This recipe is brought to you by our friends from Stella Artois. This rich dish from chef Sam Talbot, of Pretty Southern in Brooklyn, combines two beloved Southern dishes: pimento cheese (a hearty spread made from mayo, shredded cheddar, and pimentos) and macaroni and cheese. The cavatappi pasta is a great shape for catching all the sauce, which is creamy and lush but has a bite from extra-sharp cheddar, plus piquancy from the pimentos, garlic, cayenne, and Worcestershire sauce. It’s quick and easy to make, too. See our chat with Sam about his path to the kitchen, and get another recipe from the chef: his Oysters with General Tso’s Cabbage and Furikake recipe.

This porcini fried rice may look a bit involved, but nearly all of the component parts can be prepared ahead of time, and will make enough for other dishes too. The fried rice itself is earthy, crispy in spots, tender in others, and full of delicious porcini mushrooms, which show up sautéed, blended into a luscious porcini aioli, in a dry porcini spice powder, and sliced raw as one of the finishing touches, along with balsamic-and-thyme-glazed ramps and spring onions. For more elegant and satisfying dishes from State Bird Provisions, get their Black Butter-Balsamic Figs with Basil and Fontina Fondue recipe and Quinoa Tabbouleh with Marinated Tuna, Shiitakes, and Bonito-Rosemary Aioli recipe. Really can’t get enough porcini mushrooms? Then try our Pot Roast with Porcini and Beer recipe, and our Tomato-Porcini Sauce recipe too.

Looking for something to serve at your next dinner party? This is a luscious little bite, and easy to make, though it’s certainly impressive. Ripe figs are caramelized in black butter and balsamic vinegar with fresh thyme, then paired with an ultra rich, creamy Fontina cheese sauce. Sweet-savory perfection. For more substantial (and involved) State Bird Provisions dishes, check out their Porcini Fried Rice with Balsamic Spring Onions, Ramps, and Porcini Aioli recipe and Quinoa Tabbouleh with Marinated Tuna, Shiitakes, and Bonito-Rosemary Aioli recipe. And for more fabulous ways with figs, get our Poached Fig, Walnut, and Blue Cheese Tart recipe, and our Grilled Fig and Orange Blossom Sundae recipe.

This palak chaat is the most popular dish at Rasika in Washington, DC. An ultra-thin chickpea flour batter coats the spinach leaves so they fry up with a wonderfully delicate crispiness akin to Japanese tempura. Dusted with deggi mirch (an Indian chili powder), black salt, and toasted cumin powder, then garnished with chopped red onion, tomato, and cilantro, and accompanied by both tangy tamarind and creamy yogurt sauces, this is a beautifully complex dish bursting with different textures, temperatures, and flavors. Although the recipe isn’t difficult, it pays to be organized. You can make the sauces and ready the garnishes up to a full day ahead, then be sure to lay everything out before you start cooking, since each step happens quickly. You’ll fry the spinach in four separate batches, so weigh out four equal piles before you start. You should also use a kitchen thermometer and make sure you let the oil get hot enough before you fry each new batch of spinach, or you’ll get soggy leaves instead of a great crisp. If you leave off the yogurt, you have a wonderful vegan snack or appetizer. And you can fry the spinach up to one hour before serving, although you should wait to assemble it with the garnishes until the last minute. Check out these other Rasika recipes: their Steamed Sea Bass in Banana Leaf with Coconut-Mint Chutney recipe and their Indian Spiced Sautéed Mushrooms and Green Onions recipe. And for more spinach snacks, try our Garlicky Kale and Spinach Dip recipe, or our Spinach Queso Blanco recipe.

This Doughnut Cake with Matcha Glaze from Melissa Ben-Ishay is a rich but tender confection, with plenty of butter and vanilla, plus fragrant mace (the lacy outer covering of the nutmeg seed). Topped with a creamy matcha green tea glaze with a little tang from lemon juice, it makes a perfect nibble with a pot of tea. You can make this recipe in whatever pans you prefer (donut pans, cupcake pans, two 8-inch round pans), so no specific bake time is given, but if you start checking at 25 minutes, you’ll look for the cake to feel springy under your fingertip; when it does, it’s done. For more delicious desserts from Melissa, try her Vanilla Cupcakes with Peanut Butter and Jelly recipe and her Chocolate Chip Pancake Ice Cream Sandwiches recipe. And for more green tea goodies, get our Matcha Hong Kong Egg Waffles recipe, and our Raspberry Matcha Muffins recipe.

