973 west recipes

Lemon tea snow with strawberry sauce: a light, airy gelatin dessert flavored with lemon and instant tea, beaten with egg whites into a cloud. Served with a warm-set strawberry-currant sauce. Retro Southern tearoom fare.

Maple-pepper roasted pork loin marinates overnight in lemon, maple syrup, shallots, garlic, thyme, and black pepper, then roasts with a sweet-peppery glaze. A Canadian-inspired roast for a crowd.

Rice pudding with brandy-soaked currants, orange zest, and cinnamon, set with gelatin for a silky chilled dessert. Low-fat, make-ahead, and lightly boozy.

Microwave poached pears glazed with orange marmalade, brown sugar, and citrus zest, served chilled with a creamy yogurt sauce. A light, elegant fruit dessert.

Hot mulled spice mix with whole cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves, allspice, coriander seeds, dried lemongrass, mint, and orange zest. Make a big batch for mulled wine, cider, and warm holiday drinks.

Penne with artichoke hearts, ricotta, spinach, and white wine in a light lemon sauce. No cream, no oil, and packed with vegetables. A fresh 15-minute pasta dinner.

New Orleans-style pain perdu French toast with orange flower water, brandy, lemon zest, and nutmeg. Stale French bread soaked rich and fried golden, dusted with powdered sugar.

Lemon snow pudding with basil custard sauce: a cloud-light whipped gelatin dessert with bright lemon and a silky basil-infused crème anglaise poured over top. Elegant, old-school, and delicately refreshing.

No-bake almond chocolate cookies blend semi-sweet and butterscotch chips with vanilla wafer crumbs and sour cream, then roll the truffle-style balls in toasted almonds. Made in 50 minutes.

Lemon anise biscotti with fresh lemon zest and star anise, twice-baked until crisp and golden. A crunchy Italian cookie that stores for a month and pairs beautifully with espresso.

Orange and jicama salad with sliced avocado over mixed greens, dressed with a tangy orange-lemon vinaigrette. A bright, crisp, Mexican-inspired side salad for tacos or grilled fish.

Hot buttered cider spiked with rum and simmered with whole cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and lemon peel. A warming spiked apple drink topped with a melting pat of butter.

Traditional yeast-raised kolachky filled with spiced prune lekvar, folded at the corners so the filling peeks through, then dusted with powdered sugar. An old-world Polish and Czech holiday pastry.

Six classic Eastern European pastry fillings: cheese with cognac raisins, prune walnut, poppy seed, ground nut, orange marmalade, and raw apple. Traditional recipes for strudel, kolache, and more.

Fat-free lemon poppy seed biscotti made with no added oil or butter. Crisp twice-baked Italian cookies powered by ground almonds, egg whites, and bright citrus.

Baked eggplant rounds topped with homemade sun-dried tomato tapenade and parmesan cheese. A Mediterranean appetizer with olives, capers, lemon, and basil.