Recipes with light cream (half&half)

Layered fudge squares sandwich a homemade marshmallow fondant between two layers of milk chocolate fudge, then top with chopped nuts. Old-school candy-shop technique that yields about 48 squares of three-textured chocolate.

Fresh apple and sausage quiche: a savory-sweet brunch pie with bulk pork sausage, sauteed onions, sharp cheese, and cubed Red Delicious apples in a custard. Sweet, salty, and unexpected.

Salmon steaks with white wine cream sauce: tender salmon topped with a classic French-style butter, cream, egg yolk, and dry white wine sauce. A 30-minute bistro-style dinner for two.

Rich fish chowder with five pounds of fish simmered in fish stock, thickened with a butter roux, and finished with cream and Monterey Jack cheese for a velvety, hearty bowl.

Steak au poivre with pepper-crusted beef tenderloin, sauteed mushrooms, a brandy-cream pan sauce, and a bed of wilted watercress. Classic French bistro fare.

Three-layer espresso jellies stack coffee gelatin, a dark chocolate Marsala layer, and vanilla-bean whipped cream in tall glasses. A tiramisu-inspired make-ahead dessert with restaurant presentation.

Ham and corn chowder made with creamed corn, half-and-half, and butter-sautéed onions. A thick, creamy soup ready in 40 minutes with just 8 simple ingredients.

Creamy mushroom and pea sauce with white wine, Parmesan, and a rich butter-cream base. Toss with your favorite pasta or spoon over rice for a fast, elegant weeknight dinner.

Overnight praline French toast baked on a sticky pecan-brown sugar base. Thick French bread soaked in egg custard, flipped onto a caramel-nut layer, and baked until puffed and golden.

Chilled raspberry soup with sour cream, dry sherry, pineapple juice, and grenadine, thickened with gelatin and refrigerated overnight. An elegant cold dessert soup.

Classic oyster stew with shucked oysters gently cooked in butter, then combined with scalded milk and cream. Seasoned with white pepper and nutmeg. Simple, rich, and traditional.

From-scratch pumpkin pie with fresh or canned pumpkin, dark brown sugar, molasses, raisins, and toasted pecans. Richer and more complex than the back-of-the-can version.

Spaghetti with shrimp and mushrooms tossed in a creamy Parmesan egg sauce with anchovy paste and dry mustard. A carbonara-style pasta dinner with stir-fried seafood and scallions.

Hungarian cream of spinach soup with a roux-thickened base, pureed spinach, and half-and-half. Garnished with sliced hard-boiled eggs and crispy crumbled bacon.

Scalloped oysters layered with buttery cracker crumbs, cream, and a drop of Worcestershire. A microwave-quick version of the holiday side that comes together in under 20 minutes without giving up the toasty top.

Classic quiche Lorraine with bacon, Swiss cheese, and thyme-sauteed onions in a homemade butter crust. Five whole eggs plus two yolks create an extra-rich, silky custard filling.