You’ve had chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches before, so you have some idea of how delicious these will be. But Melissa Ben-Ishay’s inventive ice cream sandwiches use thick, soft rounds of chocolate chip pancake cake instead of cookies, which take these to another (ingenious) level. The fluffy, sweet cake tastes like a cross between a classic vanilla cake and beloved breakfast pancakes, with a touch of maple syrup mixed in to bridge the gap. Chocolate or vanilla ice cream tastes great, but try sandwiching other flavors too, and decorate with whatever you fancy. You could try making the pancake cake with blueberries or bananas instead of (or in addition to) chocolate chips as well. As the author points out, these are great for a party—you could set up a buffet with different ice cream flavors and toppings and let everyone make their own. You could also make this cake in a waffle iron for actual waffles with ice cream. See a couple more deliciously whimsical desserts from Melissa: her Doughnut Cake with Matcha Glaze recipe and her Vanilla Cupcakes with Peanut Butter and Jelly recipe. Can’t get enough ice cream sandwiches? Try our Snickerdoodle Ice Cream Sandwiches recipe, and our Chocolate Stout Ice Cream Sandwiches recipe too.

These cozy cookies are basically hot cocoa in edible form, with the addition of broiled marshmallows and a sprinkle of Aleppo pepper. The latter lends a fruity, fragrant, and slightly salty piquancy to the sweet toasted marshmallow and deep chocolate flavors. Naturally, these make perfect partners to actual cups of hot chocolate, and a fun addition to any holiday cookie tray, though they are best eaten as soon as they’re baked. You can store them for up to 2 days, but in that case, wait until just before serving before topping them with marshmallows, popping them under the broiler, and finishing them with the pepper. Scooping out the dough with a 1-tablespoon cookie-dough or ice-cream scoop not only ensures uniform cookies, but keeps your hands clean. You should also check out Elisbet der Nederlanden’s Red and Green Icebox Pinwheel Cookies recipe and Red Velvet Crackle Cookies recipe. Try pairing these hot chocolate cookies with our Tipsy Hazelnut Hot Chocolate recipe, or our Five-Spice Hot Chocolate recipe.

These sweet potato fritters from the Myers + Chang cookbook are incredible. The creamy roasted sweet potato cakes are enriched with a little butter, punched up with spicy red curry paste, and studded with bits of sweet Chinese sausage and scallions, then breaded in panko, which makes them extra crispy when fried. Already addictive on their own, the Sriracha Aioli accompanying them will ensure you can’t stop dipping until they’re gone. If you can’t find the Chinese sausage (lap cheong), you can substitute chopped bacon, chorizo, or ham, or just leave out the meat for a veggie version. And although regular sweet potatoes or yams work beautifully here, if you can find extra-sweet, purple-skinned Japanese sweet potatoes, the authors recommend using those. For a couple more stunning Myers + Chang creations, get their Braised Short Rib Dumplings with Sichuan Chili Oil recipe, and their Beef and Chinese Broccoli Chow Fun recipe. For more savory sweet potato dishes, try our Sweet Potato-Star Anise Soup with Ginger recipe, and our New Mexican Sweet Potato Latkes with Lime-Sour Cream Sauce recipe.

Who needs take-out? This beef and broccoli dish from the duo behind Boston restaurant Myers + Chang is easy and delicious. The thin strips of marinated beef and Chinese broccoli are stir fried with onions and tossed with a peppery sauce with plenty of ginger, garlic, and scallions, plus flat, chewy rice noodles to catch all the delicious Fun Sauce. If you’re vegetarian, it’s also great with tofu in place of the beef, and since the sauce is already vegan, there’s no need to change anything else. Just substitute 14 to 16 ounces firm tofu, cut into 1-inch cubes, skip the marinating step, and proceed with the stir-fry directions with the tofu cubes in place of the beef, and add all the Fun Sauce at the end. For more Myers + Chang goodness, try their Braised Short Rib Dumplings with Sichuan Chili Oil recipe and their Sweet Potato and Chinese Sausage Fritters with Sriracha Aioli recipe. If you’re going stir-fry crazy, check out our Stir-Fried Tamarind Eggplant recipe, and our Five-Spice Pork Stir-Fry with Sweet Potatoes and Snap Peas recipe too.

This recipe is brought to you by our friends from Stella Artois. The hearty Alsatian casserole called Baeckeoffe (“bake oven”) is made a bit more elegant by Michelin three-star chef Antoine Westermann, who combines a whole chicken with Riesling, potatoes, artichokes, tomatoes, fragrant herbs like rosemary and thyme, and plenty of garlic. Preserved lemon blanched in syrup adds another elegant layer of aromatic flavor. As per tradition, the casserole dish is tightly sealed with a ring of dough, then simmered in the oven until juicy and tender. For a dessert recipe from the chef, see his Caramelized Brioche with Glazed Pears and Beer Ice Cream recipe.

Queso is usually warm and gooey, and it’s delicious that way, of course. But try the Homesick Texan’s novel spin on the dip, which mixes creamy cottage cheese with a punchy blend of jalapeños, onion, garlic, cilantro, vinegar, salt, and cumin for a little earthiness. Diced avocado underscores the cool creaminess of the dip, which is perfect for chips and raw veggies. Bonus points for being healthy and quick to throw together. Still prefer something melty? Try Spinach Queso Blanco or Indian Spiced Queso with Jalapeño Chutney.

Traditional millionaire’s shortbread features a rich biscuit base with soft, sweet caramel and milk chocolate layered on top, which can be a little cloying. This Middle Eastern variation from Sweet: Desserts from London’s Ottolenghi keeps the buttery shortbread layer but tops it with rich and roasty halva (a crumbly sesame-based confection) and a faintly bitter, slightly salty tahini caramel. For more brilliant desserts from Ottolenghi, try their Chocolate, Banana, and Pecan Cookies, and Flourless Coconut and Chocolate Cake. You can make this shortbread up to 4 days ahead of time and store it in airtight container, or even freeze it. Refrigerated in an airtight container, it keeps for up to a week, but should be removed 20 minutes before serving to take the chill off the bars. For more uncommonly delicious sesame-accented dessert options, try our Marzipan Caramel Apple with Sesame and Almond recipe, or our Toasted Sesame Seed and Honey Gelato recipe.

These crinkly, fudgy chocolate nut cookies come from Sweet: Desserts from London’s Ottolenghi. Mashed banana added to the dough not only adds a faintly tropical flavor, but helps keep the slightly underbaked cookies extra soft and moist, while a touch of cinnamon and chopped pecans add warm, nutty notes. These are rather fragile and don’t hold up much more than a day after baking, but they’re so delicious you’ll have no trouble eating the whole batch before then. Since this is a soft, sticky dough, it needs to be chilled twice, for 3 hours total; be sure to plan ahead to allow enough time. You can refrigerate the balls of prepared dough for up to 2 days, or even freeze them up to 3 months. If baking from frozen, add an extra minute of cooking time. For more compelling confections from Ottolenghi, get their Flourless Coconut and Chocolate Cake recipe and their Middle Eastern Millionaire’s Shortbread recipe. And for more fantastic chocolate-banana pairings, try our Roasted Banana-Nutella Quick Bread recipe, and our Banana Hot Chocolate recipe.

If you’ve never tried apple brandy, fall is the perfect time, though Jackson Cannon’s Jack Rose is delicious any time of year. Be sure to use Applejack, a potent American spirit that dates back to Colonial times, and not another apple brandy. Blended with perfect proportions of fresh lemon juice and homemade grenadine, it makes a lovely cocktail. For a full trio of 3-ingredient cocktails, take a look at the Obituary Cocktail and the Gold Rush cocktail too. It’s definitely worth making your own grenadine, but since you’ll have 2 cups, try using it in our Ward Eight cocktail recipe and our Scofflaw cocktail recipe too, or for a non-alcoholic grenadine delight, get our Shirley Temple recipe.

With only 3 ingredients, the Gold Rush cocktail is as easy to make as it is elegant. Inspired by the classic whiskey sour, this drink from beloved New York bar Milk & Honey blends bourbon, lemon juice, and rich honey syrup for a balanced sweet-tart, silky, luscious sip. Henry McKenna bonded 10-year old bourbon is the recommended choice here, but use what you like. You’ll have a full 1/3 cup of honey syrup, so you can shake up plenty of cocktails, or try leftover syrup in tea. Play around with different types of honey too, to subtly change the flavor of the drink. For more 3-ingredient marvels, try Jackson Cannon’s Jack Rose and the Obituary Cocktail too. And if you think honey is the bee’s knees, be sure to try our Wisdom of Pelé cocktail recipe, and our Madame’s Choice cocktail recipe as well.

The Ramelette is brought to you by The Culinary Bro-Down cookbook. All hail Josh Scherer for devising such a stupid-simple, delicious, cheap, and easy meal. Ramen noodles and eggs combine to form an endlessly customizable delight that’s obviously perfect for making (and devouring) after hitting up the bar, but is so tasty and quick you’ll be tempted to add it to your anytime repertoire. For a couple more bro-tastic recipes, check out Cheeseburger Pudding and Cap’n Drunk Pancakes. And for a couple more interesting things to do with ramen, get our White Chocolate Ramen Bark recipe, or our Ramen Waffle Sandwich recipe.

