2 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 cup packed cilantro sprigs
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 teaspoon grated lime zest
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh lime juice
• 4 slices multi-grain bread or pita pockets

Cook half of onion with 1/4 teaspoon salt in oil in a small heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until golden, 5 to 7 minutes. Add bulgur and water and cook, covered, over low heat until water is absorbed, 15 to 18 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and stir in beans and soy sauce.

Pulse bulgur mixture, walnuts, garlic, cilantro, cumin, cayenne, a rounded 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and remaining onion in a food processor until finely chopped.

Form rounded 1/2 cups of mixture into 4 (31/2-inch-diameter) patties. Chill at least 10 minutes.

While patties chill, stir together mayonnaise, zest, and juice.

Prepare grill for direct-heat cooking over medium-hot charcoal (medium heat for gas). Put perforated grill sheet on grill and preheat 10 minutes.

Brush patties all over with oil.

Oil grill sheet, then grill burgers on grill sheet, covered only if using a gas grill, carefully turning once, until golden brown, about 8 minutes total.

Serve burgers open-faced on buns or in pita pockets with lime mayonnaise.