11 rubber recipes

Rubber stamp gingerbread cookies bake up firm enough to hold cutter shapes and decorate, with a pinch of cayenne hiding behind the molasses, ginger, and cloves for unexpected warmth.

Sturdy rolled sugar cookies built to hold an impression. Butter, flour, egg, and a whisper of nutmeg make a dough firm enough to take rubber-stamp imprints or detailed cookie cutters without spreading.

If you don't want to wear a rubber raincoat, surgical gloves and eye goggles, the following is the EASIEST and cleanest way to seed the ever elusive pomegranate.

Note from Julia: The following directions are for a hand-beaten sauce. Exactly the same system is followed for an electric beater. Use the large bowl, and the moderately fast speed for whipping cream. Continually push the sauce into the beater blades with a rubber scraper.

This delicious bread is based on the Texas treat consisting of peeled cantaloupe segments bread cubes piled in the center and covered with creamsauce. This is a soft, sticky dough. If any of it clings to the sides ofthe pan at the end of the first kneading, you can push it down with a rubber spatula.

Something about bacon goes so well with spinach. Using a hot bacon dressing wilts the spinach just the perfect amount, not rubbery and not too mushy and packed with flavor.

I have made a Thanksgiving goose every year for at least 15 years. I have steadily gained on making the perfect bird but I finally found the greatest recipe ever in Cook's Magazine. The divine part of this approach to cooking the goose is that it employs some of the eastern method of drying the skin which is used in Peking Duck. The skin simply drops all its fat and leaves a crispy, dry, delectable skin that folks fight over! No more rubbery, yucky goose skin full of fat!

Cottage cheese scrambled eggs that cook up creamy and high in protein. A knob of browned butter and low, slow stirring keep the curds soft and custardy instead of dry and rubbery.

Savory noodle pudding with sun-dried tomatoes, cheddar, and mozzarella baked in a rich egg custard. A water bath gives it a silky, set-not-rubbery texture that slices beautifully.

Smoked salmon pizza on homemade yeast dough with fresh tomato, garlic, dill, Asiago cheese, and capers. The salmon goes on in the last 3 minutes so it stays silky, not rubbery.

Barbecued squid grilled hot and fast over hardwood coals, served with lemon-garlic butter and Thai sweet-hot chili sauce. The simplest seafood preparation that turns out tender, smoky, and never rubbery.