Chewy molasses cookies loaded with warming ginger and cinnamon spice, perfect for holiday cookie swaps or cozy winter afternoons with hot cocoa.
Cheesy meat loaf rolled jelly-roll style with cheddar and mushrooms inside, topped with a sweet brown sugar-mustard-ketchup glaze. A stuffed meatloaf that reveals a cheesy spiral in every slice.
Tiny heart-shaped chocolate cakes for two, made without eggs or butter. Cut from a simple cocoa sheet cake using a cookie cutter, then stacked and frosted for Valentine's Day.
Cream puff swans made from choux pastry piped into S-shaped necks and oval bodies, filled with sweetened whipped cream and mandarin oranges. A classic French pastry showpiece.
Margarita is a classic drink during the meal, and it is very easy to make at home, especially if you plan to host a party, freshly homemade margarita is definitely going to be a hit.
Tipsy chocolate pecan crunch ice cream with homemade chocolate-caramel coated pecans, dark rum custard base, and real heavy cream. A boozy, crunchy, from-scratch frozen indulgence.
Chewy pecan date squares with brown sugar and vanilla, baked low and slow then dusted with powdered sugar. No butter needed, the dates keep them moist.
Spiced applesauce ring cake with oats, dark and golden raisins, and chopped nuts. Warm cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg in a moist, old-fashioned baked ring mold dessert.
Pan di Spagna, the classic Italian sponge cake with eggs whipped to a ribbon, cake flour and cornstarch folded gently to preserve air. The foundation for tiramisu, zuppa inglese, and fruit-layered tortes.
Caramelized bananas in brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, and lemon juice. A five-minute warm dessert served over vanilla ice cream.
Chocolate domino cookies made with cocoa powder, cut into rectangles, and decorated with vanilla buttercream dots and lines. A fun baking project for kids.
Old-fashioned peach ice made with fresh peaches, sugar syrup, and beaten egg whites for a light, airy texture. A vintage frozen dessert from the days before electric ice cream makers.
Sourdough doughnuts made with active sourdough starter, buttermilk, nutmeg, and cinnamon, fried until golden. Virtually greaseless, freezer-friendly, and dusted with powdered or cinnamon sugar.
Sesame soy spareribs simmered in a garlic-ginger soy braise, then baked and broiled until glossy and caramelized. Tender pork ribs with toasted sesame and a sweet-savory Asian glaze.
Van's Faves are crisp lace-thin oat cookies scented with orange zest and finished with a chocolate drizzle. Eight ingredients, big crunch, and an old-fashioned tin-cookie feel.
Chicken almendrado braised in a blended red chile and almond sauce with cinnamon and vinegar. A Mexican-inspired one-skillet dish with a rich, nutty, mildly spiced sauce.