Streuselkuchen: the classic German yeast-risen crumb cake topped with a buttery brown-sugar cinnamon streusel that bakes into a thick, craggy crust. The German bakery favorite for kaffee und kuchen.
Here's a recipe that I make whenever I'm recruited to make dessert for a dinner party. It's perfect for Passover since it contains no flour, but I bake it 12 months of the year.
Downhome cafe banana bread with four ripe bananas, butter, and a touch of lemon juice for brightness. A classic, tender loaf with simple pantry ingredients and old-fashioned flavor.
Southern spoonbread with sweet corn kernels, sharp cheddar, and crumbled bacon, lifted by whipped egg whites for a soufflé-like rise. Spoon it from the casserole onto plates as a side or light main.
Doctor Bird Cake is a Jamaican-inspired banana and crushed pineapple cake spiced with cinnamon and baked tall in a tube pan. A moist tropical cake also known as hummingbird cake.
Prune spice cake baked in a bundt pan with buttermilk, oil, pecans, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Incredibly moist from the prunes and oil with a dense, tender crumb.
Sweet potato pie with evaporated milk, cinnamon, and a surprise hit of lemon extract. Old-fashioned Southern dessert with a custardy filling and a deeply browned crust.
Vegetarian tofu hot and sour soup with dried mushrooms, bamboo shoots, peas, and silken egg ribbons. A restaurant-style Chinese classic spiked with white pepper, vinegar, and sesame oil.
Chinese chicken with cashews stir-fried in a wok with green pepper, water chestnuts, and hoisin imperial sauce. Velveted chicken stays silky and tender.
Brown sugar pound cake topped with butter-toasted pecan frosting. Tall Bundt with a dense crumb, deep caramel notes, and a nutty browned-butter glaze that drips down the sides.
Western salad with lettuce, spinach, and onion tossed in a homemade egg yolk vinaigrette with garlic, paprika, dry mustard, and chopped parsley. Bold dressing, fresh greens.
Gingerbread biscotti with fresh ginger, dark molasses, toasted almonds, and warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice. Crunchy, spiced, and perfect for dunking.
Cheesy figue vert gratin: a Caribbean side dish of green bananas simmered in chicken stock, mashed with onions, cream, and eggs, then baked under a cheddar and breadcrumb crust.
Deep-fried eggplant fritters made from boiled eggplant mashed with egg, butter, and just enough flour to hold together. Crispy outside, creamy inside.
Nutty rice loaf: a vegetarian baked loaf of brown rice, zucchini, walnuts, cheddar, and herbs. A meatloaf-style supper that's hearty, sliceable, and adapts to whatever's in the fridge.
Peanut butter and jelly muffins made with whole wheat flour, crunchy peanut butter cut into the dry mix, and a hidden spoonful of fruit preserves in the center of each one.