3 casa recipes

A creamy, from-scratch queso dip with sautéed onions, chopped jalapeños, and tomatoes melted into smooth cream cheese and half-and-half. Ready in 30 minutes. Grab the tortilla chips.

Calas: traditional New Orleans rice fritters made from yeast-risen mashed rice dough with nutmeg, deep-fried golden and dusted with powdered sugar. A Creole street food with African roots dating to the 1700s.

Baked apple halves stuffed with brandy-soaked dried cherries and drizzled with a maple caramel sauce. Served warm with vanilla frozen yogurt for an elegant fall dessert.