Recipes with butter, unsalted

Almond Butter Cookie Sandwiches: tender shortbread-style cookies made with ground almonds, sandwiched with raspberry jam or chocolate ganache. Linzer-style elegance, makes 24.

This co-winner in the filled-cookie category from Dorothy O'Neill of Whitefish Bay makes a delicate, crispy cookie. Dipping in chocolate and nuts adds flavor and texture.

Rocky road brownies hide whole marshmallows inside fudgy chocolate-walnut brownies. Bake until the marshmallows melt into chewy pockets throughout. A serious upgrade on the classic ice cream flavor.

Medaillons de veau en croute: veal loin medallions seared, topped with mushroom duxelles, and baked in puff pastry. Classic French haute cuisine served with a white wine pan sauce.

Almond crisps topped with amaretto-glazed slivered almonds in a flower pattern. Buttery press cookies with amaretto in both the dough and the topping for a sophisticated double almond flavor.

Almond crisps topped with amaretto-glazed slivered almonds in a flower pattern. Buttery press cookies with amaretto in both the dough and the topping for a sophisticated double almond flavor.

L. J's chili with overnight-marinated beef, tomatoes, mushrooms, crushed chilis, and peppers simmered open-pot for four hours. A bold, slow-cooked chili with a distinctive reduction technique.

L. J's chili with overnight-marinated beef, tomatoes, mushrooms, crushed chilis, and peppers simmered open-pot for four hours. A bold, slow-cooked chili with a distinctive reduction technique.

Deliciously moist cupcakes packed with tempting flavors. These go splendidly with a cream cheese frosting!

Jerked pork tenderloin seared then stacked on rice with sautéed portabello mushrooms, all drenched in a spiced cream sauce with allspice, coriander, and Worcestershire. Caribbean heat meets French technique on one plate.

Chocolate praline mousse from Quatorze layered with hazelnut praline paste, creme de cacao, and a whisper of espresso. Classic French bistro dessert that chills overnight into pure silk.

Bresse farmhouse chocolate cake is a French country dessert: a thin, almost-flourless bittersweet chocolate cake that falls intentionally, then gets slathered in a glossy reduced-cream ganache and dusted with cocoa sugar.

Baked salmon and whitefish pâté with cream, eggs, wine-softened onions, coriander, and nutmeg. A classic French-style terrine cooked in a water bath and served cold with toast or crackers.

Asparagus-cheese casserole with hard-cooked eggs, sharp cheddar, minced almonds, and a mace-seasoned cream sauce. Topped with buttered breadcrumbs and Parmesan and baked until golden.

Asparagus-cheese casserole with hard-cooked eggs, sharp cheddar, minced almonds, and a mace-seasoned cream sauce. Topped with buttered breadcrumbs and Parmesan and baked until golden.

Porcini mushroom crostini with shiitake, cream, garlic, and Asiago cheese broiled on Italian toast. A rich, earthy Italian appetizer with deep mushroom flavor from dried and fresh fungi.