Recipes with light cream (half&half)

Grilled beef patties with soy sauce, green pepper, and a homemade ketchup-brown sugar basting sauce. Juicy barbecue burgers basted on the grill for a sticky glaze.

Mexican quiche baked in crispy tostada shells with Swiss cheese, crumbled bacon, green chiles, and a half-and-half custard. Mini quiches with a cayenne kick for an unusual brunch presentation.

Three-layer butter pecan cake filled with rich, from-scratch burnt-sugar caramel, frosted in buttercream and crusted with pecans. A classic Southern caramel cake worth the fuss.

Southwestern quiche with whole green chilies stuffed with Monterey Jack cheese, arranged in a pie crust and baked in a creamy French onion soup custard with Swiss cheese, dry mustard, and hot sauce.

Coffee soda built with chilled double-strength coffee, half and half, coffee ice cream, and a top-up of fizzy soda water. The grown-up float you'd find at a 1950s soda fountain counter.

Crab quiche with sweet crabmeat, sharp cheddar, half-and-half custard, and scallions baked in a flaky pie shell. Brunch dish that doubles as a light dinner.

Microwave chocolate pots de crème made for two with German sweet chocolate, half-and-half, and egg yolks. Silky French custard, no oven, no water bath. Chills in the fridge.

Ham and potato bake folds diced cooked potatoes and cubed ham into a sharp cheddar cream sauce with bright pimento. Five-ingredient one-dish casserole that turns leftovers into dinner.

Curried shrimp in a creamy sauce with golden raisins, orange marmalade, and half-and-half, spooned over split baked potatoes and topped with cucumber and mint.

Oyster spinach soup with pureed oysters in a creamy milk and half-and-half base, finished under the broiler with a golden cap of whipped cream.

Stirred custard sauce is a quick microwave crème anglaise with egg yolks, half and half, amaretto, and vanilla. Silky and ready to spoon over fresh fruit.

Swedish spice cake (Mjuk Pepparkaka) with cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and cardamom, studded with raisins and nuts. A soft, aromatic Scandinavian holiday classic.

Baked banana halves brushed with butter and lemon juice, topped with shredded coconut until golden. A warm 4-ingredient dessert ready in 20 minutes.

Southern turnip green soup with cubed turnip roots, wilted and pureed greens, half-and-half, and a spoonful of cooked grits for body. Florida-style cream soup rooted in soul food.

This 45-minute stovetop vegetable soup layers sweet potatoes, zucchini, and broccoli in chicken broth with shredded potatoes for natural thickness. Celery seed and cumin add unexpected warmth to the silky cream finish.

Classic devil's food cake with deep chocolate flavor and silky fudge frosting. Two-layer cake with tender, moist crumb from boiling water and rich cocoa.

Bourbon pecan pie with cane syrup, dark brown sugar, and a pre-cooked filling for a deeper, less cloying caramel base. Toasted pecans bake into a glossy, crackly top.

An elegant pumpkin tart takes place of traditional pie, looks beautiful and pumpkin and banana work very well together!

Creamy sweet potato soup with shallots, nutmeg, dry sherry, and half-and-half, topped with chopped walnuts. A velvety holiday starter soup that's elegant enough for Thanksgiving.

Company apple pie is a three-pie batch showstopper with a sugar crust, lemony apple filling, caramel sauce stripes, cream cheese topping, and chopped walnuts. Built to feed a crowd.

Quiche Lorraine with bacon, Swiss cheese, scallions, and a nutmeg-seasoned egg custard blended until foamy. Topped with pimientos and baked in a flaky pie crust.

Southern corn spoonbread folded with whipped egg whites for a souffle-soft lift, studded with smoky bacon, fresh sweet corn, and tart green tomatoes. Scoop it straight from the dish while it's puffed and golden.

Homemade Thai iced tea brewed strong, sweetened with sugar, and topped with creamy half and half or sweetened condensed milk. That iconic orange drink from your favorite Thai restaurant, made at home.

