Homemade pralines and cream ice cream, a Southern custard-based ice cream studded with chunks of homemade buttermilk pralines. Real cooked custard churned with heavy cream for a proper old-fashioned ice cream parlor texture.
Peanut butter and banana bread machine loaf folds ripe banana and creamy peanut butter into a soft yeast bread with whole wheat backbone. A sandwich loaf that tastes like the Elvis classic in slice form.
Fat-free carrot cake made with yogurt, egg substitute, and wheat germ instead of oil and eggs. Topped with a light cream cheese frosting spiked with almond extract and lemon.
Iowa Thunder and Lightning Salad is a Midwest marinated vegetable salad with cabbage, tomatoes, cucumbers, and bell peppers in a sweet vinegar and honey dressing. Chills for 2 days for bold flavor.
Cwikla is a traditional Polish pickled beet relish with horseradish, cloves, and vinegar. A staple on the Easter and Christmas table.
A three-meat, no-bean chili loaded with ground beef, pork, and hot Italian sausage simmered with Mexican beer and V8 juice. Florida-style heat that feeds a crowd.
Classic ranger cookies packed with crisp rice cereal, flaked coconut, and chopped dates for triple texture in every bite. Crunchy outside, chewy middle. Bakes a batch in about 25 minutes.
Green tomato relish turns end-of-season unripe tomatoes into a tangy-sweet preserve spiced with allspice, cloves, mustard, and celery seed. Salted overnight to draw water, then simmered with brown sugar, vinegar, and lemon. Cans up beautifully.
Soft drop cookies loaded with apricot nectar, apricot preserves, and chopped dried apricots for triple fruit flavor in every bite.
A slow-simmered Southwestern beef chili with pinto beans, green chilis, jalapeños, and six tablespoons of chili powder. Topped with sharp cheddar and scallions. Tucson tough.
Pineapple lemon upside-down muffins with crushed pineapple, maraschino cherries, brown sugar, and lemon zest baked in whole wheat. Flip them out for a caramelized top.
Buttery brown sugar bar cookies with chopped walnuts and a hint of rum extract, baked in one pan and cut into squares. Serve warm with ice cream or stash them in a tin for later.
Old-fashioned peach gingerbread upside-down cake: molasses-spiced gingerbread baked over fresh sliced peaches, then topped with butter-glazed peaches and a preserves brush. Late-summer dessert perfection.
Creamy apple pie with a sour cream custard filling and cinnamon crumb topping. Simple Pennsylvania Dutch baking with no spices in the filling, just pure apple flavor.
Brighten up your summer with this delectable cake that is bound to be gobbled up by your family within a day!
Hot spicy bean curd stir-fried with salted black beans, green chili, garlic, and soy sauce in a savory thickened sauce. A quick vegetarian Chinese tofu dish over noodles or rice.