358 special recipes

Pumpkin chocolate chip bundt cake made with sweetened pumpkin pie filling and warm cinnamon, studded with semisweet chocolate chips. A one-bowl mix and pour into a tube pan, no special pans or steps needed.

This old-fashioned egg drop soup drizzles a thin batter through a colander into rich beef broth, creating tender, wispy noodle-like strands in minutes. A frugal, warming bowl that stretches pantry staples into something special.

This recipe is from a Toronto restaurant called "The Stockyards". There's no reason to settle for a boring average grilled cheese when it's so easy to kick it up a notch and create something very special.

Golden-seared veal cutlets topped with a warm bourbon-spiked apricot and orange compote laced with ginger. Sweet, savory, and citrusy all at once, this elegant 40-minute dinner for four feels like a special occasion.

Chilled pappa al pomodoro with crab meat crostini, a Tuscan bread-and-tomato soup served cold with a lemony crab-topped baguette float. An elegant no-cook summer appetizer that turns stale bread into something special.

Easy kimchi for first-timers: salted napa cabbage fermented with green onion, garlic, ginger, and dried chile in a simple brine. No fish sauce, no special paste. Let it bubble on the counter, then chill the funky, sour, crunchy result.

Apple pie topped with halved marshmallows that brown into golden, gooey peaks under a slow second bake. Tart apples, just sugar and nutmeg, no top crust. The midcentury trick that turns weeknight apple pie into something special.

Heart cake without a special pan, made by cutting a round layer in half and setting both halves against a square layer to form a heart, then frosting it pink with strawberry frosting. A clever Valentine's trick.

A special recipe from Sur la table. You can form and chill the crab cakes up to 8 hours before cooking and serving. The aioli can be made one day ahead. Bring to room temp and whisk before using.

An Italian-Jewish Passover pie with seasoned turkey breast, pine nuts, and broth-soaked matzo bound with eggs and baked with egg yolks nestled on top. Fragrant with sage, rosemary, and nutmeg, this kosher holiday main is truly special.

Farm sausage is homemade country pork sausage seasoned with sage, herbs, and a kick of chili and red pepper. Shape it into a log, chill overnight, then slice and fry. No casings, no special gear, just real sausage from scratch.

Discover this easy slow cooker Chicken and Cherries Jubilee recipe with tangy chili sauce and dramatic flambé finish – perfect for beginner cooks seeking impressive dinner ideas like "slow cooker chicken with cherries and sherry" or "flambéed savory cherry chicken for special occasions."

This a delightful dish is an innovative and economical way to serve a do-it-yourself-style appetizer or main-dish. It is usually presented in a special lacquered wood or china tray with the required number of compartments. It is just as effective served on a tray in small bowls or dishes

This is one of those "ooooof!" cakes. Between the chocolate ganache and the chocolate mousse filling you might break out in some butter sweats, but it is very worth it. The cake is fluffy and moist, the mousse cool and airy, and the ganache smooth and creamy. A great show off cake for special occasions. Best of all, really easy to make!

Basil eggplant is a simple recipe, and this version substantially reduces the unnecessary oil that usually plagues eggplant dishes. The basil and chile pepper turn the basic eggplant into something exciting. Use either the long, thin Japanese eggplants or the big purple globe/Italian eggplants. We love this recipe – even without the chile peppers. And we always serve with Jasmine rice.

Fruit Cheeses are closely related to jams and jellies but have a firmer texture and are usually served moulded and cut into chunks as an accompaniment to roast or cold meats. Quince really makes the best cheese and is a wonderful rich amber colour. It is a particular speciality of Spain and is traditionally eaten as a sweet snack. This recipe will keep for 2 years and makes a wonderful and unusual gift.