438 west recipes

Fig chess tarts with a buttery lemon-scented shortbread shell, filled with brown sugar custard studded with chopped dried figs and walnuts. A Southern chess pie translated into bite-sized tart form.

A meatless lasagne layered with saffron-scented crushed tomatoes, roasted red peppers, sweet peas, orange zest, and bubbly mozzarella. Spanish flair meets Italian comfort.

Braided wreath bread made with whole wheat pastry flour, maple syrup, apple juice, butter, and almond extract. A stunning holiday centerpiece baked in a golden ring.

Chocolate zucchini bread folds 2 cups grated zucchini and orange zest into a cocoa-cinnamon batter for a moist, dark loaf with hidden vegetables. Tube pan or loaf pans, freezes well.

Fig square is a sweet yeast bread rolled around an allspice-scented fig filling, coiled jelly-roll style into a square pan, and baked golden. Slice into squares for breakfast or tea.

Gugelhupf is an Austrian yeasted bundt cake rich with butter, eggs, raisins, ground almonds, and lemon zest. Traditional Habsburg breakfast bread served warm with butter or coffee.

First-rate carrot cake folds shredded carrots, crushed pineapple, coconut, and walnuts into a moist buttermilk batter. Topped with orange-spiked cream cheese frosting for the ultimate spring dessert.

Pork chops and sweet potatoes baked in a currant jelly glaze with orange juice, dry mustard, ginger, and lemon zest for a sweet-savory one-dish dinner.

Herbed roasted salmon with vegetables and lemon chive sauce: whole fillet marinated in garlic, rosemary, thyme, and parsley, roasted alongside potatoes, carrots, corn, zucchini, and peppers. Sheet-pan elegance.

Orange venison stew with mushrooms, shallots, white wine, tomatoes, and potatoes baked in a casserole. A refined wild game stew with citrus and earthy depth.

Norwegian nut bread baked in cans with almonds, filberts, sunflower seeds, raisins, and orange zest. A dense, hearty Scandinavian quick bread with whole wheat and buttermilk.

Mystery bread made with three flours, fruit juices instead of sugar, crushed aniseed, orange zest, and cinnamon. A fragrant yeast bread with a crispy golden crust and a subtly sweet, complex crumb.

A showstopping Persian jeweled rice (javaher polow) layered with saffron-glazed carrots, barberries, currants, pistachios, almonds, orange peel, and rose water. Topped with a golden tah dig crust.

Sophisticated apple pie with sharp cheddar cheese baked right into the crust. The filling simmers apples in port wine, apple juice, and lemon zest. Lattice top for elegant presentation.

Soft, spiced German brown sugar cookies loaded with cinnamon, cloves, orange zest, and plump raisins. This old-world drop cookie recipe makes 4 to 5 dozen and fills your kitchen with warmth.

Wholesome snack cake packed with wheat germ, applesauce, raisins, and orange zest. Low-fat and diabetic-friendly with minimal oil. Cuts into 16 bars for lunchboxes or afternoon treats.