Eve/5 recipes

Butter-dipped pork chops coated in a fiery Cajun spice blend and seared in a screaming hot cast-iron skillet until crusty and charred. Warning: this generates serious smoke and even more serious flavor.

Light sponge cake baked in a casserole dish, then soaked with a hot rum sugar syrup and topped with toasted almonds or coconut. This boozy, syrup-drenched dessert is even better the next day.

A bun/roll that is great for sandwiches or even eat them still warm with butter and/or jelly. It's almost like a common roll but with a unique taste from the extra sugar.

These savory pancakes are made with spinach and scallions, served with lime-cilantro butter, they are one of the best pancakes we have ever had. Rich, tasty and refreshing are all in one bite.

Creamy Irish white onion soup with butter-softened onions, cloves, nutmeg, and a swirl of cream. A gentle, warming soup that's ready in 20 minutes and tastes like a cozy evening by the fire.

Flour tortillas brushed with herb-infused olive oil, topped with diced turkey breast, bell pepper, tomatoes, and melted mozzarella. Crispy personal pizzas baked in 8 minutes flat for the quickest dinner or appetizer ever.

Hobo bread is a dense, moist quick bread made with boiled raisins, baking soda, nutmeg, and a sugar-nut topping. No yeast, no butter, baked in small loaf pans or even empty tuna cans.

German potato salad tosses tender sliced potatoes and onion in a tangy-sweet apple cider vinegar dressing with just a touch of mayo. A lighter, Oktoberfest-style side that's even better after it rests.

Hearty baked round steak and dried lima beans slow-cooked in tomato juice with bacon, brown sugar, and dry mustard. A rustic one-pot meal that feeds 8 and tastes even better the next day.

Pounded chicken breasts get an extra-crispy cracker coating that stays crunchy even under a blanket of smooth, savory gravy. This quick weeknight version skips the fuss while delivering satisfying texture and rich, comforting flavors.

Citrus pudding-cake that magically separates into two layers as it bakes: a light sponge cake on top and a silky lemon-orange custard pudding beneath. Baked in a water bath for gentle, even heat.

This bread pudding is moist and incredibly flavorful with a crunchy top. I make it every Christmas, or whenever a baguette is left out for too long, not that that ever happens in our house.

No-bake coconut bon-bons loaded with pecans and sweetened condensed milk, dipped in a glossy chocolate shell. A classic holiday candy that's simple to make and even harder to stop eating. Makes 2 dozen.

A chocolate quick bread loaded with chopped nuts. Mixed by hand in one bowl with no yeast or rising time. Wrap it in foil after baking and let it cool completely for clean, even slices.

BEWARE! You will have rave reviews and will be requested to make this at every holiday or friends/family gathering!

What is beef tamale pie, besides the most delicious thing there ever was? An aromatic mix of ground beef, tomato sauce and, spices, topped with a cheesy polenta style cornbread-like topping baked as a casserole.