64 special recipes

Curried apple pork chops baked under a fragrant blanket of tart apples, onion, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, and curry powder. A simple oven-braise that turns weeknight chops into something special.

Pan-seared beef tenderloin fillets served with a quick mushroom-horseradish brown gravy. A 25-minute special occasion dinner that turns packaged gravy into something worth serving company.

Old-fashioned sweet cantaloupe pickles brined and slow-simmered in a spiced sugar syrup with cinnamon, cloves, and allspice. A heritage preserving recipe that turns underripe melons into something special.

PB&J specials made with rolled bread dough stuffed with peanut butter and jelly, topped with melted butter and chopped peanuts, then baked golden. A fun twist on a childhood classic.

An air-dried roast duck glazed with Scotch, soy, honey, ginger, and brown sugar marinade until the skin turns deep mahogany. A Peking-duck-inspired showstopper for a special-occasion dinner.

A Jellie of Fyshe: a medieval-style aspic of cod, scallops, and shrimp suspended in a clear gelatin set with white wine, ginger, and vinegar. The historic seafood starter for special occasions.

Basic rack of lamb: a French-trimmed rack marinated, then roasted hot to a rosy medium-rare and carved into elegant double-bone chops. The foundation technique for an impressive special-occasion main.

Freezer pickles made with sliced cucumbers, onions, sugar, vinegar, and celery seed. No canning, no water bath, no special equipment. Just salt, slice, and freeze for bread-and-butter flavor any time of year.

Preserved blueberries in orange liqueur syrup with fresh lavender flowers, canned in a boiling water bath. Spoon over vanilla ice cream, fold into yogurt, or gift a jar to someone who deserves something truly special.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

Mortadella is one of the most popular cold cuts we have in Italy. It's a typical product from northern Italy, made of pork meat, little chunks of porkfat and spices. It's tasty and savoury, the perfect filling for a sanwich, and ideal for stuffings. It's definitely my favourite 'salume' ! Try it in this recipe, it's a special starter - delicate and sofisticated - and it's EASY to prepare! I found this recipe on the website of a famous producer of traditional Italian cold cuts.