from
— “Classic Home Desserts”by Richard Sax (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2000)Comfort food, nursery pudding, grown-up bliss. This butterscotch pudding is all three and more. Want to turn it into a pie? Bake an 8-inch chocolate cookie crumb crust. Pour all of the cooled pudding into the crust and top with a cloud of whipped cream. Or, if you want to be oh-so-trendy, sprinkle portions with a few flakes of Maldon salt.

serves 4
You might need to buy:
  • large egg yolks
  • packed dark brown sugar
  • pure vanilla extract

Per serving: 250 calories (44 percent from fat), 12.5 g fat (8.9 g saturated, 1.9 g monounsaturated), 14.9 mg cholesterol, 3.1 g protein, 32.7 g carbohydrates, 1 g fiber, 110.5 mg sodium.

serves 16
You might need to buy:
  • sugar
  • cold milk
  • sour cream

Based on the favorite at P.F. Changs * Per serving: 273 calories (48 percent from fat), 15.4 g fat (2.6 g saturated, 6.8 g monounsaturated), 0 cholesterol, 4.5 g protein, 32.8 g carbohydrates, 8.5 g fiber, 857 mg sodium.

serves 4
You might need to buy:
  • peanut oil
  • toasted sesame oil
  • vegetable or chicken broth
  • soy sauce
  • white or rice vinegar
  • sugar
  • black bean paste
serves 10
You might need to buy:
  • Topping:
  • sugar
  • flour
  • cinnamon
  • Loaf:
  • sugar
  • eggs
  • buttermilk
  • vanilla
  • baking soda
  • salt
  • peeled and diced apples
  • chopped walnuts
serves 4
You might need to buy:
  • Coarse salt and ground pepper
  • olive oil
serves 4
You might need to buy:
  • vegetable oil
  • soy sauce
  • rice vinegar
  • Coarse salt
  • red-pepper flakes
  • cornstarch

6 servings/loaf – makes 2 loafs

You might need to buy:
  • seasoned breadcrumbs
  • granulated garlic
  • pepper
  • salt
  • dry mustard
  • tomato sauce
  • horseradish
  • eggs
  • ground beef
  • diced onions
  • diced celery
  • diced bell pepper