10 delta recipes

Old-fashioned Southern bourbon eggnog with whipped cream, beaten egg whites, and fresh nutmeg. Five ingredients, no cooking, and pure Mississippi Delta holiday tradition.

A tangy, creamy Southern dipping sauce made with mayo, ketchup, chili sauce, Worcestershire, garlic, and a dash of hot sauce. No cooking required. Mix, chill, and dunk away.

A buttery ginger pound cake baked in a ring mold, splashed with rum, and crowned with a garland of poached pears, candied orange peel, and grapes glazed in apple jelly. A showpiece holiday dessert.

Guacamole de la Mixteca: an authentic Oaxaca-region guacamole with ripe avocado, white onion, serrano chile, and cilantro. Mashed chunky in a molcajete, no lime, no fuss.

Jambon de la cabane a sucre, a traditional Quebec sugar shack ham simmered in apple juice or maple sap then glazed with maple sugar, cloves, and a sweet raisin sauce.

Linguine primavera with zucchini, yellow squash, and red bell pepper in a chunky tomato-wine sauce topped with fresh basil and sliced olives.

Frijoles de la olla are Mexican pot beans cooked from dried pintos with just water and salt. Partially mashed for a thick, creamy sauce and served with warm flour tortillas and salsa.

Mississippi mud cake with cocoa pecan brownie base, melted marshmallow layer, and chocolate frosting. The triple-layer Southern Delta classic.

Garlicky whole wheat focaccia studded with provolone and fresh oregano, dimpled and drizzled with toasted garlic oil that pools in every dent. A hearty semolina crumb under a crackly, golden top.

These treats are super easy to make and are great to have on hand. For variety you can add mint chocolate chips, mini marshmallows or chopped banana. They do not melt as quickly as some frozen treats.