83 finest recipes

Old-fashioned oatmeal chocolate chip cookies made with shortening for extra-chewy texture. A from-scratch drop cookie recipe that makes three dozen.

Oatmeal raisin bar cookies spread in a shallow pan and baked at 325. Three cups of rolled oats, sour milk, and raisins in a soft, cake-like sheet cookie. Mix, spread, bake, done.

Lebanese tabbouleh herb salad heavy on fresh parsley and mint, fine bulgur, lemon and olive oil. Served on romaine leaves, the proper Middle Eastern way.

In a latest experiment with homemade soups, I combined the ideas from my own Hot and Sour Soup and my mother-in-law's Shanghai Meatball Soup. The result was unquestionably great and both my sons (who are excellent cooks themselves) declared it my finest effort. I hope you enjoy it, too!!

"Prime rib is one of the most delectable dinners there is. We order it in our favorite upscale restaurant on special occasions, but few consider they have the skill to make it at home. Yes, you do and here's how. It will compare to the finest you've ever eaten and you'll be be amazed at how easy it is to do. It's not a budget dinner, so go to a reputable butcher and buy the best quality 'Prime' Rib roast available.

Golden-crusted salmon cakes loaded with fresh basil and garlic, topped with a velvety white wine tomato basil butter sauce. Pacific Northwest comfort food at its finest.

Loaded brownies with melted unsweetened chocolate, marshmallows, pecans, and chocolate chips baked into a fudgy, gooey slab. Stress-baking at its finest.

Mrs Fields apple cobbler cookies loaded with chopped Granny Smith apples, apple butter, raisins, and pecans, rolled in a cinnamon-oat crumb coating. Fall baking at its finest.

Golden-fried baby potatoes simmered in a tangy tamarind sauce with cardamom, fennel, turmeric, and cinnamon. This vegetarian dum aloo is Indian comfort food at its finest.

Crispy fried crab croquettes seasoned with cayenne, white pepper, and garlic, served with a cream of wine sauce. Old-school Southern entertaining at its finest.

Traditional Czech liver dumplings made from chicken livers, onion, and marjoram, simmered in chicken broth. Old-world comfort food at its finest.

Traditional German sauerbraten marinated 4 to 6 days in vinegar with peppercorns, cloves, and bay leaf, then braised until fork-tender with a gingersnap gravy. Authentic Old World pot roast at its finest.

Rainbow trout with lemon, capers, and brown butter is a restaurant classic you can make in 10 minutes. Crisp skin, nutty butter, bright lemon, briny capers. Pan-seared fish at its finest.

Deer heart soaked, boiled, sliced into steaks, and pan-fried with steak spice, then served alongside a rosemary and thyme vegetable simmer. Nose-to-tail wild game cooking at its finest.

Individual fruitcake cupcakes studded with dates, golden raisins, pecans, and citrus zest, soaked in brandy and topped with a pineapple chunk. Just 2 tablespoons of brown sugar in the whole batch. Diabetic-friendly holiday baking at its finest.

Soft persimmon cookies spiced with allspice, nutmeg, and cinnamon, loaded with dates and walnuts. Fall harvest baking at its finest.