These “Cap’n Drunk Pancakes” with a malted milk glaze from The Culinary Bro-Down cookbook are great hangover breakfast food. Crushed cereal is whizzed up with flour, then mixed with your standard pancake ingredients—plus a full can of beer. The malty, fluffy cakes are topped with a funky-sweet malted milk glaze instead of syrup. Per the book intro, “You can add cereal crumbs to cookie dough or cake batter, or basically any batter or dough that doesn’t rely on gluten development like donuts or pizza do. I suggest you do it, and after you eat these pancakes, you’ll see why.” Check out Cheeseburger Pudding and Ramelette recipes from Josh Scherer if his madcap style intrigues you, and get ready for a truly unique experience. For more gussied-up pancakes, get our Spiced Pumpkin-Pecan Pancakes recipe, or our Carrot Cake Pancakes recipe.

This recipe is brought to you by our friends from Stella Artois. Courtesy of chef Theo Friedman, this grilled eggplant recipe is simultaneously delicate and robust, with a wonderful melting texture, and bright but savory Asian flavors. Japanese eggplants, which are longer, narrower, and thinner-skinned than globe eggplants, are simply halved and brushed with a sweet-salty white miso, mirin, rice wine vinegar, and sugar glaze, then grilled until charred and tender. They nestle on a bed of tangy Greek yogurt sparked with citrusy yuzu juice and fragrant sesame oil, and get a shower of crunchy sesame seeds, fresh mint, and chives before serving. This is a lovely appetizer, but also makes a great vegetarian main with a little rice. Read more of our conversation with Theo Friedman here, and get the full scoop on our first farm-to-table feast hosted by Stella Artois and Feastly, where this eggplant dish was just one of several showstoppers. For even more elegant eggplant options, get our Grilled Eggplant Parmesan Salad recipe, or our chunky Eggplant-Pepper Tomato Sauce recipe.

A homemade mayonnaise recipe is simple to make and has better flavor than store-bought. Also, mayonnaise is the “mother” (a.k.a. base) recipe for a lot of other sauces out there, including aioli, Rémoulade, and Thousand Island Dressing. Use to to brighten up classic comfort dishes such as an egg salad sandwich. Game plan: Have all the ingredients at room temperature before you start. Since the egg doesn’t get cooked, use one that’s very fresh or pasteurized. Once made, the mayonnaise should be stored in an airtight container and can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Using cola in this short ribs recipe helps balance the spicy rub, but don’t expect the sticky-sweet oven-braised version of this dish. These ribs are rubbed with a spice mix and browned in the pressure cooker; then cola, soy sauce, and Worcestershire are added to make a flavorful, balanced cooking liquid. Just 30 minutes later, once the ribs have become fork tender, the sauce is thickened to make a beefy, savory gravy. Serve the ribs and sauce over mashed potatoes with an escarole and mushroom salad on the side. What to buy: Look for the common English-cut beef short ribs, which are about 2 to 2 1/2 inches thick. Because of the thickness of short rib bones, have your butcher cut them crosswise into 2-1/2-inch-long pieces. Do not purchase Korean-style beef short ribs, which are about 1/4 inch thick with three rib bones attached. Game plan: Though the CHOW Test Kitchen prefers a stovetop pressure cooker, this recipe can also be made in an electric model. Use the brown setting for steps 2 and 3, then proceed with high pressure cooking. Return the pressure cooker to the brown setting to finish the sauce in the last step. This recipe was featured as part of our story on pressure cookers.

This variation on pulled pork highlights flavors from Mexico, with a touch of the Yucatán. The tart flavor of the tomatillos balances the earthy, slightly smoky achiote spice; the sweet-sour orange juice balances the spicy jalapeños. They all merge with the richness of the pork shoulder to make something really delicious and laid-back. This spicy pulled pork is great on toasted French or ciabatta rolls, served with pickled red onions, or piled in warmed tortillas topped with queso fresco and chopped cilantro. What to buy: Achiote Rojo is a type of recado rojo, the Yucatecan spice mixture of annatto, Mexican oregano, spices, garlic, and salt. Buy it from a well-stocked Mexican market (we used the El Mexicano brand), or make your own recado rojo. We recommend whipping this recipe up for game day parties. Once you’ve prepped your menu, visit CBS Sports for everything you need to know about the Super Bowl this year.

Making this easy, elegant party appetizer is a balancing act between getting crisp prosciutto and overcooking the asparagus. We found that the sweet spot lies in arranging the oven rack 5 or 6 inches below the broiler, blasting the prosciutto-wrapped asparagus spears with heat for just a few minutes, and flipping them halfway through broiling. Serve this fancy finger food with a sparkling wine cocktail. What to buy: For the perfect balance of crispy prosciutto and tender asparagus, choose asparagus spears that are 3/4- to 1-inch thick. Stay away from the pencil-thin or very thick mature spears.

