Pasta recipes

Almond paste macaroons studded with coconut and walnuts, piped into rosettes and crowned with candied cherries. Chewy, fragrant Italian-style cookies for the holiday tin.

Almond raspberry tassies are bite-size tarts with a cream cheese pastry shell, a hidden dot of raspberry jam, and a frangipane-style almond filling. Tea cookies that look fancy but mix in one bowl.

Elegant almond paste cookies piped into logs, baked until golden, then dipped in chocolate and chopped almonds. Bakery-style treats perfect for gift-giving.

A hearty ground turkey meatloaf seasoned with barbecue spice and Worcestershire, bound with bread and egg, and finished under a tomato paste glaze. Sliced and re-baked so every piece gets crisp edges.

Sabzi Koofteh: Persian-style giant meatballs of ground beef, rice, split peas, mint, and watercress, simmered in a turmeric-tomato broth. Served with yogurt and pickles for a one-pot Middle Eastern dinner.

Danish Mayor's Braid (Borgmeister Krans): a braided ring of Danish pastry filled with almond paste, baked golden with sliced almonds and crystallized sugar on top. A holiday-table showstopper.

Ground beef and shredded cabbage meatloaf topped with bacon strips, tomato paste, and melted American cheese. A hearty twist on classic meatloaf that stretches your grocery budget.

Crab and avocado salad with a spicy picante-mayo dressing, sliced olives, and hard-boiled egg garnish. A no-cook Tex-Mex-style crab salad served in avocado halves that comes together in 20 minutes.

Impossible lasagna pie with ground beef, cottage cheese, mozzarella, and a Bisquick custard that forms its own crust as it bakes. All the lasagna flavor, no noodles.

Buttery shortbread crust topped with a fluffy almond paste filling, folded egg whites, lemon juice, and flaked coconut. A Dutch bakery classic that yields 50 bars from one pan.

If you like trying new things, then you will love this succulent dish that will instantly find its place in your cookbook!

Norwegian almond bars with an almond paste filling spiced with cardamom and cinnamon between buttery crumb layers. A Scandinavian cookie bar with a unique potato flake filling.

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.

Individual cheese and tomato souffles made with Swiss, Parmesan, tomato paste, and a splash of dry sherry. Puffy, golden, and served straight from the ramekin.

Almond torte made in the food processor with almond paste, butter, and a generous lift of eggs. Dense, marzipan-rich, and ideal with coffee. The processor method takes the work out of beating.

Italian rainbow cookies (seven layer cookies): three almond paste sponge layers tinted red, green, and yellow, stacked with raspberry jam, and coated in chocolate. A classic holiday bakery tradition.