Old-fashioned buttermilk gingerbread with a streusel-style crumb topping built from the same dough. Molasses, ginger, and cinnamon meet a tangy buttermilk batter for a soft, warm-spiced cake. Serve warm with whipped cream or baked apple.
Chicken cacciatore braised in tomatoes, tomato paste, and pearl onions with garlic and bay leaf. Classic Italian hunter-style chicken simmered until fork-tender in a rich tomato sauce.
Whole wheat carrot spice bread with oats, dates, and warm cinnamon-ginger spice. A hearty, low-fat quick bread made with applesauce and egg whites instead of butter or oil.
Old-fashioned bran muffins made with all-bran cereal, molasses, and a simple shortening batter. Hearty, fiber-rich breakfast muffins with real home-baked flavor.
Heritage apple pie with a butter-and-lard crust, tart Northern Spy apples, brown sugar, and a teaspoon of bread crumbs lining the bottom shell to keep it crisp. A three-stage bake delivers an evenly browned crust.
Flowerpot banana bread: classic banana walnut bread baked in a clay flowerpot in a slow cooker for an unusual conversation-piece presentation. Rustic gift idea with a 1970s charm.
Grandma Thorpe's currant pancakes are griddled rolled biscuit-style pancakes studded with dried currants, buttered hot, and dusted with sugar. A British-Welsh heritage breakfast or tea-time treat.
Caramel shortbread squares with a buttery crumble base and thick, chewy toffee layer made with condensed milk and corn syrup. Chills overnight and inverts for clean slicing.
Coconut cream pie with silky custard filling, shredded coconut, and a cloud of stabilized meringue baked to golden peaks. Old-school diner pie at its finest.
Beef filet stroganoff with tenderloin cubes, mushrooms, dill pickle, paprika, and red wine in a sour cream sauce. The Russian-German classic served over spaetzle for a 30-minute weeknight meal.
Polenta blueberry cakes are tiny lemon-glazed muffins with cornmeal grit, buttermilk tang, and juicy blueberries folded through. A make-ahead dessert or brunch bite for a crowd.
Apple oatmeal chewy bars with diced Golden Delicious apple, walnuts, brown sugar, and cinnamon baked in a 13x9 pan. A one-bowl bar cookie that's soft, fruity, and packed with texture.
Died-And-Went-To-Heaven Light Chocolate Cake recipe
Artichoke spice bread with pureed artichoke hearts, orange juice, currants, and walnuts spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. A uniquely moist quick bread.
Homemade onion sandwich buns with sauteed onions, whole wheat flour, maple syrup, and thyme. Hearty, slightly sweet rolls perfect for burgers and pulled pork.
Soft persimmon cookies with warming cloves and cinnamon, packed with raisins and nuts. Old-fashioned fall harvest treat.
Mussel and saffron soup with fresh mussels steamed in white wine, simmered in a leek, garlic, and fenugreek broth tinted golden with saffron and finished with cream.
Peanut butter and jelly streusel bars with a brown sugar PB cookie base, strawberry jam middle, and oat-crumble topping. The lunchbox sandwich reinvented for the cookie tray.
Stuffed cheese pizza: Chicago-style deep dish with whole wheat crust hiding mozzarella and broccoli between two layers, topped with pizza sauce at the end. Inside-out flavor.
Granola scones studded with five-fruit cocktail, baked as one large round and cut into wedges. Crunchy granola clusters, tender crumb, and a sugar-sparkled top.
Homemade English muffins cooked on a griddle, not baked. Soft yeasted dough with cornmeal-dusted tops and bottoms, full of nooks and crannies for catching melted butter.
Classic Italian focaccia with a slow double rise, generous olive oil, and a customizable topping. Authentic Ligurian flatbread for snacking, sandwiches, or alongside soups and salads.
Lamb Creole gumbo with browned riblets, stewed tomatoes, okra, black-eyed peas, white wine, and lemon. A Cajun-Louisiana stew with a lamb twist that freezes well.
Potato kugel bread with mashed potatoes, bread flour, and wheat germ baked into a dense, chewy loaf. A Jewish-inspired yeast bread with a texture like a knish or kugel.
