3,422 bitter recipes

Soft, cinnamon-swirled quick bread made with buttermilk and vanilla, topped with a crumbly streusel that bakes into golden ribbons. No yeast needed. One loaf, one hour, pure warmth.

Israeli upside-down apple cake made with potato starch instead of flour, naturally gluten-free. Whole apples stuffed with walnuts and raisins bake in a caramel base topped with a light sponge.

Toffee bananas are the classic Chinese restaurant dessert: deep-fried banana pieces coated in molten pulled-sugar syrup, then dipped in ice water for a glassy, shatter-crisp shell.

Crispy deep-fried mushrooms stuffed with savory pork, water chestnuts, and vegetables. These Chinese appetizers are golden and crunchy, perfect for parties. Makes 24.

Layered chocolate ripple cake baked in a clay pot with a coconut cream cheese swirl through the center and a milk chocolate cream cheese frosting on top. Lightened with egg whites and nonfat cream cheese.

Elizabeth Taylor's chili topped with golden cornbread, baked right in one casserole dish. Ground beef simmers in tomatoes, chili powder, and a splash of red wine vinegar for bright, bold flavor.

A flavorful rice dish combining chicken and smoked sausage, this is a Cajun brown Jambalaya, not the Creole red Jamba. No tomatoes or green pepper. This is the best Jambalaya you'll eat, I ga-ron-tee!

Crisp cucumbers and juicy tomatoes coat tender penne in a tangy dill-lemon dressing that gets better as it sits in the fridge.

Nothing else can be better than it, big hit and a worthy keeper!

Homemade cinnamon raisin bagels with your bread machine doing the kneading. Plump raisins tossed in cinnamon sugar, boiled for a chewy crust, baked until golden. Better than anything from the store.

Southern Coke cake made with Coca-Cola in both the chocolate batter and the boiled cocoa-pecan frosting. Marshmallows in the batter melt into gooey pockets as it bakes.

If you want the juiciest and tastiest pot roast, endeavor to find one with the shoulder bone still attached. And the more of the bone present, the better.

Shredded carrots, crushed pineapple, and chopped nuts fold into spiced cake batter for a moist bundt that's cinnamon-scented and ready in under an hour.

Cold macaroni and pea salad with sweet red peppers, dill pickles, and pimentos in a creamy mayo dressing. Classic potluck side dish that's better the next day.

Pineapple banana walnut tube cake with cinnamon and a fresh pineapple icing. Crushed canned pineapple keeps the crumb moist for days. Stir-and-pour batter, no creaming required.

Hearty hamburger soup with ground beef, potatoes, carrots, cabbage, rice, and tomatoes simmered in a rich broth. Even better the next day.