Crispy, pan-fried pork schnitzel is my kind of comfort food. I very rarely break out the oil in my kitchen for any kind of frying, so you know that when I do, it’s going to be worth it.

Pork Schnitzel

If you’ve never had pork schnitzel before, get ready for a completely and totally satisfying dinner. This is the kind of classic dish that makes you pause after the first bite, just to appreciate how good simple food can be.

And before I forget, here’s a tip for avoiding as much of the post-frying odor as possible: a small bowl of plain vinegar next to the stove will dramatically cut down on the lingering oil aroma. It really does work!

How to Make Pork Schnitzel

The key to great schnitzel is in the pounding—extra thin cutlets are the goal here. They’ll cook up quickly, with a beautifully crisp crust and tender inside. A quick run through the dishes you’ll set up with flour, egg, and breadcrumbs is all it takes to get that signature crunch. You don’t need a deep fryer, or a huge amount of oil to make this recipe—just a skillet and a generous slick of oil.

I like to prep all of the pork with the breading and set it on a tray next to the stove. Then, I just have to rotate the pieces through the hot oil and drain them on a wire rack while the rest of the meat is cooking.

You can serve your schnitzel with Read more

Stuffed pork tenderloin is filled with sauteed broccoli, red peppers, and generous amounts of melted mozzarella for an irresistible main dish. It’s gorgeous enough for company, but easy enough for a family dinner.

Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

Our nod to Italy has Italian seasonings and vegetables in the colors of the Italian flag. Crisp tender broccoli and vibrant, slightly sweet red bell pepper combine to play off the sweet mildness of the pork.

Add a gorgeous, tomato and balsamic glaze, and I challenge you to eat just one piece. I certainly can’t stop at one! This impressive-looking and tasting dish goes great with Parmesan Pepper Pasta or a Creamy Pasta Salad. Or if you want to keep it simple, add a Spinach Pasta Salad on the side.

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Give your regular tuna sandwich a high octane upgrade with this spicy tuna salad recipe. A little bit of hot sauce and some jarred jalapeños bring the heat to this anything-but-boring tuna salad. You’re going to look forward to lunch all morning long!

Spicy Tuna Salad

I have always loved tuna salad, but sometimes I just feel the need to change it up. This zesty tuna can be as hot or as mild as you’d like it, depending on the oomph your jarred jalapeños pack.

Many major brands label their canned peppers as mild, medium, or hot, so choose accordingly! And if you -like we do- love some fire, use “hot” canned peppers, go for it with the hot sauce, and add the optional cayenne pepper.

Whatever you do, don’t skip the crunchy celery and onion! The texture they bring to the party makes this tuna salad hard to stop eating! And the cilantro adds a burst of freshness that really makes you want more.

Spicy Tuna Fish Salad

My first thought after eating a giant serving of the salad plain was that it would make a killer pasta salad and boy was I right! To turn this into a pasta salad, double the dressing and add 8 ounces of bite-size pasta.

Spicy Tuna Salad Recipe

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Frito pie casserole is the large scale, crowd-friendly version of walking tacos; seasoned taco meat with beans topped with melted cheese and crunchy corn chips. If you want to make it a meal in one, top as you would a taco with lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, onions, and cilantro!

Frito Pie Casserole

I’m sure you’re familiar with walking tacos which are sometimes known as Frito pie. This is the version you make when you want to feed a crew and don’t feel like bothering with a bunch of little snack-sized bags of corn chips.

With all the irresistible qualities of a walking taco tucked in a convenient casserole format, this meal pulls together in a flash. If you’re lucky enough to have three or four cups of our leftover Best Taco Meat, you’re even closer to getting dinner on the table.

Frito Chili Pie

While taco meat is usually our protein of choice for this casserole, you can easily swap in three or four cups of your favorite chili. Whether you choose Hearty Pepper Chili, Spicy Five Bean Steak and Sausage Chili, or even Vegetarian Four Bean and Chipotle Chili, everyone at your table will love this dish!

This Frito pie casserole recipe is as easy as one-two-three. It’s just a matter of layering the ingredients in your baking dish and sending it on a quick trip through the oven.

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Pork, shrimp, and vegetables are folded into a paper-thin lumpia wrapper and then fried to crisp golden perfection in this traditional recipe for Filipino lumpia. Almost 30 years ago, I tasted lumpia for the first time and I fell in love with them at first bite.

Filipino Lumpia

Unfortunately, I lost touch with the friend who introduced them to me. Luckily, I remembered lumpia a few years ago and realized that I might be able to make them at home.

Then I ran into a problem. Where would I find the recipe? I looked online and didn’t find anything that sounded quite right. The lumpia I remembered was not your average eggroll.

There wasn’t cabbage or an abundance of vegetables in them. I simply remembered that there were a lot of different flavors packed into a very thin wrapper.

I mentioned my lumpia craving to a friend, (thanks, Sandra!) who told me to look for one of her friends on Facebook. I did that and proceeded to message back and forth with her friend, Irene, who was happy to chat about lumpia recipes for a bit to make sure I had it right.

The lumpia turned out fabulously and my middle son immediately requested them for his birthday meal the following year. We like to serve lumpia with this simple Asian-inspired Rice and bowls of Egg Drop Soup.

In my house, a birthday request is the very highest of food compliments. Everyone in the family devoured these and my youngest actually cried when they were gone. There wasn’t a single one left or we probably would have eaten more.

Over the years, I’ve made traditional lum