Samantha L., Recipe Tester

Love lentils? Us, too. Even if you don’t, give this recipe a whirl. The combination of lentils with a spiced nut vinaigrette, fresh basil, and slabs of feta cheese may change your mind.

Prepare to be wowed by these crispy panko-crusted mashed sweet potato cakes. We certainly were.

Chicken pieces marinated in a smoky, chile-infused paste makes for a perfectly spiced, divinely delish dinner. And the leftovers are incredible, too.

This seemingly simple little biscuit from France will wow you with its flaky, buttery perfection. Fantastique!

A custardy pie, filled with summer’s favorite berry (come on, you know it’s true), and baked into your choice of crust. