7 pantke recipes

Oma Pantke's gruene bohnen-eintopf: a traditional German one-pot stew of simmered stewing beef, green beans, and mashed potatoes thickened right in the pot. Grandmother's comfort cooking for six.

Vegan eggplant and rice one-pot meal simmered in vegetable broth with crushed tomatoes, garlic, thyme, and cayenne. Low-fat, filling, and oil-free.

Friendship cake using yellow cake mix, vanilla pudding, brandied starter fruit, raisins, and pecans baked in a Bundt pan. The shortcut version of the gifted-starter holiday cake.

Southern skillet fried green tomatoes cooked slow in cast iron until dark, caramelized, and olive-brown. Flour-dusted, garlic-kissed, and worried around the pan the old-fashioned way.

Fresh apple cake with macerated apples that release their natural juices into the batter for an extra-moist crumb. Cinnamon, allspice, and chopped nuts in a simple loaf or tube pan. The fall apple cake worth pulling out the bushel.

Praline macaroons from Mississippi: chewy meringue cookies built on whipped egg whites, brown sugar, and toasted pecans, each one crowned with a whole pecan half. Crisp shell, soft center, pure Southern bakery counter.

A lighter, healthier yet still tasty pizza is made with fresh homemade pizza dough, and topped with caramelized onion, artichoke hearts and parmesan cheese. Feel free to use store-bought or pre-made pizza dough or crust, it will still come out delicious.