Gourmet
Caramelized Peach Upside-Down Cake
To prevent the caramelized peaches from sticking to the parchment paper, unmold these flavorful little cakes while they're still warm.
Active time: 50 min Start to finish: 1 1/4 hr
Cornmeal Crepes with Ricotta and Ham
Hot pepper jelly is an unexpected taste that picks up the sweetness of the corn and cornmeal.
Active time: 45 min Start to finish: 1 3/4 hr
Turkey Breast Stuffed with Matzo and Fennel
Most turkey breasts are sold with the bone and skin still attached. Another option is to ask your butcher to bone it for you — the weight of the turkey breast without the bone should be 4 to 5 pounds.
Beet Horseradish Sauce
Though fresh horseradish is in season around Easter, you can substitute drained bottled horseradish. We recommend using the cooked beets left over from the pickled quail egg recipe , but if you're not making the eggs, you can substitute canned beets.
Lemon Peel Tuiles
These thin cookies resemble the strip of lemon peel that's often served with a cup of espresso.
Chocolate Caramel Frozen Parfaits
Parfait is the French word for "perfect," and these elegant little treats live up to the billing. Served straight from the freezer, their texture is similar to ice cream's, but they take on a mousselike consistency when thawed for a minute or two on the plate.
Chinese Bistro Ribs
Steve Katz of Potomac, Maryland, writes: "I would like to share a recipe for the most finger-licking baby back ribs you'll ever cook on your stovetop. The secret ingredient is Lapsang souchong tea, used in the braising liquid to give the ribs a smoky flavor.
Active time: 45 min Start to finish: 2 1/4 hr
By Steve Katz
Sun-Dried Tomato Dip
This dip is great with crudités or crackers, on sandwiches, or with cold meats.
Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 20 min
Spicy Okra
The African, Caribbean, and Asian populations of New York share a common love of spice and okra, so we've combined the two. If habanero chiles are too spicy for you, use a serrano or jalapeño chile instead. Rinsing your okra gives it a cleaner taste and texture.
Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 15 min
Cucumber Salad
Yam Taeng Kwa
Dried shrimp are an acquired taste; they have a very strong fish flavor. But this salad is wonderfully refreshing even without the shrimp.
Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 20 min
Cajun Chicken Stew
When I was growing up in Louisiana, nothing made my mouth water like the smell of onion, bell pepper, and celery cooking in my mom's dark Cajun roux. For maximum flavor, use the whole chicken and leave any fat attached.
Active time: 1 1/4 hr Start to finish: 1 3/4 hr
By Bettye Miller and Alexis Touchet