Recipes with butter

Texas-style chocolate sheet cake bakes a thin, fudgy buttermilk-cocoa cake in 25 minutes, then gets crowned with warm pecan-laced fudge icing poured straight onto the still-warm surface. Sixteen squares from one 9x13 pan.

Classic manicotti made the authentic way, with handmade egg pasta squares rolled around a ricotta and mozzarella filling, layered in meat sauce and baked under Parmesan. Fresh pasta makes all the difference over boxed tubes.

Crispy pantry tuna patties with celery, scallions, and soft breadcrumbs, pan-fried golden and served with a quick lemon sour cream sauce. Pantry dinner that doubles as next-day cold lunch.

Vegetarian penne baked with broccoli, spinach, and white wine, topped with melted Parmesan and cheddar. A quick green-loaded pasta bake with nutmeg-scented vegetables.

Just enough spiciness without over powering my palate, and the soup was very tasty.

Ground chicken and veal patties loaded with sautéed mushrooms and herbs, pan-fried and oven-crisped, then served with a punchy Dijon and English mustard sauce. Bistro-style burgers for eight.

Chocolate oat snack cake made in the microwave with brown sugar, walnuts, and a melted chocolate chip topping. Dense, chewy, and ready in under 30 minutes.

Lamb and bulgur bake: a Middle Eastern-style kibbeh pie with layered ground lamb, bulgur, onion, and a pine nut stuffing. Crisp on top, juicy inside, sliced into wedges.

Brunch burger: cast iron beef patty seasoned with house blend, stacked with bacon and a runny fried egg. Serve on English muffins, buns, or glazed donuts for the full treatment.

Baked chili cheese grits casserole with cheddar, jalapenos, eggs, and cream of chicken soup. A Southern side dish with a spicy kick and a golden, crispy top.

Corn tamale casserole layered with blended corn-cornmeal masa, green chiles, and cheddar cheese, baked under foil. Served with a warm oregano-stewed tomato sauce.

Butterscotch marshmallow brownies with chocolate chips and chopped nuts. Marshmallows melt into the batter as they bake, creating a gooey, chewy blondie-style bar.

Roast pheasant stuffed with toasted rice, mushrooms, and herbs, draped in bacon and basted with a currant jelly and port wine sauce. A classic wild game dinner.

Whole chicken slow-cooked with parsnips, carrots, white wine, and fresh oregano. Set it and forget it for 8 hours, then reduce the pan juices into a rich sauce.

Easy pot roast slow-cooked with stewed tomatoes, beef stock, and horseradish for 4-5 hours in a crockpot or covered roaster. A dump-and-forget roast with homemade flour gravy.

Flaky salmon surprise with canned salmon and cucumber in a creamy tarragon sauce layered inside golden puff pastry rounds. An elegant British-style seafood main course.