Lasagna is such a comfort food. But making it can seem like a long, complicated process to the uninitiated. Take the first step to homemade lasagna glory with this simple recipe. Remember, these are the basics. Feel free to improvise after you’ve made this recipe once as-is. This easy lasagna recipe is made with layers of creamy ricotta and spinach filling, tomato sauce, Parmesan cheese and mozzarella cheese. Making a proper lasagne is all about a harmonious ratio of filling, cheese, sauce, and noodles. For this spinach and cheese version, we’ve skipped the béchamel sauce found in traditional lasagna recipes to make the dish fast and easy to assemble. Bake until browned and bubbly, and serve with a simple salad or vegetable side for a cozy vegetarian meal. For dessert, we recommend following up with another easy comfort food classic like our Rice Pudding recipe.

Alfajores are soft, delicate cookies from South America made, surprisingly, with cornstarch. The cornstarch gives the dough a smooth, satiny texture that makes it a dream to work with and produces a tender, crumbly cookie. Creamy Dulce de Leche holds the cookies together. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can take these to the next level by rolling the edges of the finished cookies in flaked coconut or covering them in chocolate. Special equipment: A plain or fluted 2-inch round cutter is needed to portion out the dough. This recipe was featured as part of our Argentine Grilling menu.

This cheesecake recipe has the tangy flavor of a New York–style cake and is topped with a chunky strawberry sauce made from fresh strawberries. It starts with a press-in crumb crust that’s filled with a batter made with cream cheese and a little lemon for a balance of sweet and tart. While the cake bakes—no need for a water bath—and then gradually cools to avoid cracks, make the strawberry sauce. When both are chilled, pour the sauce over the cheesecake and serve for birthdays, holidays, or any special occasion. Special equipment: You’ll need a 9-inch springform pan for this recipe. Game plan: The following baking method may seem time-consuming and (admittedly) strange, but it results in a smooth cheesecake without having to use a water bath. If time permits, make this cake a day in advance—it’s best after being refrigerated overnight.

Don’t believe a sweet treat featuring slop could be delicious? Think of the secret ingredient as oatmeal instead and you’ll understand just how good these chewy peanut butter chocolate chip cookies (featuring a hefty dose of butter, of course) really are. Use the cookies to make Big Brother Ice Cream Sandwiches and they’re off the charts —and a perfect snack to go with the Big Brother Season 19 premiere on June 28. Get our Big Brother Slop recipe, and see another tasty way to work it into your menu with our Big Brother Lemon Chive Waffles recipe.

Say you made a big batch of Big Brother slop (just go with it) —you might get tired of eating it in bowls, no matter what garnishes you’re piling on. So here’s a recipe for Lemon Chive Waffles that works in about a cup of slop (or call it oatmeal, if that’s more appealing). The waffles get a nutritional boost and a bit of texture, while remaining light and fluffy from the addition of whipped egg whites, and bright with lemon zest and juice. Topped off with thick, tangy crème fraîche, luscious smoked salmon, and briny pops of caviar, this is the most decadent way to work slop into your diet yet —and perfect for serving at your viewing party of the Big Brother Season 19 premiere (Wednesday, June 28 at 8/7Central)! Get our Big Brother Slop recipe, and find another surprisingly delicious way to use it in our Big Brother Ice Cream Sandwich Cookies recipe.

A big slab of beef ribs can be hard to find and intimidating to cook, so here I use short ribs. I also don’t follow any prescribed style of cooking or flavoring, which makes this recipe an easy shortcut for beginners, or people who don’t want to spend hours smoking their ribs. Start with a sweet and spicy rub to coat the meat, and let it sit overnight for the best flavor. In the meantime, make the slightly smoky chipotle barbecue sauce. Roast the ribs in the oven until the meat almost falls off the bone, then finish them on the grill, slathering them with sauce until the ribs are lacquered and slightly charred. Serve with a fresh corn salad and some herby potatoes. Special equipment: You’ll need a pastry brush or barbecue basting brush for this recipe. What to buy: Look for flanken-cut beef short ribs—they’re sliced through the bones, revealing four or five oval-shaped cross-sections. You’ll need ribs that are 2 to 2 1/2 inches thick and 5 to 7 inches long. But don’t worry if you can’t find that exact size or cut: Though their shape is not ideal for grilling, English-cut short ribs (sliced parallel to the rib) can also be used in this recipe. Just monitor the cooking time in step 3—if your ribs are thinner than 2 inches, check them for doneness after about 1 1/2 hours; if they’re thicker than 2 1/2 inches, check them after 2 hours. Game plan: You can make the ribs through step 3 up to 2 days in advance. After roasting, transfer them to a large, shallow container, set aside to cool for about 1 hour, then cover and refrigerate. When you’re ready to grill, remove the ribs from the refrigerator and let them come to room temperature before grilling, about 1 hour. The barbecue sauce can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Let it come to room temperature before using.

