10,000 bitter recipes

Barbadians make Black Cake for weddings, birthdays and at Christimas time. Indeed, no Christmas holiday is felt to be complete without black Cake. People from many of the islands make a similar cake. This Black Cake derived from the British Plum Pudding which is a must on their Christmas menu.

Classic Swedish butter cookies leavened with baker's ammonia for an impossibly light, crisp, melt-on-your-tongue texture. Just 5 ingredients, shaped into small balls, and baked low and slow. An old-world Scandinavian recipe.

This recipe is for a Cuban stew/soup that I used to enjoy con mucho gusto. This version of Ajiaco was prepared by Senora Garcia in her little store front restaurant on Collins Ave. in Miami Beach. Although this is not her exact recipe, it's the closest I could get to it. Ajico del Restaurant Garcia

Thin-pounded beef tenderloin steaks, pan-seared golden and draped in a flambéed brandy sauce with mushrooms, shallots, and Dijon. A classic bistro showstopper in just 25 minutes.

This rich and succulent one pot chicken dish will for sure satisfy everyone around your dining table.

A delicious side dish that goes well with jerk chicken or curried beef.

Three-layer cake with two chocolate buttermilk layers and a yellow layer, sandwiched with caramel filling and topped with rich chocolate frosting. Show-stopper celebration cake.

A delicious soup that is great with tortilla chips or crusty bread. Can also be used as a salsa if thickened.

Austrian scheiterhaufen bread pudding of cinnamon custard-soaked roll slices layered with raisins and sultanas. A traditional German-Austrian dessert with grandmother's kitchen written all over it.

Overnight cinnamon rolls that rise in the fridge while you sleep, ready to bake fresh and warm in the morning. Soft, glossy yeast dough swirled with cinnamon sugar and crowned with vanilla glaze.

A tender quick bread studded with chewy dried apricots and crunchy walnuts, sweetened with brown sugar. No yeast, no kneading, just one bowl and one hour in the oven.

Maple glazed ham steak baked with dried figs and caramelized bananas in a clove-scented maple-lemon glaze. An easy, impressive sheet-pan dinner for four.

A comforting dessert that fits perfectly alongside pumpkin pie. Homemade dumplings perched in rich and thick maple syrup.

Old-fashioned stovetop fudge made with molasses, semi-sweet chocolate, brazil nuts, and flaked coconut. Rich, chewy, and packed with tropical crunch. Yields 2 pounds of homemade candy.

Buttery laminated dough enriched with cardamom and orange creates flaky Danish pastries through careful rolling and folding for serious bakers seeking a challenge.

Fruit bread made with Grape-Nuts cereal, raisins, and orange zest. The cereal softens in scalded milk to create a hearty, nutty-textured quick bread with a citrus lift.