Harper Collins

Use this cake recipe to make The Coconut Cake recipe from Baked by Melissa.

Use these tangy beets to top salads, layer on sandwiches, or enjoy as an anytime snack.

Silkier, lighter, and more sinfully good than anything you've ever tasted before.

In this method, potatoes and oil begin cooking together at room temperature, totally defying all the rules of deep-frying.

Ask your butcher for lamb backstraps, an interior cut from the loin that is lean and exceedingly tender.

Asparagus, snap peas, green onions, edamame, spinach, and cilantro make this vegetarian noodle stir-fry plenty green and powerfully healthy.

Fresh and candied ginger team up to make an uplifting, zesty treat that can be prepared in any season. This quick yet impressive dessert lends itself to endless reincarnations, using various dried fruits and citrus zests, or even cocoa for chocolate lovers—see the recipes that follow for ideas!

I call this crowd-pleasing soup my magic recipe. It is so amazing that so few ingredients—and a soup made in a matter of minutes—can have so much depth of flavor. It really is a fine example of the miracles of infusion. The dried cèpe (porcini) mushroom powder packs a maximum of fragrance and flavor and takes well to many variations: Pair it with paper-thin slices of raw domestic mushrooms or seared domestic or wild mushrooms showered in the bowl at serving time; prepare with dried morel powder in place of cèpes; top with thin slices of raw black truffles; or add a dollop of mushroom-powder- infused whipped cream.

My love for Asian food is never-ending, and this easy, quick chicken meatball creation is a favorite. The secret here is to steam the meatballs so they remain tender and succulent. Searing briefly afterward adds a wonderfully caramelized crust without overcooking.

This dessert is a big hit at parties in the Hollywood Hills, especially in the cooler months. It’s probably one of my most deceptive desserts—everyone thinks it's complex to prepare, but it's one of the simplest desserts in my repertoire. When the bread pudding is firm to the touch, you know it's done.

These steak kebabs are marinated in soy-ginger sauce, and served over a salad of bok choy, kale, and cucumbers.

Maple syrup and warm, fall spices add a touch of sweetness to easy roasted veggies.

This recipe is inspired by one in Mollie Katzen’s book The Vegetable Dishes I Can’t Live Without. Heads up! This recipe calls for already cooked spaghetti squash.

This quick version of the classic Vietnamese soup is steeped with aromatic spices and finished off with a waft of refreshing herbs.

Toss roasted squash and Brussels sprouts with a perfectly salty and spicy miso-harissa dressing for a refreshing change of pace.

Raw cacao powder retains a higher portion of nutrients than more common cocoa powder, which is usually heated during manufacturing. Swap the almond meal here for hazelnut meal, if you prefer.

Somewhere between a fudgy chocolate truffle and a Tootsie Roll is the Brazilian confection known as the brigadeiro.