Why would you want to eat slop, you may ask? Well, if you’re a losing contestant on Big Brother, you have no choice (and probably fondly recall the days of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the “Have-Nots”). But if you’re in the mood for an easy, no-frills oatmeal that contains all your essential protein, vitamins, and nutrients, try making a big batch of Big Brother Slop to carry you through the week. At least you get to garnish it any way you want to! And if you call it porridge, you may find it more appealing. You can also work it into legitimately tasty brunch and dessert options —get our Big Brother Lemon Chive Waffles recipe, and our Big Brother Ice Cream Sandwich Cookies recipe.

*These light and healthy Vietnamese-influenced summer rolls are filled with cooked shrimp, rice noodles, and plenty of fresh herbs and vegetables for flavor and crunch. Once your ingredients are prepped, the rolling fun begins as sheets of rice paper are softened in water and used for the wrappers. Dipped in a spicy peanut sauce, these rolls are a great hot-weather appetizer or light lunch. What to buy: We like to use natural peanut butter in this recipe. If you use the conventional kind, omit the sugar called for in the sauce. Look for hoisin sauce and chile-garlic paste in the Asian section of your supermarket. For the chile paste, we prefer the one made by Huy Fong Foods (with the rooster on the jar!). The rice stick noodles and rice paper wrappers can be found in most Asian grocery stores. For the wrappers, we like the Red Rose brand. Game plan: Be sure to have all your ingredients ready and easily accessible when you start to roll, and give yourself plenty of time (and counter space) to make these. Also be sure to have a few extra rice paper wrappers on hand—it may take a few tries before you’re rolling like a pro. Store the summer rolls in a dish or plastic container that’s roomy enough to hold them without their touching. Place a damp paper towel in the bottom of the container to keep the rolls moist. Cover tightly with plastic wrap. You can make the peanut sauce a day ahead. Just keep it refrigerated in a covered container. Let it sit for a bit at room temperature before serving. This recipe was featured as part of our summer no-cook recipes, as well as our chile pepper recipe slideshow and our picnic recipe slideshow.

Roasted poblano chiles stuffed with loads of cheese, battered with an airy egg coating, and fried until crispy equate to the Mexican version of comfort food. Chiles rellenos fillings can range from ground or stewed meats to a medley of vegetables, but this recipe sticks to classic cheese. Our spicy roasted tomato salsa is the perfect foil to all of the fatty goodness here, but a Smooth Salsa Verde would also be tasty. Game plan: Separate the eggs while they’re still cold, which will make them easier to handle; then let them come to room temperature. And make sure there are no traces of yolk in the whites, or the whites will not whip properly. Coring and removing the seeds from the peppers is easier before roasting and keeps the peppers from tearing while stuffing in the cheese. Roasting over a gas flame keeps the peppers’ shape and texture intact during frying, but if you don’t have a gas stove, use the broiler in your oven (instructions below). This recipe was featured as part of our No-Fail Mexican Favorites for Cinco de Mayo.

A shiny, crispy-edged glazed ham is an iconic holiday centerpiece second only, perhaps, to roast turkey. This easy, holiday-ready recipe yields a crunchy, sweet crust and juicy interior—all you need to worry about is getting the best-quality smoked, bone-in ham you can find and that fits the budget (seek out a good butcher or meat counter at a market or grocery store you trust). There aren’t many ingredients in this recipe, so be sure to buy a good ham for the best results. Note that leaving just enough fat on the ham is important for the perfect crunchy crust–to–juicy meat ratio—too much fat and your caramelized crust becomes a flabby mess; too little and your ham has dry spots. So take care when trimming. Serve this holiday classic with Scalloped Potatoes, Buttermilk Biscuits, and Sautéed Brussels Sprouts with Fried Capers.

