Double-crust blackberry pie with a flaky shortening pastry and a simple sugar-and-flour-thickened filling. The kind of late-summer fruit pie that lets the berries do the talking.
Halloween black cat cookies turn rich chocolate cookie dough into spooky-cute pops, with pinched ears, fork-pressed whiskers, candy corn eyes, and red-hot noses. A fun bake the kids can help shape.
Oatmeal walnut cookies pack whole wheat flour, wheat germ, oats, raisins, and walnuts into a chewy cookie sweetened with brown sugar and orange juice concentrate. Hearty and wholesome.
Classic French apple tarte Tatin with Granny Smith apples caramelized in a skillet and topped with buttery homemade pastry. A stunning upside-down dessert with deep golden caramel.
California fruit bread made with whole wheat flour, bananas, pineapple, apricots, and golden raisins. No added sugar or butter in this naturally sweet, freezer-friendly loaf.
Old-fashioned cut-out sugar cookies brushed with egg-white glaze and sprinkled with nuts or sugar. A versatile rolled cookie that goes thin and crisp or thick and soft to suit any occasion.
Beer-battered hush puppies with cornmeal, self-rising flour, and chopped onions. Beer adds lightness and tang. Drop in hot oil, fry until crisp for pub-style cornbread bites.
Open-faced cod sandwiches on English muffins with broiled tomato, topped with a sharp cheddar cheese sauce spiked with mustard, cayenne, and Worcestershire. A hot seafood lunch.
Brook trout sauteed with mushrooms, finished with brown butter, lime juice, and fresh parsley. A French meuniere-style preparation with whole fish or fillets.
Raisin Puree is the basis for the dough of this rich-tasting, chewy bar. The combination of orange and chocolate is a classic favorite. We considered cutting the amount of chocolate in the recipe, thereby cut ting the fat, but in the end we agreed that the extra richness is worth the extra grams of fat.
Easy maple apple bread made with refrigerated crescent roll dough, chopped apples, walnuts, and a vanilla glaze. A shortcut pull-apart loaf with cinnamon-maple filling in every layer.
Filet farcis a la creme: flounder fillets rolled around a shrimp, crab, and mushroom stuffing, baked in a cognac cream sauce under melted Swiss. Vintage French bistro elegance.
Roll-and-cut almond cookies with toasted sliced almonds folded into a buttery dough and finished with a dusting of powdered sugar. Crisp edges, tender centers, and a double hit of vanilla and almond extract.
Triple-layer chocolate-glazed cheesecake with a chocolate cookie crust, a dark chocolate layer, a brown sugar pecan layer, and a classic cream cheese layer, all topped with warm chocolate glaze. A show-stopping celebration dessert.
Apple streusel squares with a buttery shortbread crust, cinnamon-raisin sauteed apples, and a pecan-brown sugar crumble topping. Three layers of fall flavor in every bar.
Indian chicken pies with flaky lard-and-margarine pastry wrapped around garam masala-spiced chicken, mushrooms, and corn. Handheld curry-pot pies worth the weekend effort.
Fluffy apple pecan pancakes with separated eggs, brown sugar, and cinnamon, served with apple spice syrup. Beaten egg whites fold in for extra-light, soufflé-style flapjacks.
Peaches and cream bread machine loaf: dried peaches and peach yogurt fold into a soft, lightly spiced bread with cinnamon and nutmeg. Sweet enough for breakfast toast, savory enough for sandwiches.
The crisp, densely chocolaty cookies, with an unusually long baking time, were an annual favorite among the 20-plus recipes that Susan Couchman of Hartland remembers were made each year by her mother, Gloria Kuchler.
Raspberry-peach pie with chopped hazelnuts, a splash of rum, and a sugar-glazed double crust. Sweet peaches and tart raspberries in a nutty, buttery filling.
Chicken pot pie with broccoli and Parmesan in a creamy soup-mix sauce, topped with flaky egg-washed pastry baked golden. A cozy one-dish dinner from scratch.
Fig Star Cookies feature a maple-scented shortening dough wrapped around a homemade dried fig filling with lemon and nuts. A vintage holiday cookie worth the effort.
Soft yeasted cinnamon rolls with brown sugar filling and a vanilla glaze, baked together in a 13x9 pan. Pull-apart pastries that fill the kitchen with the smell of cinnamon and yeast.
