250 start recipes

Hungarian sour cherry soup (meggyleves): a chilled summer soup of cherries, sugar, cinnamon, dry red wine, and heavy cream. Served cold, sweet, and tangy as a starter or light dessert.

Lime glazed chicken breasts get a crisp lemon-pepper crust from a double dredge, then a tart pan sauce reduced from lime juice and chicken broth poured over the top.

A chilled Scandinavian-style fruit soup made with berries simmered in warm spices, thickened with cornstarch, and stirred into sour cream and milk. Served cold as a starter or light dessert.

Marinated mushrooms simmer briefly in a tart bath of white wine, lemon juice, vinegar, and olive oil with shallots, garlic, and coriander. A chilled make-ahead appetizer ready in 40 minutes.

Pretty in Pink blended cocktail with sweet and sour, cranberry juice, lime, simple syrup, and orange liqueur. A tart, fruity pink drink served in a sugar-rimmed glass with a lemon wheel.

Mama's rhubarb pie is a heirloom double-crust dessert with a tart, juicy filling thickened just enough by flour and a beaten egg. Old-fashioned, fuss-free, and ready for ice cream.

Friendship brandied fruit is a perpetual fermented fruit compote built over months by adding peaches, pineapple, cherries, sugar, and brandy to a starter. Spoon over ice cream, pound cake, or yogurt for an instant dessert.

Traditional Vietnamese herb and vegetable platter with fresh mint, cilantro, basil, bean sprouts, cucumber, and tropical fruits. The essential accompaniment for pho, banh mi, and spring rolls.

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.

Elegant red wine fruit soup with poached pears, candied orange slices, pineapple, and a crème fraîche finish. A stunning French-inspired dessert layered with star anise, vanilla, and cardamom.