918 light recipes

Rice pudding tart with red wine-poached pears fanned on top, finished under the broiler for a caramelized sugar crust. An elegant dessert that can be made ahead.

Popcorn snowman craft built from hard-ball-stage caramel popcorn, stacked into a holiday centerpiece with gumdrop features and raisin buttons. A sweet, edible Christmas decoration kids can help make.

Crawfish potato boats stuffed with whipped potato, sharp cheddar, butter, and a pound of crawfish tails. Twice-baked potatoes with a Cajun seafood twist that freeze beautifully.

Creamy Southwestern corn chowder with potatoes, picante sauce, salsa con queso, and half-and-half. Thick, cheesy, and packed with smoky Southwest spice.

Whole wheat carrot spice bread with oats, dates, and warm cinnamon-ginger spice. A hearty, low-fat quick bread made with applesauce and egg whites instead of butter or oil.

European mocha fudge cake with a dense cocoa-pecan base and creamy coffee whipped cream filling. A flourless-style chocolate cake that's rich, fudgy, and made without leavening.

Black and white bean vegetable chili simmers black beans, great northern beans, corn, potato, and green chiles in a quick cumin broth. A 45-minute meatless chili finished with cilantro and lime.

Scandinavian-style meatball cakes made from ground veal and pork with cream and eggs, served alongside beer rice cooked in French onion soup. A hearty, pub-inspired dinner.

Bold, smoky homemade BBQ sauce with a whole head of garlic, brown sugar, orange juice, and cayenne heat. Simmers for 2 hours in a cast-iron Dutch oven.

Chocolate pecan fudge pie with melted chocolate chips, corn syrup, and pecan halves baked in a flaky shell. Dense, fudgy filling served chilled with ice cream and chocolate sauce.

Homemade chili sauce for canning with 50 fresh tomatoes, onions, red peppers, celery, vinegar, brown sugar, and whole allspice. A big-batch preserve that yields 5 quarts.

Quick Chinese stir-fried chicken with hoisin sauce, bamboo shoots, ginger, and crushed red pepper. Marinated in sherry and soy for a glossy, savory-sweet glaze that's ready in under an hour.

Classic chewy oatmeal cookies loaded with raisins, walnuts, and a hint of cinnamon. Brown sugar and butter-flavored shortening keep them soft and bendy long after they cool.

Carrot pecan cookies with cardamom, cinnamon, grated carrots, raisins, and chopped pecans baked into a soft, spiced drop cookie. Like carrot cake in cookie form.

Eggnog log cookies are festive holiday rolls flavored with rum and nutmeg, dipped in icing, and rolled in toasted pecans. The Christmas cookie tin classic with eggnog-inspired warmth.

Pumpkin pound cake with warm spices, finished with orange glaze and homemade candied orange peel. Makes two 9x5 loaves, perfect for fall gifting or freezing.