Recipes with light cream (half&half)

Southwest quiche loaded with artichoke hearts, green chilies, creamed corn, and cheddar. Vegetable-forward brunch centerpiece with Southwestern flair.

Fresh corn and summer squash sauteed in a cream sauce infused with whole cloves, coriander seeds, cinnamon, and jalapeno. A refined seasonal ragout with serious depth.

Eggnog bread pudding baked in a water bath with cinnamon-raisin bread, brandy, nutmeg, and half-and-half, served with a cranberry-maple bourbon sauce. A festive holiday dessert.

Browned chicken and prosciutto layered over broccoli, smothered in a creamy Dijon mushroom sauce with Swiss cheese and white wine. A showstopper casserole for special dinners.

Jack Jubilee layered Tex-Mex casserole with corn chips, Monterey Jack, green chiles, and a creamy egg-tomato sauce, topped with sour cream and cheddar. Retro potluck classic.

Rich, velvety crab Newberg in a sherry-laced cream sauce with egg yolks and a cayenne bite. This classic seafood dish comes together in just 20 minutes using the microwave.

Fresh corn seafood chowder: Louisiana-style chowder with crab, shrimp, crawfish tails, sweet corn, and bacon in a half-and-half broth. Rich one-bowl seafood feast.

Creamy Northwoods wild rice soup with chicken, ham, carrots, and celery in a half-and-half broth thickened with a butter-flour roux. A Minnesota classic with a splash of sherry.

English toast turns split English muffins into baked French toast, soaked in a cinnamon-vanilla custard and baked cut-side-down in butter until golden and crisp. A hands-off, crowd-sized breakfast, no skillet flipping.

Corn chowder flambéed with Jack Daniels whiskey, simmered in cream and chicken broth with cubed potatoes. Smoky-sweet chowder with dramatic flair.

A velvety, creamy garlic soup loaded with 2 cups of garlic and caramelized onions, thickened with stale French bread and finished with half and half. Inspired by New Orleans chef Susan Spicer. Even better the next day.

Spiced apple cake with warm cinnamon and nutmeg, crowned with a silky rum sauce made in a double boiler. Bake ahead and reheat for easy entertaining with make-ahead convenience.

Espresso cheesecake with a toasted hazelnut-cocoa crust, baked in a water bath for a silky, crack-free finish. Reduced espresso and Kahlua deliver bold coffee flavor in every bite.

Whole wheat pasta with ricotta, walnuts, walnut oil, butter, and Parmesan in a creamy herb sauce. A quick vegetarian dinner with rich, nutty flavor ready in 35 minutes.

Baked chicken liver pate with brandy, sage, thyme, and cream, molded in juice cans and rolled in fresh parsley. A make-ahead appetizer that freezes well for up to 3 weeks.

Blue cheese and cream cheese fettuccine with shrimp, white wine, garlic, and scallions. Baked in a casserole dish then tossed with pasta for a rich, tangy sauce.