Sauces recipes

Seafood quiche squares are a party favorite: a flaky crescent-roll crust topped with shrimp, crab and two cheeses, baked in a custard and cut into bite-size squares. Easy, crowd-feeding finger food, served warm.

Marcia Adams's maple baked ham: an 8-pound cooked ham glazed with pure maple syrup and served with a mustard-Worcestershire pan sauce. A classic holiday centerpiece with sweet-savory drippings.

Southwestern eggs Benedict with Canadian bacon on toasted English muffins, topped with a creamy guacamole hollandaise made from mashed avocado, mayo, lime juice, and hot sauce.

20-minute sweet and sour chicken stir-fry with juicy mandarin oranges, crunchy water chestnuts, and a kick of crushed red pepper. Wok-fired and bursting with citrus.

Crispy Vietnamese imperial rolls (cha gio) with ground pork, tree-ear mushrooms, bean sprouts, and bean thread noodles. Includes a homemade nuoc cham dipping sauce.

Red chili marinated pork with garlic and oregano, soaked overnight and slow-cooked until tender. Works with ribs, chops, or any cut. Add potatoes to the marinade for a one-pot meal.

Lisa pizza: a rustic European-style pizza topped with crumbled blood sausage, mozzarella, and tomato sauce on a crisp crust. An unexpected, deeply savory pizza inspired by Northern European butcher's traditions.

Grilled hoisin-marinated pork strips tucked into crisp lettuce cups with rice noodles, crunchy veggies, and a sweet peanut-chile dipping sauce. A fresh, hands-on Thai dinner for a crowd.

Fresh spinach draped in a classic homemade béchamel sauce, ready in just 20 minutes. This French-inspired vegetable side dish turns simple greens into something silky and elegant with only four ingredients.

The secret to making the cucumbers crunchy is to salt them first and let the salt draw out excess moisture before use.

Asian-inspired grilled chicken marinated in white wine, teriyaki, Chinese five-spice, and garlic powder: simple four-ingredient marinade with complex warm-spice flavor on the grill.

Slippery glass noodles wok-fried with savory ground pork in a ginger-garlic sauce with dark soy, chili bean paste, and sesame oil. A Chinese comfort bowl in 45 minutes.

Oven-baked Chinese-style spareribs glazed with a sweet and tangy sauce of tomato puree, brown sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, and chili sauce. Sticky, saucy, and fall-off-the-bone.

Eggplant Parmigiana with bechamel, tomato sauce, mozzarella, Parmesan, and artichoke hearts. A layered Italian casserole where egg-dipped eggplant bakes into a bubbly, cheesy masterpiece.

Quick 15-minute tuna fish curry with stir-fried apple, curry powder, and tomato sauce served over rice. A weeknight shortcut to warming Indian-inspired flavor using pantry staples.

Fiesta enchiladas loaded with seasoned ground beef, spinach, and Parmesan, wrapped in corn tortillas and baked with enchilada sauce and Monterey Jack cheese. A crowd-sized recipe for 12.