Recipes with margarine

Streusel plum cake with a light, fluffy batter topped with halved plums, cinnamon-brown sugar crumble, and a vanilla glaze drizzle. Works with peaches, apples, or pears too.

Chocolate turtle cheesecake: vanilla wafer crust layered with caramel and toasted pecans, topped with creamy cheesecake and milk chocolate. Every turtle candy flavor in cake form.

Deep-dish pear pie with Anjou pears in a creamy yogurt custard filling, topped with a cinnamon streusel crumb. Nutmeg and vanilla round out this lighter take on a fruit pie.

Hawaiian pineapple pie with crushed pineapple, flaked coconut, and corn syrup in a custard-style filling baked in a pie shell. Tropical, sweet, and simple to make.

Frozen orange cloud pie layers tangy citrus filling over a buttery graham cracker crust. A no-bake summer dessert built from sweetened condensed milk, soda, and whipped topping.

Chive vichyssoise is a chilled potato-leek soup made lighter with buttermilk instead of cream. Silky, tangy, and brightened with lemon juice and a dash of hot sauce.

One-skillet turkey with rice and pasta uses turkey tenderloins, a seasoned rice mix, frozen broccoli, corn, and red bell pepper. A complete weeknight dinner cooked in a single pan.

Single-serving omelet with sauteed scallions, lemon thyme, and melted cheese. A simple, herb-scented breakfast that cooks in about 10 minutes.

Easy spicy barbecued shrimp needs just three things: shrimp, cayenne and butter. Baked in a fiery, buttery coating and peeled at the table, this fast, hands-on dish brings New Orleans heat with almost no effort.

Dairy-free onion buns made with soy milk, mustard, turmeric, and wheat germ. Soft, golden homemade burger or hot dog buns with a savory onion flavor built right into the dough.

Traditional fortune cookies made from scratch with 9 ingredients including instant tea for authentic color and flavor. Chill the batter, work with cotton gloves, and fold while hot for bakery-quality results.

Cranberry-orange bars with whole wheat flour, ground whole orange, and raisins. Low in added sugar and diabetic-friendly with a tart, fruity bite in every bar.

Cajun seafood creole with shrimp and crab simmered in a basil-laced tomato sauce with cayenne and white pepper. Spooned over peppery rice for a Louisiana classic that's ready in 40 minutes.

Chocolate-filled fruit oatmeal bars: a buttery brown-sugar oat crust with a rich melted chocolate, condensed milk, raisin, and coconut filling. Sheet-pan bars for crowds and cookie swaps.

Diet blueberry bread pudding made with fresh blueberries, diet bread, skim evaporated milk, and minimal sugar. A lighter take on classic bread pudding with bright berry flavor.

Polka-dot brownies made with melted semi-sweet chocolate, whipped eggs tripled in volume, and reduced-calorie margarine. Fudgy, lighter than classic brownies, and dusted with powdered sugar.

Green and white lasagne with spinach, ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan in a creamy white sauce with olives and nutmeg. A meatless lasagna with no red sauce in sight.

Creole tuna skillet with the holy trinity of onion, green pepper, and celery plus corn. A quick one-pan dinner served over rice with grated Parmesan. Pantry-friendly and ready in 30 minutes.

Triple chocolate cookies with unsweetened and semi-sweet chocolate, espresso, toasted pecans and walnuts, finished with a piped chocolate drizzle. Dense, fudgy, and intensely rich.

Pumpkin and mozzarella lasagne layered with sage-spiced pumpkin mash, melted mozzarella and Parmesan, topped with chive sour cream and toasted flaked almonds. A vegetarian autumn lasagne with no red sauce.

Homemade dog treats with whole wheat flour, powdered milk, and egg, baked until hard and crunchy. A simple six-ingredient recipe for bone-shaped biscuits your pup will love.

Lamb ring filled with creamy spinach bakes a tomato-spiked ground lamb meatloaf in a ring mold, then fills the center with sour cream and cream cheese spinach. A retro centerpiece dinner for four.

Chocolate chip date coffee cake uses boiling water-plumped dates to build a moist, caramel-sweet crumb, topped with brown sugar, nuts, and chocolate chips. A brunch bake with serious old-diner charm.