Two bars in Minneapolis, Matt’s and the 5-8 Club, have competing claims to being the creator of the infamous Juicy Lucy burger (or Jucy Lucy, depending on whom you’re talking to). However CHOW.com’s Supertaster, James Norton, thinks the Blue Door Pub in St. Paul actually serves the Perfect Jucy Lucy—he explains why in this CHOW video. Whichever version you prefer, these cheese-stuffed burgers ooze cheesy goodness with every bite—and now you can make your own at home. Be sure to aim any cheese drips over your French Fries, and serve with our pickle recipe. What to buy: Fat equals flavor and moisture, so buy high-quality chuck with a fat content of 15 to 20 percent. While American cheese is standard in a Juicy Lucy, other cheeses that melt well, such as mild cheddar or pepper jack, can be substituted. You could even try making your own version of American cheese; Mark McClusky shows you how in this episode of CHOW’s My Go-To Dish video series. Soft hamburger buns (skip brioche or crusty buns) work best with the simple flavors of these burgers. Game plan: Make sure the burger patties rest after cooking so that the juices redistribute in the meat and the cheese isn’t dangerously hot when you bite into the center. If you’re grilling outside, toast the buns right on the grill while the cooked patties are resting. If you’re grilling inside using a grill pan, toast your buns in the oven, because the moisture left in the pan from cooking the burgers will make the buns soggy. This recipe was featured as part of our Burger Bonanza!

Biscuits and gravy is a classic diner breakfast that’s easy to make at home. The key to fluffy biscuits is keeping all the ingredients as cold as possible, so we put everything in the freezer for 10 minutes before making the biscuits. While they bake, brown your breakfast sausage, then stir in flour and milk to make a creamy gravy. Season it with some cayenne for a subtle kick and serve it with just the biscuits, or add our Basic Scrambled Eggs for a hearty weekend breakfast or brunch. Special equipment: You’ll need a 2-1/2-inch round cutter for this recipe. For more, check out our Sweet Potato Biscuits, Cheddar Biscuits, and Beer Biscuits.

Steak tartare is usually associated with both Parisian bistros and the Tartars who gave the dish its name, but it goes well beyond that. If you are able to get your hands on top-quality beef, this is a great way to serve it. Try it over a bed of mesclun or served with toast points or french fries as they do at the Polo Lounge. What to buy: Because you will be serving the meat raw, be sure to buy it from a reputable source, and tell your butcher that you will be preparing it as tartare so he or she gives you the best cut. Use pasteurized or very fresh eggs from a reputable source. Game plan: Keep the beef covered and refrigerated until you are ready to use it. This recipe was featured in our no-cook story.

Roasting beets concentrates their natural sweetness and couldn’t be easier. To serve, drizzle the beets with olive oil and sprinkle them with salt, or try them in either our Roasted Beet and Chèvre Grilled Cheese or our Smoked Salmon Tea Sandwiches. Once you master this, add our beet salad recipe to your go-to side dishes. Game plan: Leafy beet tops make a great addition to pasta or even a quick side dish if you wilt them in walnut oil and serve with grated aged pecorino. Peel the beets under running water to cool them faster and minimize finger-staining.

If you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at molecular gastronomy, this recipe from the new Brae cookbook, by Australian chef Dan Hunter, is a great starting place. Tender peeled and blanched asparagus spears are seasoned with salt and lemon-infused oil, then joined by several other elegant components: a spinach-derived chlorophyll and pistachio purée, a fluffy granita of frozen and shaved vegetable juices speckled with lovage leaves, and delicate edible flowers from pea and watermelon radish plants. Yes, there are several steps to undertake, but many of them can be performed ahead, and the strikingly pure result on the plate is certainly worth the trouble. If you don’t have a Pacojet and can’t justify buying one, you can use a food processor to blend the pistachios. They won’t have the same perfectly smooth texture you can achieve with the higher-end equipment, but they’ll be good enough for your enjoyment at home. Since you’ll be eating the flowers, make sure they are from a source that guarantees they are free of pesticides and safe for consumption. To make the most of fresh spring asparagus, get our Roasted Asparagus recipe, and our Fettuccine with Pesto, Asparagus, and Artichoke recipe.

Parsnips and apples have a great affinity for each other, and this stunning recipe from chef Dan Hunter’s Brae cookbook combines them in ways you’ve likely never experienced before. A creamy parsnip-apple mousse anchors a crisp parsnip skin rolled into a golden cone, and everything is garnished with a gorgeously dark apple caramel (infused with a wisp of chamomile), as well as freeze-dried apples both finely grated and cut into chewy chunks. A symphony of textures and gentle sweet-tart flavors, this is a real show-stopper. Naturally, it does take a bit more effort than your standard dessert, but give this a try if you’re feeling ambitious. The gold leaf gelatine called for in this recipe doesn’t refer to anything gilded —instead, “gold” refers to the degree of firmness with which the gelatine will set, and “leaf gelatine” is the form generally preferred by pastry chefs, as it sets clearer and with a smoother consistency than powdered gelatine. Leaf gelatine also does not impart any additional flavor, but allows the other ingredients to come through cleanly. Take your parsnips in a more savory direction with our Honey-Mustard Parsnips recipe, or our Potato and Parsnip Mash recipe.