Butterscotch icebox cookies sandwich a cooked date-and-nut filling between thin slices of brown-sugar dough. A vintage refrigerator cookie that bakes up crisp and chewy.
Southern-style cheesy okra and crab casserole: fresh crabmeat baked with sliced okra, diced carrot and Tabasco in an egg custard, then topped with melted cheddar. A Gulf Coast main dish with Lowcountry roots.
Cream of artichoke soup with lemon and garlic, simmered in chicken broth and pureed smooth. A velvety, elegant soup with bright citrus notes and no cream needed.
Duck gumbo simmers deboned duck in a dark butter roux with okra, tomatoes, and the Cajun holy trinity for a rich bayou stew. Ladle over rice for a Louisiana cold-weather classic.
Twice-baked chocolate biscotti loaded with Dutch-process cocoa and toasted hazelnuts or walnuts. Crisp, sturdy, and dunkable, with a deep cocoa flavor and no butter or oil. The classic Italian coffee cookie, made dark.
Christmas is never complete without a visit from the aromatic, sweet-tasting gingerbread kids.
Crockpot pumpkin bread baked inside canning jars for cylindrical loaves. Pumpkin pie spice, brown sugar, currants, and a wet pumpkin batter. Edible gift idea.
Old-fashioned custard pie with a lard-and-butter crust and a silky egg-milk filling dusted with nutmeg. Simple farmhouse dessert with a classic five-ingredient filling.
Swiss steak braised in ketchup with onions and garlic until fork-tender. Flour-dredged round steak slow-cooked on the stovetop in a tangy, slightly sweet tomato sauce.
French lemon pie is a simple rustic tart: a whole wheat butter crust filled with a buttery fresh lemon custard and baked golden. Tart, glossy, and finished in an hour with pantry basics.
Fruit tarts with cheddar cheese pastry shells filled with pineapple and orange curd. A vintage sweet-and-savory dessert where sharp cheddar meets tropical citrus.
Homemade beef pot pie, Pennsylvania Dutch style: no baked crust, just handmade dough squares and cubed potatoes simmered with tender stewing beef in its own rich broth. Old-fashioned and hearty.
Raisin and bran cookies bake up chewy with unprocessed bran, brown sugar, and warm cinnamon-nutmeg spice. Egg whites keep them lighter than the typical butter-yolk cookie.
Baida Paratha is Indian whole wheat flatbread stuffed with spiced mashed boiled egg, cilantro, and black pepper, shallow-fried in ghee until golden brown on both sides.
Enchiladas verdes with corn tortillas layered flat with a garlic-infused green chile sauce, minced onion, and cheddar cheese, then baked until the cheese melts.
Apple cranberry pie with Granny Smith slices, whole cranberries, and an oat-cinnamon crumble topping. The Thanksgiving pie that combines pie and crisp.
Moist carrot cake baked in a tube pan with walnuts and cinnamon, finished with a glossy cooked orange glaze instead of the usual cream cheese frosting.
Deep-fried chicken wings marinated overnight in a sweet soy garlic mixture with egg and cornstarch, fried golden and topped with sesame seeds and scallions.
Teddy bear shaped oatmeal cookies decorated with icing faces and candy noses. A fun baking project kids love, made with brown sugar, oats, and real butter.
Cherry and apricot cobbler with fresh sour cherries and sliced apricots under a buttery buttermilk biscuit crust brushed with buttermilk and sugar. A summer stone fruit cobbler at its best.
This is an excellent holiday bread: very pretty and festive looking.
Low-fat cheesecake made with overnight-strained yogurt and blended cottage cheese instead of cream cheese. Dense, silky, and tangy on a graham cracker crust with no cream cheese at all.
Zucchini Apple Bread: a fall-leaning loaf where grated apple meets shredded zucchini, walnuts, and a full tablespoon of cinnamon. Two-loaf yield with a moist, fruit-forward crumb.
Chocolate chunk cheesecake layers a walnut-chocolate shortbread crust with a brown sugar cream cheese filling studded with chopped chocolate, finished with a chocolate ganache glaze. Bakery-style dessert.