Dilly brunch pockets are folded corn tortillas stuffed with scrambled eggs, Canadian bacon, fresh dill, tomato, and cheddar. A baked, handheld brunch dish that feeds six and bakes in 20 minutes. Make-ahead friendly.

Southwest bread Gilroy: a rustic yeasted loaf packed with black beans, corn, cilantro, Anaheim chiles, and garlic. Hearty Southwest-style artisan bread that eats like a meal.

Lighter vegetable quiche with zucchini, red and green bell peppers, egg substitute, and skim milk in a flaky pie crust. Low-fat brunch or weeknight dinner.

Lighter chicken and rice casserole made with skim milk, defatted broth, and reduced-calorie mayo. Topped with toasted almonds and baked until bubbly. All the comfort, less the guilt.

Baked halibut steaks with lemon butter, served with a fresh cilantro pesto. Simple oven method with just 3 ingredients plus the pesto on the side.

Tuna casserole with dill cream sauce, peas, and golden biscuit topping. A cozy one-dish bake using pantry staples that comes together in under an hour.

Dense fudge brownies made with melted unsweetened chocolate, chopped nuts, and a dash of cognac. Rich, intensely chocolatey, and done in 30 minutes.

Classic shortbread wedges with almond extract, cornstarch for extra tenderness, and a whole almond pressed into each piece. A buttery, crumbly Scottish-style cookie baked in a round pan.

Homemade chocolate covered peanut butter eggs with a sweet brown sugar filling dipped in melted chocolate. A no-bake Easter candy made from scratch.

Upside-down apple gingerbread with sliced apples in brown sugar on the bottom, topped with a spiced molasses cake made with hot tea. A warm fall dessert inverted onto a plate.

Three-layer peanut butter brownies with a fudgy chocolate base, creamy peanut butter filling, and glossy semi-sweet chocolate glaze. Loaded with chopped peanuts for extra crunch.

No-bake chocolate peanut butter mud pies with oats. One-minute boil, stir in the good stuff, drop on wax paper, and let them set. Fudgy, chewy, and no oven needed.

Lemony strawberry cheesecake builds a cinnamon-zwieback crust under a citrus-bright cream cheese filling, crowned with cooked strawberry topping. A retro three-layer dessert.

Crunchy microwave snack mix loaded with honey-cinnamon cereal, peanuts, banana chips, popcorn, coconut, and raisins. Sweet, salty, and ready in minutes.

Carrot raisin cheesecake blends warm spices and shredded carrots into a creamy graham-crusted cheesecake topped with citrus cream cheese frosting. Carrot cake meets New York cheesecake in one springform pan.

Tater-stuffed mushrooms: button mushroom caps stuffed with mashed potato, cottage cheese, and onion soup mix. A clever low-fat appetizer that uses up leftover mashed potatoes.

Spiced buttermilk pound cake with cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and chopped pecans baked in a Bundt or tube pan. A dense, warmly spiced Southern-style cake that needs no frosting.

Oven-baked chicken pieces coated in seasoned flour, sprinkled with sesame seeds and lemon juice, then finished with white wine. Simple one-pan dinner with elegant results.

Banana layer cake stacks two tender 8-inch rounds and slathers them in a real banana frosting brightened with lemon juice. Twice the banana, twice the reason to skip the boxed mix.

Chocolate lover's cake with four thin layers of sour cream chocolate cake sandwiched with fudge frosting and topped with chopped pecans. Bare sides show off the dramatic layered interior.

Quick beef stroganoff with thin-sliced round steak, cream of chicken soup, paprika, and light sour cream. A 30-minute weeknight dinner served over hot egg noodles.

Chocolate tunnel cake with a hidden cream cheese filling baked inside a chocolate cake mix base. Topped with a glossy chocolate-corn syrup glaze. Semi-homemade and impressive.

Chocolate surprise cookies hiding peanut butter chips and walnuts inside a cocoa-based drop cookie dough. The chocolate-peanut butter combo bakes up in just 8-10 minutes.

Cherry cookie pizza with a golden sugar cookie crust, sweetened cream cheese layer, and cherry pie filling on top. A fun no-fuss dessert pizza baked on a 12-inch pan.

Italian herbed potatoes made in the microwave with frozen hash browns, green onions, Italian seasoning, and Parmesan cheese. A 20-minute side dish with herb-butter flavor and zero oven time.