Duane DeMello, Recipe Tester

Jambalaya gets a new look with this recipe. Duck breasts are grilled then added to the pot along with rice, ham, onions, and bell peppers. Hot and spicy.

Dense and savory, this bread recipe is shot through with cheddar cheese and plenty of green chiles for an inspired loaf of amazingness, New Mexico style.

A superlative version of the classic American quick bread that everyone loves. And that everyone pretty much always has the ingredients for on hand.

More savory than sweet, these shortbread go magnificently with booze of any sorts, from the most genteel of cocktails to your go-to wine from the corner store.

These one-skillet pork chops with minimal fuss and a built-in side dish are going to spoil you for dinners made with ease…

Salmon mousse pinwheels are an elegant way to kick off a tea, cocktail party, or dinner. The pinwheels can be made ahead and sliced just before serving.

No mere cocktail and not just dessert, this margarita granita falls somewhere blissfully, intoxicatingly in between. Yet is still as satisfying as if you’d had both.

Inspired by classic tandoori chicken, these wraps meld warming spices with a cooling mint-yogurt dip for an altogether enticing Middle Eastern-inspired creation.

This bread pudding is filled with bacon, peppers, spinach, and cheese making it a one-dish meal. It’s ideal for Christmas and Thanksgiving, but it works for the remaining 363 days, too.

Shrimp paste is a classic southern treat. Small shrimp is blended with butter, shallots, and spices. Smear the shrimp paste on biscuits or toast points.

This oyster stew, rich with cream and plump with oysters, is a classic and consummate first course for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

For caramelized onion and balsamic vinegar bruschetta, the onion is cooked until brown then drizzled with balsamic vinegar and piled on the bruschetta.

Perfect for a hot summer day, white Spanish gazpacho has the mellow flavor of almonds. Garnish with grapes or try gooseberries for a sweet, tart flavor.