139 mark recipes

Stir-fried beef with orange peel, Sichuan peppercorns, and dried chiles. The classic Szechuan restaurant dish with tender velveted beef, citrus perfume, and a numbing tingle on the finish.

Chocolate contains compounds believed to boost serotonin and endorphin levels in the brain. Among them are theobromine and caffeine, which can increase alertness and trigger a pleasurable feeling similar to the natural high after exercise. Another group of compounds, called flavonoids, has been found to benefit heart health. Studies suggest they improve blood flow by relaxing the blood vessels.

Crispy-skinned roast goose glazed with honey, soy, and lemon. This Chinese banquet centerpiece requires patience for air-drying but rewards with lacquered, golden skin and succulent meat.

Real egg shells hollowed out and filled with dark chocolate hazelnut ganache, then chilled and served in egg cups. A stunning conversation-starter dessert for Easter or dinner parties.

A quick microwave cherry sauce made with dark sweet cherries, cornstarch, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Spoon over ice cream or cake in under 10 minutes.

No-bake mocha fudge made with dark chocolate, sweetened condensed milk, butter, and instant coffee. Just 5 ingredients melted together for a rich, creamy coffee-chocolate candy.

Butterscotch shortbread cookies made with dark brown sugar and unsalted butter, topped with chopped walnuts or pecans pressed into the dough. Makes 72 bite-sized squares.

Rum truffle dessert cocktail: dark rum, crème de cacao, and hazelnut liqueur blended with chocolate ice cream and crowned with whipped cream. Served in a brandy snifter for a sip-it-slow sweet finish.

Red-cooked eggs simmered in dark soy sauce, brown sugar, chicken broth, and sesame oil until deeply colored. A Chinese appetizer served with a hoisin and oyster sauce dip.

Retro cola Jell-O mold with cream cheese and dark cherries. This fizzy, creamy gelatin dessert comes together in 5 minutes and sets into a wobbly showstopper your potluck crowd will fight over.

Jack-o-lantern cookies made from peanut butter sandwich cookies dipped in orange-tinted almond bark with black licorice faces. A fun, no-bake Halloween treat kids love decorating.

Steamed Spareribs with Black Bean Sauce (Dow See Jing Pie recipe

A zesty Southwestern marinade built on Bloody Mary mix, horseradish, Dijon mustard, and green chilies. Ready in 10 minutes, killer on chicken, lamb, or grilled steak.

Irish potted herrings baked in Guinness stout and vinegar with bay leaves, cloves, peppercorns, and onion rings. A traditional cold fish dish with deep, malty tang.

Slightly potted cocktail franks simmer in a bourbon-spiked sweet-and-tangy sauce of chili sauce, brown sugar and Dijon. A retro chafing-dish party appetizer that disappears off the toothpicks fast.

Shrimp and pork stir-fried with cellophane noodles, dried mushrooms, and sherry in a wok. A quick Chinese-style noodle dish that soaks up savory mushroom broth.