17 perfection recipes

Potatoes, bacon, onions and cheddar cheese, slow cooked in a Crockpot. It's hard to get more perfect than that.

Pumpkin pie with a gingersnap crumb crust, dark rum, heavy cream, and freshly grated nutmeg. The double-boiler trick warms the filling before baking for a smoother, less weepy custard.

Old-school pecan pie with a flaky shortening crust and a creamed butter base for the filling. Christmas and Thanksgiving classic from below the Mason-Dixon line.

The perfect whole wheat American style hamburger bread similar to a kaiser roll. Just the right about of wheatiness for a hearty but fluffy burger bun. Perfect when toasted on the grill.

The perfect whole wheat American style sandwich bread. Just the right wheatiness for a hearty but fluffy sandwich.

All-purpose pie pastry combining vegetable shortening and butter for the best of both fats: shortening for tenderness, butter for flavor. Makes enough for two double-crust pies.

Slow-simmered dried beans with sausage, whole garlic cloves, and jalapeños. A classic Southern-style bean pot that cooks low for hours into a smoky, spicy one-pot main dish.

Fresh peach pie with a buttery crumb topping, cinnamon, and lemon juice. Sliced peaches macerate before baking for concentrated juicy flavor under a crispy streusel crust.

Chicken cacciatore baked in a crushed Roma tomato sauce with white wine, fennel seed, cinnamon, coriander, and red pepper flakes. A lighter, oven-baked Italian hunter's chicken.

Classic double-crust apple pie with tart apples, cinnamon, and a whisper of nutmeg. Thinly sliced fruit and a flour-sugar coating give a clean-slicing filling that holds shape after cooling.

Prevention's perfect kabobs: chicken and scallops marinated in yogurt-mint, skewered with vegetables and dried fruit. A balanced, colorful, Mediterranean-leaning grill plate.

Low-fat pie crust made with a blend of unbleached and whole wheat pastry flour and margarine. A lighter, flaky shell for savory pies and quiches with a simple blind-bake option for fruit fillings.

Garlic curry vinaigrette mixes garlic powder, curry, mustard, and cayenne with cider and white vinegars. A bold, flavor-packed dressing that scales to a full gallon for catering or party prep.

A thick, creamy banana milkshake blended from ripe bananas, vanilla ice cream, and a handful of ice. Four ingredients, one blender, and a frosty banana treat in about five minutes.

Just like the title says, this layered chocolate cake is perfect, smooth, chocolaty, creamy and delicious. It is an excellent recipe to impress your family or your friends.

Skip the fake cheese slices and shred real cheese for a perfect gooey and crispy grilled cheese sandwich.