102 special recipes

Pan-roasted veal chops with fresh sage, sliced mushrooms, and prosciutto in a white wine pan sauce. Italian-inspired one-skillet dinner that turns bone-in veal into a special-occasion showstopper.

Rich chocolate frosting made with ground sweet chocolate, butter, and cream that sets to a glossy, spreadable finish perfect for layer cakes and special occasion desserts.

Split lobsters stuffed with buttery Ritz cracker crumbs, white wine, and Worcestershire, then baked until golden. A New England classic for a special dinner for two.

Ham and corn custard: a Depression-era egg custard baked with diced ham, sweet corn, and sauteed onions. A tender, savory supper that turns leftover ham into something special.

Broiled flank steak marinated overnight in lemon juice, soy sauce, and oregano, topped with sauteed onions. An 8-hour marinade tenderizes this lean cut into something special.

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.

This recipe is definitely worth the effort for the holidays and special company. Broiled stuffed tomatoes and a fresh green salad are perfect accompaniments with this meat dish.

Homemade sweet Italian sausage with ground pork, fennel, coriander, garlic, and parsley. No casings, no special equipment. Mix, shape, and cook or freeze for up to three months.

Scallops, shrimp, and crab in a creamy mustard and sherry sauce baked in shells with golden breadcrumbs. A classic French seafood gratin that feels like a special occasion.

Hot dogs Provencale simmered in a rustic tomato sauce with crispy bacon, onion, and garlic. A French-inspired one-skillet dinner that turns humble franks into something special.

Lobster tails in patty shells spoons sweet lobster meat in a sauterne-spiked cream sauce with mushrooms, olives, and pimento into golden puff pastry shells. A retro special-occasion dinner straight from the supper-club era.

Slow-roasted duck stuffed with oyster bread dressing and basted with a lemon-butter-thyme mixture until golden and crispy. A showpiece roast for holiday dinners and special occasions.

Grilled veal rib chops marinated in lemon and shallots, served with a reduced cream sauce brightened with fresh chives and lemon juice. An elegant main course for special dinners.

Sweet sausage slices simmer in a sticky brown sugar glaze spiked with horseradish and ketchup, creating this sweet-and-tangy main dish that transforms weeknight rice into something special.

Lamb loin wrapped in puff pastry with a pistachio and chestnut puree stuffing, served with a juniper-and-thyme red wine reduction. A showstopper main course for special occasions.