Pork shoulder slow-cooked for six hours with BBQ sauce, beer, and spices, then piled high with crispy flour-coated fried shallots and Fresno chiles. A tender, smoky showstopper that wins over every crowd at the table.

Preparing this Watermelon and Burrata salad is an absolute breeze. Perfect for when you're hungry but don't want to spend all day over a hot stove. It's refreshing, a bit salty, and packed with flavor.

Silver tequila, mango nectar, and orange juice are poured over ice with a layer of deep-hued creme de cassis settled at the bottom. This fruity, layered cocktail delivers a visually striking tropical twist on the classic tequila sunrise.

Thick-cut brioche French toast cooked on a grill pan for smoky char marks, served with a warm apple-cider berry compote and a luscious apple-mascarpone cream. A breakfast showstopper that takes French toast outdoors and proves the grill is not just for dinner.

A rich yeast dough flavored with cinnamon, nutmeg, and orange zest is rolled around a cream cheese-cinnamon filling with a hidden plastic baby, shaped into an oval, baked golden, then iced and decorated with festive purple, green, and yellow sanding sugar. This iconic New Orleans Mardi Gras tradition brings carnival spirit to any celebration, with the lucky baby-finder crowned king or queen of the party.

Chicken livers sautéed with coriander, allspice, cream, and brandy are pureed silky smooth in a food processor and served alongside a sweet-tangy red onion jam made with red wine and vinegar on sliced baguette. This elegant, bistro-style pâté makes a sophisticated appetizer that balances the livers' richness with the jam's bright acidity.

Stovetop-popped popcorn dusted with confectioners' sugar, paprika, cumin, cayenne, and garlic powder for a sweet-heat combination. A quick, addictive snack that sets the tone for a bold, flavor-packed birthday celebration.

Nothing says summer's not quite over like a watermelon margarita - minus the tequila. This one comes together in about two minutes flat: watermelon juice, a splash of club soda for fizz, and This Girl Walks Into a Bar's margarita mix doing all the heavy lifting on flavor. A Tajín rim brings the salty-spicy kick, a squeeze of lime finishes it off, and you've got something that tastes like a cocktail without the tequila (but you can add it in if you'd like). I am completely obsessed with this mixer line - it's become a staple in my kitchen - and they're giving Valerie's Place members 30% off their entire order. Head to thisgirlmixerssnacks.com and use code VALERIE at checkout.

White beans, bacon lardons, sausage, and browned chicken thighs and drumsticks are baked low and slow with vegetables, tomatoes, and herbs, then finished with a crunchy toasted lemon-parsley breadcrumb topping. This hearty, rustic French-inspired cassoulet is the ultimate budget-friendly crowd-feeder for a cozy dinner with friends.

Toasted sourdough slices rubbed with garlic and topped with thin slices of prosciutto and fresh toppings. A quick Italian appetizer that's simple and elegant.