4,177 four four recipes

Chocolate peanut butter shortbread baked in a tart pan with a cocoa crust, creamy peanut butter filling, and a chocolate Kiss topped with a whole peanut on every wedge.

Cranapple cake baked in a tube pan with cranberries, shredded apple, and applesauce for moisture. A lower-fat fall cake with a vanilla confectioners sugar drizzle.

French apple pie with vanilla custard filling, butter-sauteed Granny Smith apples, apricot preserves glaze, and a golden lattice crust. A bakery-level showpiece.

Marble pound cake with browned butter, vanilla-almond batter, and cocoa swirl. Uses yogurt and egg whites for a lighter texture in a classic tube pan shape.

Mexican chicken noodle casserole made in the microwave with cheddar, sour cream, jalapenos, mushrooms, and sliced almonds over a tortilla-lined base. Ready in 30 minutes.

Loaded vegetable quiche with sautéed mushrooms, zucchini, carrots, and Swiss cheese in a creamy sour cream custard with thyme and nutmeg. One-hour brunch or dinner in a flaky pie crust.

A layered vegetable lasagna with ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan, featuring both spinach and mixed vegetable fillings in a creamy béchamel sauce. Feeds eight in about an hour.

Cherry cookie pizza with a golden sugar cookie crust, sweetened cream cheese layer, and cherry pie filling on top. A fun no-fuss dessert pizza baked on a 12-inch pan.

Rich cocoa chocolate cake with buttermilk and boiling water, frosted with a fluffy marshmallow icing. Triple-sifted dry ingredients and a double boiler frosting make this a showstopper.

Cocoa-laced cookie dough studded with semisweet chocolate chips and crowned with a chocolate Kiss pressed into the warm center. Three layers of chocolate in every bite.

Spiced sheet cake with brown sugar and warm spices gets topped with walnut meringue frosting that bakes on for a crunchy, marshmallow-like finish.

Santa Fe salmon chowder with potatoes, corn, green chilies, and chili powder in a creamy lowfat milk base. A Southwestern-style fish chowder with a gentle kick of heat.

Cajun-style crawfish and corn soup built on a flamed brandy shell stock and a medium-brown roux. Rich, spicy, and loaded with sweet corn straight off the cob.

Cheese pasties, hand-held British turnovers stuffed with sharp cheddar and diced root vegetables (turnip, carrot, leek, celery) in a flaky butter shortcrust, warmed with mace and cayenne. Crimped, baked golden, and even better the next day.

Chocolate peppermint cake: three-layer brown sugar cocoa cake with melting chocolate mint wafers pressed between layers and fluffy seven-minute peppermint frosting on top.

Pineapple macadamia nut cheesecake with a vanilla wafer crust, coconut, and a rum-kissed sour cream topping. A tropical Hawaiian-inspired cheesecake that beats any bakery version.