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Chicken and dumplings is a cross-culture, cross-generation, cross-country dish. In short: everyone loves it. In the South, adding vegetables is not a necessity. But here in the North (in the middle of winter) extra vitamins is a good thing, so we include the classic mirepoix mix (onions, carrots and celery) to the broth.

This is one of those meals that make you hungry the minute you catch a whiff of it. Fresh peppers and chilies simmer with ground beef, taco seasoning, beans, corn, tomato and butternut squash, until your nose can't take it anymore. Serve it with the taco toppings of your choice, like chips, cheese, avocado and salsa.

Delicate flounder fillets either lightly breaded or simply pan-fried, laid in a buttery toasted bun and topped with tomato, lettuce and a 10-ingredient remoulade sauce. Perfectly enjoyable, for all family members.

When a vegetarian dish appears on the Serious Eats website — holding its own against carnivorous indulgences — it usually is pretty darned amazing. For this recipe, white beans get creamed up with two kinds of cheese, topped with bright kale and a fried egg. This light-yet-filling dinner makes an equally delicious breakfast or lunch.

Peppers, peppers, and more peppers: Three different kinds of peppers! Two kinds of beans ... plus squash, corn, and full-blown taco seasonings and taco toppings of your choice, like chips, cheese, avocado and salsa.

Nothing says winter like a warm bowl of pasta covered in thick sauce. This vegetarian bolognese dinner incorporates lentils into a red-wine based tomato sauce stewed with porcini mushrooms, cauliflower, carrots, celery, and onion, and topped with grated Pecorino Romano.