Eve/9 recipes

Tender sirloin cubes marinated in soy sauce, honey, lime, and curry powder, then grilled on skewers until charred and smoky. Quick to prep, even quicker to disappear off the plate.

Nightcap coffee mix with instant coffee, cardamom, cinnamon, non-dairy creamer, and sugar. A spiced coffee blend you stir into hot water for a cozy evening cup.

The easiest bread you'll ever bake: just self-rising flour, sugar, and a can of warm beer. No yeast, no kneading, no waiting. Golden and crusty in about an hour.

Sicilian caponata with sauteed eggplant, olives, capers, and a sweet-tangy vinegar sauce. A rustic Italian appetizer or side that tastes even better the next day.

A no-bake chocolate icebox cake layered with cubed pound cake and mocha-spiked chocolate pudding set with gelatin. Chill, slice, and serve. The easiest chocolate dessert you'll ever make.

Panko shrimp: Japanese-style deep-fried shrimp in a crisp, shatteringly light breadcrumb coat. Served with lemon wedges and soy sauce for dipping. A hot appetizer that stays crunchy even at room temperature.

Gulaschsuppe (German goulash soup) with tender beef cubes, sweet peppers, paprika, and a hint of caraway in a rich beef broth. The Austrian-Hungarian classic that tastes even better the next day.

A chocolate cherry fruitcake made easy with quick-bread mix, maraschino cherries, pecans, chocolate chips, and a splash of kirsch. Fruitcake even skeptics will love.

Fish in horseradish sauce -- This recipe is the first of the 12 dishes that make up the traditional Polish Christmas-eve meal, which is eaten after sundown on Christmas eve.

Homemade hummus from scratch with tahini, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, and coriander. Blended smooth using the chickpea cooking liquid for the creamiest dip you will ever scoop with pita.

This cake is remarkable; no one would ever believe that it is so low in fat and calories.

The perfect companion for sandwiches and crackers that is great for a picnic, or even a light snack.

McIlhenny's crawfish etouffee smothered in butter with the holy trinity, crawfish fat, Tabasco, and fresh lemon juice. A rich, roux-free Cajun classic that's even better the next day.

Pan-fried SPAM slices on toasted buns with mayo, crisp lettuce, ripe tomato, and melty cheese. These 20-minute SPAM burgers are the easiest weeknight dinner you'll ever throw together.

Chocolate chip fruitcake with candied cherries, dates, walnuts, and chocolate chips bound by a light egg-and-sugar batter. A modern fruitcake that converts even fruitcake skeptics.

The laziest, most crowd-pleasing dessert you'll ever make. Cherry pie filling, crushed pineapple, yellow cake mix, melted butter, coconut, and pecans. Just layer, dump, and bake.