Salmon fillets baked with a creamy honey-mustard sauce made with Dijon, mayo, and fresh chives. A simple weeknight main that feels elegant enough for company.

Shredded rotisserie chicken is simmered in a smoky pureed sauce of chipotle peppers, tomatoes, and cumin until richly coated, then served in charred tortillas with Cotija, cilantro, and pickled onions. This streamlined tinga uses store-bought rotisserie chicken to deliver big, authentic Mexican flavor on a weeknight timeline.

Pappardelle noodles tossed in a quick, creamy sauce made from melted Boursin cheese, bright lemon zest, and freshly grated Parmesan. A splash of starchy pasta water brings it all together into a glossy, restaurant-worthy sauce in under 15 minutes — no cream, no roux, just cheese doing what cheese does best.

Yeasted dough filled with cinnamon-brown sugar and optional pecans and raisins, prepped the night before and iced warm from the oven. A make-ahead holiday morning tradition that fills the house with the magic of Christmas Day.

Salted slices of eggplant, yellow squash, zucchini, and tomatoes are arranged in a spiral over caramelized shallots and baked under a blanket of fontina and Parmesan. This beautiful gratin is the ideal way to showcase the last of summer's garden bounty as an elegant side dish.

Chewy chocolate chip cookies finished with a generous sprinkle of flaky sea salt for a sweet-salty contrast. An irresistible game day dessert.

A blend of cream cheese, sharp Cheddar, and hot sauce is shaped into a football, coated in toasted walnuts, and detailed with string cheese laces, served alongside homemade rosemary-thyme crackers. This playful, savory appetizer is the ultimate centerpiece for a football watch party spread.

Recipe courtesy of Valerie Bertinelli Tender Bibb lettuce, ripe tomatoes, sliced onions, and briny olives are drizzled with a creamy mayo-vinegar-olive oil vinaigrette brightened with fresh parsley. This simple, old-fashioned salad is the perfect cool counterpoint to a bowl of rich, spiced chili.

A vanilla cake mix base is paired with a rich ricotta-cocoa-mascarpone filling that magically swaps layers during baking, then topped with a luscious mascarpone-pudding frosting and chocolate curls. This whimsical, self-swirling cake is as fun to make as it is to eat, delivering a playful payback-worthy surprise.

Choux pastry dough is piped into hot oil at 350 degrees and fried until golden, then rolled in a fragrant blend of five-spice powder and cinnamon sugar while still warm. These aromatic, crunchy-outside, soft-inside churros put an unexpected Asian-inspired twist on a beloved fair food favorite.