10,000 fast food recipes

USDA-style beef loaf for a crowd: makes four 8-inch loaves with milk-soaked bread, eggs, ketchup and Worcestershire. Bake all four, freeze three. Government-tested batch cooking at its most practical.

Oreo Midnight Cake with a crushed Oreo crust, semi-sweet chocolate cake, vanilla cream filling, and cocoa frosting. A multi-layer chocolate-Oreo showstopper from scratch.

Mandel rolls (mandelbrot) made with cake meal, matzo meal, potato starch, and chopped nuts. Twice-baked Jewish biscotti that are crisp, cinnamon-spiced, and Passover-friendly.

Fluffy sweet potato scones made with mashed yams and butter, lightly golden on the outside, tender within. Serve warm with honey for a Caribbean-inspired treat.

Laksa: a rich, fragrant Southeast Asian noodle soup with coconut cream, fish, kaffir lime, lemongrass, and fresh chili over rice vermicelli. Layered spice and silky coconut in every spoonful.

Speedy sheet-pan chocolate cake with cocoa, buttermilk, and a boiled butter mixture creating moist crumb: thin, tender, and ready for Rocky Road frosting while still warm.

French genoise sponge cake soaked with Amaretto and filled with whipped chocolate ganache. A light, egg-leavened cake with lemon zest and an overnight chocolate cream.

Microwave beef and snow pea stir-fry with cauliflower, green pepper, and a soy-cornstarch sauce served over rice. An Asian-inspired weeknight dinner made entirely in the microwave.

Hearty thirteen-bean soup with smoked pork, black beans, tomatoes, and a splash of sherry. Half pureed for a thick, creamy texture with whole beans in every spoonful.

Pecan tassies with cream cheese pastry shells filled with brown sugar, pecans, and egg. Bite-size pecan pies baked in mini muffin tins until golden and set.

Classic Philadelphia snapper soup made with snapping turtle meat, veal knuckles, dry sherry, and tomatoes. A rich, old-school Pennsylvania tradition simmered for hours.

Plantation stew: a hearty Southern-style lamb stew with potatoes, red peppers, citrus, and a splash of sherry. A slow-simmered comfort dinner that warms to the bones.

Basic sweet dough is a rich, butter-and-egg enriched yeast base for cinnamon rolls, sweet breads, and holiday buns. One batch, endless directions.

New Orleans jambalaya loaded with chicken, andouille sausage, and shrimp in a rich tomato base. Fresh herbs and three types of onions create complex Creole flavor.

No flag day or 4th of July celebration would be complete without a potato salad. This version is lighter and healthier that the tradition mayonaise only version but every bit as tasty. It's best made the day before. A great make-ahead classic side-dish so you can enjoy the day more.

Savory vegetarian nut loaf with cottage cheese, breadcrumbs, and poultry seasoning baked until golden on top. A hearty meatless main dish that's a hit at Thanksgiving or any weeknight supper.