159 lounge recipes

Appetizers have long been a part of the culinary tradition in Europe, but they're relatively new to America. One of the first to appear in American cookbooks, at the turn of the century, was shrimp cocktail.

Fog City Diner's homemade tomato ketchup: fresh roma tomatoes simmered with cider vinegar, sugar, pickling spice, and cinnamon for a restaurant-style condiment. Makes 5 cups, lasts a month.

Roasted potatoes and Roma tomatoes with fresh rosemary, chives, and olive oil. Pre-cooked potato slices layered with tomatoes and baked until golden at the edges.

A quick Cajun red beans and rice with canned kidney beans, chopped sausage, Creole seasoning, and Louisiana hot sauce. Thick, spicy, and on the table in 30 minutes for a weeknight taste of New Orleans.

Hot mulled spice mix with whole cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves, allspice, coriander seeds, dried lemongrass, mint, and orange zest. Make a big batch for mulled wine, cider, and warm holiday drinks.

Thai red or green curry paste: a homemade aromatic blend of chilies, shallots, garlic, lemongrass, shrimp paste, ginger, and coriander. The from-scratch base for authentic Thai curries.

Fruit kabobs with yogurt dip: skewers of watermelon, pineapple, grapes, strawberries, and kiwi served with a creamy strawberry yogurt dip. A colorful, no-cook, healthy snack or party platter kids love.

Hot pickled peppers brined overnight in salt water, then water-bath canned in vinegar, sugar, garlic and horseradish brine. Crisp, snappy and shelf-stable for a year of nachos, sandwiches and antipasto plates.

A multi-day Sichuan duck project: dry-rubbed with toasted spiced salt, air-dried overnight, steamed, battered, and deep-fried to shattering crispness. Includes a tea-smoked variation. Worth every step.

Love Korean food since I was in the university, kimchee is definitely one of my favorites, and any time go to a Korean restaurant, kimchee is one of the side dishes I must order, no question. Finally, the first time I made my own kimchee, and it turned out as good as the ones I had at any restaurant, here the recipe is!

A tasty drink made with pineapple juice, lemon balm and a bit of mint.

Moghul masala spice blend ground from whole cinnamon, cloves, black peppercorns, nutmeg, and cardamom. A warm, aromatic Indian spice mix for curries, rice, and meat dishes.

Herbal vinegars infuse red wine vinegar with garlic, basil, rosemary, marjoram and dried chiles. Two large-batch blends (Southwest and Chef's Blend) for gift bottles, dressings and pantry seasoning.

Cod fillets brushed with oyster sauce, wrapped in napa cabbage leaves with soy-seasoned rice and ginger, then steamed into neat bundles. A light, elegant fish dinner served with mustard vinaigrette.

Brown rice summer salad with tarragon vinaigrette, fresh vegetables, peas, and pimentos. Low-fat, no-mayo, and served cold. A make-ahead side dish for hot weather meals.

Jack-o-lantern cookie pops made with spiced molasses dough cut into pumpkin shapes on lollipop sticks, decorated with tinted ornamental frosting. A fun Halloween baking project for kids.