670 homemade recipes

Homemade oven-baked croutons from day-old bread, slow-dried at low heat until golden and crunchy. One ingredient, any herbs you like, and better than anything from a bag.

Homemade mozzarella cheese from scratch, an overnight cultured process using whole milk, buttermilk, yogurt and rennet to produce 2 pounds of glossy, stretchable Italian pasta filata. The real traditional method.

Traditional dry salt cure for a 14-pound ham using rough salt, brown sugar, and saltpeter. Includes a 3-week curing process with optional smoking instructions for homemade country ham.

Whipped cheddar cheese and brandy spread with just four ingredients: sharp cheddar, butter, brandy, and black pepper. Pack it into a crock for a sophisticated appetizer or homemade food gift.

Pie-pan asparagus with fresh spears blanketed in a homemade cheddar and Parmesan cheese sauce, broiled until golden and bubbly. A rich, creamy vegetable side dish ready in 25 minutes.

A homemade vanilla pecan liqueur: brandy slowly infused with pecans, vanilla beans, and cinnamon, then sweetened with sugar syrup. A smooth, nutty after-dinner sipper worth the weeks-long wait.

Homemade wine cooler with wine and lemon-lime soda served over ice. A light, refreshing 2-ingredient spritzer that takes 5 minutes to make. Lower in alcohol than straight wine.

Crisp almond meringue base layered with homemade golden syrup toffee cream, billowy whipped cream, and a dusting of cocoa. An elegant British-style cake with a nearly gluten-free base.

Homemade garam masala from whole roasted cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and mace ground fresh. This essential Indian spice blend takes 20 minutes and blows store-bought versions out of the water.

Thai red curry scallops (Chuu-Chii) with homemade curry paste, coconut cream, kaffir lime leaves, and fish sauce. Includes a from-scratch paste recipe using galangal, lemongrass, and shrimp paste.

Asparagus spears wrapped in ham slices and baked under a homemade cheddar cheese sauce with dry mustard. A retro-style ham and asparagus roll-up that makes a satisfying weeknight dinner in about 35 minutes.

Grilled chicken breasts basted with a homemade lime BBQ sauce loaded with sauteed vegetables, ketchup, soy sauce, brown sugar, and fresh lime juice. Sear, marinate, grill, and serve with a reduced pan sauce.

Sirloin steak marinated in a homemade teriyaki sauce with soy, sherry, ginger, and garlic, then broiled and sliced into strips. Works with chicken too. A lighter Japanese-inspired dinner for two.

Orange and coffee bean cordial: a whole orange studded with coffee beans, sugar cubes, and vanilla, steeped in cognac for two months. Classic French-style homemade digestif, no special equipment needed.

Favorite dill pickles: garden cucumbers packed with fresh dill and garlic in jars and covered with a hot vinegar brine. The classic homemade dill pickle, ready in 3 to 4 weeks.

San Francisco-style seafood stew loaded with shrimp, clams, crab, and whitefish simmered in a garlicky tomato-wine broth. A homemade shellfish stock from the shrimp shells builds deep, briny flavor.