141 plate recipes

Oysters au champagne is a classic French appetizer: fresh oysters poached in champagne and oyster liquor with garlic butter, plated over a bed of wilted spinach, and cloaked in a silky roux sauce.

Pasta with white truffles tosses al dente angel hair in dark green extra-virgin olive oil, basil, and Parmesan, then crowns each plate with shaved fresh white truffle. The ultimate minimalist Italian luxury pasta.

Tarragon chicken salad dressed in a light yogurt sauce built on a white wine, shallot, and fresh tarragon reduction, then plated with new potatoes and crisp green beans. A composed, mayo-free chicken salad.

Classic baked graham cracker crust with just 3 ingredients. Press into a 9-inch pie plate, bake 8 minutes, and you have a crisp, buttery base ready for cheesecake, key lime pie, or any chilled filling.

La sabana: a Mexican restaurant classic of paper-thin beef filet pounded to the size of a plate, flash-seared with lime, and served with refried beans and salsa. Four seconds on the griddle, no more.

Butternut squash soup with honey and a roasted barley risotto center, a restaurant-plated autumn soup where creamy risotto sits in the middle of a pool of silky squash soup. Elegant fall entertaining in a bowl.

Lemon loaf cake with a sticky lemon glaze and homemade lemon ice on the side. A two-part dessert with a tender citrus pound cake and a tart granita-style ice for the perfect summer-afternoon plating.

Cold trout in orange marinade is an Italian make-ahead classic: pan-fried trout steeped overnight in vermouth, orange, and lemon. Serve chilled the next day.

Velvety creamy tomato onion soup made with pureed fresh tomatoes, sauteed onions, basil, and silken tofu for a dairy-free, high-fiber bowl. A comforting homemade tomato soup that simmers in under 45 minutes with a silky, rich finish.

These delicate desserts are so elegant, ricotta cheese gives the smooth, creamy and light taste and texture, fresh strawberries let the flavor so refreshing and the vanilla sugar adds some nice zing along with some finely grated chocolate pieces on top.

Rolled oats with buckwheat pancake flour, low fat as made with applesauce in place of oil.

Meticulously seasoned ground chicken placed on top of a delicious golden brown fried plantain to create a scrumptious edible boat.

Belgian club soda waffles use sparkling water in place of milk for ultralight, crisp-edged Bisquick waffles in 20 minutes. Four ingredients, no buttermilk needed.

The best chewy chocolate chip cookie recipe ever. Nothing out of place, just a simple exceptionally delicious cookie that turns out utterly perfect every time.

I let the roast sit at room temperature 20-30 minutes before placing in the oven. Also, make sure the oven heats up to 500 for a good 20 minutes before roasting meat.

Fat-free fudge brownies use applesauce in place of butter or oil for a moist, chocolatey square. Whole wheat flour and egg whites keep them lighter without losing the brownie chew.