Recipes with butter

Tender buttermilk muffins bursting with tart rhubarb and topped with cinnamon-brown sugar crumble. A spring breakfast treat that makes the most of garden-fresh stalks.

Loaded shepherd's pie packs ground beef, mushrooms, peas and tomatoes into a rich brown gravy under a crispy mashed potato crust. A hearty, all-in-one casserole baked until golden on top.

Fresh ginger muffins: bakery-style buttermilk muffins packed with finely chopped fresh ginger candied with sugar, plus fragrant lemon zest. The classic Marion Cunningham recipe, with serious ginger bite.

Peach and blueberry casserole with fresh fruit topped with a buttery, cinnamon-sugar crumble baked golden. A rustic summer cobbler-style dessert using peak-season peaches and berries.

Roast up that chicken with this tasty recipe that uses chicken broth, garlic cloves and a bit of paprika.

Elegant green pea and shrimp soup finished with white wine, cream, and champagne. Fresh savory and tarragon give this French-inspired soup its herbal depth.

Raspberry ribbon cheesecake on a chocolate wafer crust with a layer of homemade raspberry sauce baked inside and fresh berries on top. A showstopper dessert.

Sole fillets baked in white wine, topped with a light butter sauce, and ringed with sweet mandarin oranges broiled until warm. A quick, elegant dinner for two.

Rocky road fudge bars with three layers: chocolate brownie base, cream cheese filling with chocolate chips, marshmallow topping, and a swirled chocolate-cream cheese frosting.

Butter-seared shrimp with fennel and lemon, topped with a tangy pineapple-ginger sweet and sour sauce. A 30-minute seafood dinner that bridges Italian scampi and Asian flair.

Fudgy from-scratch brownies layered with creme de menthe walnut frosting and drizzled with melted chocolate. Three layers of minty, chocolatey bliss in every bite.

Rhubarb and pineapple pie pairs tart spring rhubarb with sweet juicy pineapple under a double crust. The unexpected tropical combination balances each fruit's character into something distinctive.

Amazing lemon meringue pie uses both cornstarch and flour for a curd that holds clean wedges. Lemon juice goes into the meringue too for a stable foam that resists weeping.

hese are perfect for serving with coffee and dessert, and I include them in boxes of home-made assorted cookies for gift giving

Buttery slice-and-bake cookies studded with chopped almonds or hazelnuts, then dipped in melted chocolate. Crisp, nutty, and elegant enough for a holiday cookie box.

Crisp snow peas sauteed with browned butter, toasted almonds, shallot, and a squeeze of lemon. An 8-minute vegetarian side that's healthy, light, and full of flavor.