Ham and cheddar casserole over French-cut green beans with a homemade white sauce, hard-cooked eggs, and crushed herb crouton topping. A weeknight one-dish dinner in 40 minutes.
Fresh blueberry cake baked in a springform pan with a buttery batter shell, juicy berry center, and cinnamon crumb topping. A rustic German-style kuchen ready in 40 minutes.
Low-fat four-spice bundt cake with cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, plump golden raisins, and buttermilk. An egg-white-lightened tube cake finished with orange syrup and fresh orange slices.
Triple-chocolate biscotti with Dutch cocoa, semi-sweet chips, and a dipped white chocolate base. Toasted hazelnuts, dark coffee, and twice-baked crunch make these the dunking cookie for serious chocolate lovers.
Pumpkin bran muffins with chocolate chips, warm spices, and brown sugar. A fiber-rich fall muffin where cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice meet melty pockets of chocolate.
Glazed orange cake baked in the microwave with fresh orange juice, beaten egg whites for lift, and a glossy orange glaze. A light, airy chiffon-style cake ready in 30 minutes.
British-Indian style beef curry with cubed beef, apples, raisins, and chutney in a curry-spiced gravy, then oven-braised two hours until fork-tender. Classic colonial-era comfort food.
Hot fudge pie: a crustless chocolate brownie-pie hybrid baked until the center stays gooey and molten. Five minutes of prep, served warm with ice cream.
Authentic Italian focaccia with two long three-hour rises, kneaded with olive oil and salt, then pressed thin, drizzled, and baked golden for crisp-bottomed, chewy bread.
Lower-fat banana cake with pureed prunes replacing most of the butter, nonfat vanilla yogurt, and egg whites. A moist sheet cake that cuts the fat without losing flavor.
Buffalo chili: ground bison simmered with three peppers, jalapenos, green chiles, and warm spice blend. Lean, gamy alternative to beef chili with serious heat.
Breaded chicken breasts in a mushroom-sherry cream sauce tossed with fettuccine and Parmesan. A restaurant-quality one-skillet dinner ready in just 30 minutes.
Chocolate Kahlua bundt cake glazed with coffee liqueur and frozen, then served with whipped cream. Rich cocoa flavor with a boozy kick in every slice.
Amazing Red Velvet Cake with Coconut Frosting recipe
Old-fashioned prune muffins with brown sugar, nutmeg, and soft cooked prunes that melt into the batter. A simple mix-and-bake recipe with domed tops and tender crumb.
Boston cream pie made entirely in the microwave, with vanilla rum custard between two yellow cake layers and a glossy chocolate corn syrup glaze drizzling down the sides.
Dill onion bread bakes a tangy yeast loaf with cottage cheese folded into the dough for moisture, plus toasted dill seed and minced onion for a savory aroma. Brushed with butter and salt while warm. A retro church-cookbook classic.
Baked beef braises cubed roast with onions, flour, garlic powder, and beef broth in one roaster for fork-tender cubes and a thick built-in gravy. Old-school weeknight comfort food.
Crab and corn cakes pulse half the corn with garlic, mustard, and egg as a binder, then mix with whole corn kernels, lump crab, and scallions for pan-fried savory cakes. A summer-easy seafood appetizer.
Pesto biscuits with green basil flecks and fluffy buttermilk crumb, baked from a quick pantry-friendly recipe using powdered milk. A herbal twist on the classic American biscuit.
Crispy fried chicken marinated overnight in an Italian dressing paste, dipped in milk and club soda, dusted with pancake mix, deep-fried, then oven-finished. A two-stage cooking method for shatteringly crisp skin and juicy meat.
Vegan sloppy joe pizza tops a homemade whole-wheat crust with meatless tomato sauce, sauteed vegetables, and a savory tofu-oat crumble seasoned sloppy-joe style. A hearty, plant-based pizza night.
Almond rolls are buttery shortbread logs made with just four ingredients: butter, sugar, ground almonds, and flour. The kind of cookie tin staple that goes with afternoon tea or coffee.
Pineapple raisin jumble cookies with crushed pineapple, toasted almonds, orange zest, and raisins. A fruity, egg-free drop cookie with tropical flair.
Rich chocolate cake with melted chocolate, pecans, and a hint of red food coloring, topped with homemade chocolate pecan frosting. A Southern classic from scratch.