No one who loves to eat can visit Cincinnati without falling in love withthe most eccentric and delicious noodle dish of all--5-Way Chili. Invented by Greek immigrants in the 1920s, it is unique to southern Ohio, and served only in chili parlors, most of which are fluorescent-lighted luncheonettes that haven't changed much since 1950. Nobody in Cincinnati gives out their recipe. It is a dish of startling complexity, so dizzingly spicy....
Chiles rellenos con queso stuffs roasted green chiles with Monterey Jack, dips them in fluffy egg batter, and fries to golden puffs. Topped with a spiced cinnamon-clove tomato sauce.
Whole-wheat sourdough applesauce cake bakes up moist and tender in a tube pan, with cinnamon, allspice, and clove warming a tangy starter-and-applesauce batter. A bundt-shaped keeper for fall.
No eggs, no butter, no milk in this vegan cake that's free of all dairy and egg products.
Pecan-stuffed flank steak rolls pounded flank around a mushroom-pecan stuffing spiced with cardamom and cloves, braised in orange juice and beef broth. An elegant roast for company.
Light pumpkin praline cheesecake: low-fat cottage cheese stands in for cream cheese, wheat germ replaces graham crumbs in the crust, and pumpkin pie spice carries the flavor. Topped with maple-drizzled pecans.
Persian sugar-pickled garlic simmered in red wine vinegar with cloves and black peppercorns. Sweet, tangy, and mellow after a month of refrigerator pickling.
Pumpkin spice bread baked inside canning jars for shelf-stable giftable loaves. Warming cinnamon, clove, ginger, and raisins meet real pumpkin puree in a self-preserving oven-to-jar bake.
Dark molasses gingerbread cake with cinnamon, ginger, and cloves baked in a ring mold and served warm with lemon whipped cream. Dense, spicy, and deeply flavored.
Winter pie cooks raisins, finely chopped carrot, and apple with cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg in a spiced syrup, baked between two crusts. Thrifty old-fashioned mincemeat-style pie without the meat.
Molasses cookies with a surprising hit of mint extract, warm cinnamon, ginger, and clove. Crackly sugar-rolled tops and chewy spiced centers.
Vegan black bean soup with bay leaves, whole cloves, onion, garlic, mustard, and chili powder. Pure pantry cooking. Just simmer, puree, season. Naturally gluten-free.
Greek lemon soup (avgolemono) with shredded chicken breast, rice, and a silky egg-lemon broth. A classic comfort soup thickened with tempered eggs for a creamy, tangy finish.
Pickled figs in a spiced syrup with clove, allspice, cinnamon, and mace. Old-Southern preserve that turns whole figs into glossy, jewel-like jars for cheese boards and roasted meats.
Company ham roasted on a bed of onions and apples, rubbed with thyme, cinnamon and marjoram, basted with sherry and beef broth. A holiday-ready centerpiece without a sweet glaze.
Spiced bran muffins with molasses, ginger, cloves, walnuts, and golden raisins. Made with whole wheat flour, egg whites, and yogurt for a lighter, healthier take.