10,000 bitter recipes

Rich chocolate cake bakes over boiling water to create a molten pudding layer underneath, delivering warm spoon-tender comfort in every bite.

Chicken Indienne, a creamy Anglo-Indian curry-spiced chicken braise with lemon-marinated pieces, sweet candied ginger, and a velvety cream sauce. Served with lime and rice.

Double corn muffins with cornmeal in the batter and whole corn kernels stirred in, plus a pinch of red pepper for subtle heat. Warm from the oven in 35 minutes.

Maraschino heart cookies with a chocolate chip thumbprint center topped with a cherry. Heart-shaped Valentine's Day cookies that are as pretty as they are sweet.

Shredded cabbage and carrots braised in bouillon, then tossed with buttery pecans and mustard. A 20-minute side dish elegant enough for company.

Jalapeño, raspberry and pecans blend beautifully in this thumbprint cookie from Anna Marie Bleich of California, Mo.

Sabzi Koofteh: Persian-style giant meatballs of ground beef, rice, split peas, mint, and watercress, simmered in a turmeric-tomato broth. Served with yogurt and pickles for a one-pot Middle Eastern dinner.

Classic chocolate pecan pie loaded with pecan halves and semi-sweet chocolate in light corn syrup filling. Gooey, sweet, and packed with crunchy pecans in every slice.

I normally don't like gorgonzola, but somehow this recipe worked, and I loved the flavour of it! So if you are big on blue cheese, I do think this recipe should be on your to-make list.

Buttery pound cake soaked in a homemade liqueur syrup. Choose your favorite spirit: rum, amaretto, hazelnut, orange, or raspberry. Stores up to 6 months frozen.

Fudgy cocoa brownies with a full cup of melted butter, four eggs, and optional chopped nuts. One bowl, no melting chocolate, and the edges pull away when done.

Granola bread with finely ground granola blended into a whole wheat and bread flour dough with buttermilk and honey. Bake in the bread machine or shape into two oven loaves.

Cape Cod fish chowder with fresh haddock, crispy salt pork, potatoes, and creamy milk broth. A hearty New England classic built on homemade fish stock for real depth.

Mom's shepherd's pie: leftover lamb cubed and simmered with onion, red pepper, rosemary, and parsley under a mashed potato crust. The classic Sunday-roast reinvention.

Chicken Cynthia: skillet-browned chicken breasts braised in white wine and sherry, finished with a buttery beurre manie sauce and garnished with fresh orange segments and seedless grapes.

Butter-browned veal loin chops simmered with quartered mushrooms, white wine, and chicken broth, then finished in a silky tarragon cream sauce. An elegant dinner for two in one hour.