2,200 light recipes

Halloween popcorn crunch: popped corn, pumpkin seeds, dried cranberries and banana chips coated in hard-crack vanilla caramel. The fall snack mix that puts caramel corn to shame.

Oyster spinach soup with pureed oysters in a creamy milk and half-and-half base, finished under the broiler with a golden cap of whipped cream.

Baked pears in a buttery pineapple cream sauce with crystallized ginger and toasted almonds. An elegant warm fruit dessert with tropical, caramel-rich flavor.

Mashed sweet potatoes blended with roasted bananas, orange juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, cardamom, and a pinch of red pepper flakes. A naturally creamy, butter-free holiday side that skips the marshmallow fluff.

Ricotta and sour cream cheesecake sweetened with honey, baked in a water bath, and topped with fresh strawberry sauce, kiwi, and berries. Lighter than a classic New York style.

This Biscochito Cake is a modern twist on New Mexico’s traditional biscochito cookie, featuring warm notes of star anise, a tender crumb, and a sweet cinnamon-sugar topping. Paired with a vibrant peach compote, it’s a comforting yet elegant dessert that’s easy to prepare and ideal for sharing at gatherings or enjoying as a cozy treat.

Banana chocolate chip bars with whole wheat flour, mashed ripe bananas, and mini chocolate morsels, dusted with powdered sugar. A bake-and-share sheet bar that yields a crowd.

Seafood crepes stuff thin pancakes with poached monkfish, scallops, and shrimp bound in a garlic-infused Gruyère cream sauce, then bake until bubbling. A French bistro starter or light luncheon dish that punches well above its ingredient list.

Elegant baked monkfish and shrimp in individual ramekins with a curried saffron cream custard. A stunning starter or light lunch for two when doubled up. Serves 4.

A lighter coleslaw with a tangy yogurt-mayo dressing, Dijon mustard, and white vinegar. Crunchy shredded cabbage, carrot, celery, and onion tossed together in 30 minutes. Keeps in the fridge for 2 days.

These chewy squares ooze brown sugary butterscotch. They becrumb the lips and besmear the chin, like home-baked goodies should.

No-bake chocolate date and ginger fans made with crushed graham crackers, semi-sweet chocolate, crystallized ginger, and chopped dates. Set in a flan pan, chilled, and sliced into elegant wedges.

Orange biscotti with fresh orange zest, rum, and olive oil, rolled thin, cut into scalloped strips, and baked twice with a butter-sugar glaze. Crispy Italian cookies for dipping in coffee or dessert wine.

Steamed whole chicken rubbed with oil and salt, then drizzled with a warm sesame-ginger-soy sauce and topped with toasted sesame seeds and scallions. Chinese-style and full of flavor.

Baked Granny Smith apples stuffed with brown sugar, cinnamon, and chopped nuts, then drenched in a maple syrup glaze. A classic Midwest fall dessert served warm with cream.

Creamy broccoli soup made with a butter-flour roux, chicken bouillon, and half-and-half. Uses frozen broccoli for a quick weeknight soup ready in under 45 minutes.