This is undoubtedly fancy food. You’ll have to source a few uncommon ingredients and spend a little extra time on prep, but it’s all worth it if you want to really impress someone, or just treat yourself to a beautiful, restaurant-quality plate of Prawns with Nasturtium Leaves and Finger Lime at home. From chef Dan Hunter’s new Brae cookbook, this refined recipe calls for sashimi-grade, head-on prawns, the leaves of the edible nasturtium flower, and a finger lime, a miniature citrus fruit with flesh like tangy pearls of caviar you can squeeze right from the rind. The sweet prawn meat joins rich homemade tomato paste, shallots, and chives, and is wrapped up in parcels of peppery nasturtium leaves, which are topped with the finger lime flesh and joined on the plate by luscious barbecued prawn heads basted in a garlic vinaigrette. If you can’t find the finger lime, a spritz of regular lime juice atop the parcels will achieve a similar flavor, if not the same stunning visual effect. Since you’ll be eating the nasturtium leaves, make sure you get them from a source that is guaranteed pesticide-free and safe for consumption. For some less intensive ways to prepare prawns, get our Burmese Prawn Curry recipe, or our Pickled Prawns recipe.

Chocolate mousse is all about ingredients and prep. There are only three ingredients, so they should be fresh and high-quality. Have your bowl and whisk for the egg whites immaculately clean and your cream very cold. If you’ve done these things, you’ll end up with a rich and perfectly whipped mousse that can kick the ass of any chocolate pudding. We recommend pairing with our Rice Pudding recipe for the ultimate comfort food meal. To see this recipe with illustrated steps, check out The Basics: How to Make Chocolate Mousse.

A perfect chicken quesadilla reicpe is the staple on every Mexican restaurant menu, but they’re a snap to make yourself at home. Roast up your own chicken breast or make it even easier on yourself by using a prepared rotisserie chicken. Game plan: These quesadillas can also be made on an outdoor grill. Just cook over high heat directly on the grates until the cheese is melted and the bottoms start to brown, about 2 to 3 minutes per side. You’ll need to make guacomole and salsa before you begin. To see this recipe with illustrated steps, check out The Basics: How to Make Chicken Quesadillas. This recipe was featured as part of our No-Fail Mexican Favorites for Cinco de Mayo. For more, see our chicken fajitas recipe.

An unusual take on a Mexican favorite, this Barbecued Lamb’s Head Carnitas with Masa from Richard Blais’s cookbook, So Good, substitutes the meat from a lamb’s noggin (and tail) for the usual pork. You should be able to special order a lamb’s head and tail from your butcher (ask them to clean out the eye sockets too). The head should be around 3 pounds, and the tail 2 to 3 pounds; there’s not much meat on the head, so the tail will add more heft to your meal. If you’re not feeling quite so adventurous, you can make the recipe with a pork shoulder, or even with a leg of lamb instead. Whichever kind of meat you use, it’s marinated in orange juice, cilantro, cumin, ancho chile powder, and oregano, then roasted low and slow until it’s super tender. Fresh masa harina tacos make wonderfully fragrant and pillowy vehicles for the succulent meat, along with its reduced pan juices and whatever accompaniments you like. Mild salsa (like our Pico de Gallo recipe) and sliced radishes are a good way to go, but you can bring cotija cheese, avocado, pickled jalapeños and onions, or fresh cilantro to the party too. To round out the meal, get our Guacamole recipe, and our Black Beans with Mexican Beer recipe. And to wash everything down, get our Perfect Margarita recipe.

Put on a spin on an Italian-American standard with this Spaghetti and Bone Marrownara Meatballs recipe from chef Richard Blais’s new cookbook, So Good. The pork-and-beef meatballs are made light and fluffy with ricotta cheese mixed in, along with a medley of fresh herbs (basil, oregano, sage, rosemary, and parsley), while the hearty marinara sauce is enriched with tomato paste, red wine, and bone marrow. You can get marrow bones or soup bones from the meat counter, and ask your butcher to chop them up for you, to make extracting the luscious marrow easier. Stir the cooked spaghetti into the garlicky red sauce so it coats every strand, and finish the dish with toasted bread crumbs and grated Parmesan. This might just be the best plate of spaghetti and meatballs you’ll ever eat. Because you can never have too much pasta, get our Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Spaghetti recipe, and our Spaghetti with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes, Feta, and Herbs recipe too.