Chocolate silk pudding with cocoa, three types of milk, egg yolks, and gelatin. A pot de creme-style dessert that sets overnight into a dense, velvety custard.

Holiday appetizer quiche baked in a sheet pan with Swiss cheese, ham, scallions, and pimentos in a buttery cracker crust. Cut into 50 small squares for easy party finger food.

Iced Jazzberry Java blends pureed raspberries with cold coffee and half-and-half over cracked ice. A fruity, creamy iced coffee drink topped with whipped cream and fresh mint.

Reach for the sky with this scrumptious dish made with turkey breast, tomato sauce and oyster crackers.

Classic coffee Irish cream liqueur with whiskey, Kahlua, and sweetened condensed milk ready in 1 minute. Shake, chill, and serve this creamy homemade holiday cocktail.

Tampa fish chowder with bacon, fish fillets, diced chicken, and potatoes in a half-and-half base spiced with cumin, ginger, and dill. A Florida twist on classic chowder with Cuban-Caribbean undertones.

Pan-fried trout with toasted almonds, lemon, and tarragon. Egg and cream batter creates an extra-crispy coating. Classic French technique ready in 50 minutes.

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

Mushroom turnovers in a cream cheese pastry with a sauteed mushroom-cream filling and optional sherry. An elegant make-ahead appetizer that freezes well before baking.

Polish bull's-eye eggs baked in toasted bread with sharp cheddar and cream. A cheesy, golden twist on classic egg-in-a-hole that finishes in the oven.

No-bake frozen pumpkin pie with crushed gingersnaps, pecans, whipped topping, and pumpkin pie spice in a graham cracker crust. Creamy, spiced, and scoopable.

Vichyssoise is the chilled French leek and potato soup, enriched with heavy cream and half-and-half, finished with snipped chives. Silky, cold, and the original elegant summer first course.

Baked chocolate souffle for two with cinnamon whipped cream and a warm fudge mocha sauce. A date-night dessert made with both semisweet and unsweetened chocolate.

From-scratch devil's food cake with boiling water for intense chocolate depth, topped with a fudge frosting made from melted semi-sweet chocolate and butter.

Parmesan noodles Alfredo tosses egg noodles in a quick sauce of butter, half-and-half, and grated Parmesan. Five-ingredient Italian-American comfort dinner ready in 30 minutes.

White chocolate mousse served in handmade dark chocolate cups. An elegant two-part dessert with airy mousse in edible chocolate shells, garnished with chocolate curls.

Casera Sauce is delicious anywhere the zing of cilantro and jalapeno is welcomed.

Apple pie with a custard twist: cornstarch-thickened cream and egg coat the spiced apples, baking into a smooth, custardy filling under a sparkling cinnamon-sugar crust.

Herbed zucchini-pea soup blends tender zucchini and shelled green peas with parsley, oregano, chervil, a touch of horseradish, and half-and-half. A chilled summer soup with a sneaky sharp finish.

Creamy mushroom potato chowder with a butter-flour roux base, fresh mushrooms, carrots, celery, half-and-half, and Parmesan. A thick, hearty vegetarian chowder from scratch.

Cold strawberry soup with sweet white wine, lime juice, honey, and frozen cherries blended smooth with cream. A chilled fruit soup served with a dollop of sour cream.

Flourless chocolate cake with crushed amaretti cookies, cocoa, and cream baked in a water bath. A dense, Italian-style loaf cake with almond flavor and a fudgy, custard-like center.

Bacon and sharp cheddar quiche with green onions sautéed in bacon drippings, a half-and-half custard, and a kick of cayenne and dry mustard. Rich, savory, and sliceable for dinner or party appetizers.

This is the easiest way I know to cook tender and delicate salmon. It's especially good prepared with fresh dillQbut if you prefer chives or basil, it's still a delightful dish.

Pumpkin pie with a tangy sour cream and lemon topping baked right on, finished with chopped pecans. A twist on classic pumpkin pie with bright citrus flavor cutting through the warm spices.