A rich, layered Italian lasagna featuring a hearty meat ragu, creamy besciamella sauce, and loads of Parmigiano-Reggiano and mozzarella. This holiday centerpiece is worth every minute of the labor of love.

Tender butter lettuce is tossed with crisp radishes, Persian cucumber, and fresh chives in a bright lemon-Dijon-shallot vinaigrette. This light, refreshing salad offers a clean counterpoint to the richer game night snacks, with a punny name that keeps the betting theme alive.

A buttery tart crust blind-baked to golden perfection, filled with cream cheese whipped cream, and topped with jewel-toned fresh berries under a gleaming apricot glaze. A classic French-style tart that bridges old-world pastry technique with fresh, new-world fruit.

A light, icy dessert made from sugar syrup steeped with fresh basil and brightened with lemon juice. A refreshing palate cleanser that caps off a summer barbecue without breaking the bank.

Fresh lemon zest steeped in vodka for a full week, then combined with simple syrup, strained, and chilled for a smooth, aromatic Italian liqueur. A homemade staple that brings a taste of the Amalfi Coast to your home bar and makes a beautiful handmade gift.

A comforting shepherd's pie with braised lamb, root vegetables, and a golden mashed potato crust. The ultimate neighborly casserole for cold-weather sharing.

Ground beef simmered in the slow cooker with garlic, celery, peppers, onion, tomato sauce, and warm spices for four hours until rich and saucy. A hands-off game-day favorite that lets you enjoy every play without missing a bite.

A cloud-light angel food cake is enriched with cocoa, espresso, and grated bittersweet chocolate, baked in a tube pan, then sliced, buttered, and grilled for smoky caramelized edges, served with berries and whipped cream. Grilling the delicate cake adds an unexpected twist that perfectly caps off a grill-centric chicken dinner.

A bone-in ham slow-roasted at 325 degrees until tender, then brushed with a glossy honey-mustard-brown sugar glaze and finished at 375 degrees until lacquered and golden. A grand, centerpiece-worthy roast that commands the table at any dinner fit for royalty.

Charred Hatch chiles are folded into a blend of cream cheese, sour cream, and Mexican blend cheese and baked in a cast-iron skillet at 375 degrees until bubbling and golden on top. This smoky, creamy dip showcases the distinctive flavor of seasonal Hatch chiles and disappears fast with a basket of tortilla chips.