39 first recipes

Ginger-carrot bisque: silky pureed carrot soup with fresh ginger, orange zest, and coriander, finished with cream. The elegant first-course soup that converts vegetable skeptics.

Homemade Chinese duck sauce from fresh plums and apricots simmered with ginger, mustard seed, cinnamon, and apple cider vinegar. A sweet-tangy condiment that needs two weeks to mature in the jar.

A succulent and scrumptious pot roast that is simmered to perfection with onions, carrots, tomatoes and dry red wine.

The first chili recipe appeared in West Texas at the turn of the century.

Fennel, zucchini and tomato soup builds Mediterranean summer flavor from ripe tomatoes, sliced fennel bulbs, basil and white wine. A light, vegetarian first-course soup.

Moist chocolate oatmeal cake topped with a boiled coconut-pecan frosting. The oats soak in boiling water first, creating an incredibly tender, fudgy crumb.

Avocado halves stuffed with saffron pastina, chopped tomatoes, scallions, parsley, and vinaigrette. An elegant lunch main or dinner first course with golden, fragrant pasta filling.

German almond cookies with fresh lemon zest, ground unblanched almonds, and a buttery crumb that shatters at first bite. Overnight chilling builds flavor and makes rolling easy.

Pat's Shrimp Creole with a two-stage sauce: the first vegetables simmer into the tomato base for 45 minutes then get strained out, and fresh aromatics with brown sugar finish the dish. Serves 8 over rice.

Honey-sweetened whole wheat rolls baked in round pans so they pull apart easily. Soft, nutty dinner rolls made from basic yeast dough after first rise.

Old-fashioned boiled fruitcake with raisins and warm spices. Simple one-bowl method where you boil fruit first then fold into spiced flour for incredibly moist cake.

A creamy salmon chowder with sweet potatoes, regular potatoes, corn, and leeks simmered in clam juice, cream, and milk. Rich, hearty, and warming from the first spoonful.

Slow cooker veggie chili layers black beans, corn, peppers and crushed tomatoes with spices bloomed in oil first, then simmers all day. A hearty, high-fiber vegetarian chili that's nearly hands-off.

Homemade whole grain dog biscuits combine wheat, rye, cornmeal, and cracked bulgur into a chicken broth-flavored dough, baked until bone-hard. A wholesome DIY treat your dog will recognize from the first sniff.

Hummus bi tahini is the traditional Middle Eastern chickpea dip, blended creamy with tahini, lemon, olive oil, and garlic. The tahini-first technique gives it that authentic silky texture.

Luxuriously creamy Colombian avocado vichyssoise with leeks, potatoes, and heavy cream. Serve it hot or cold as an elegant first course before fish. Ready in just 30 minutes.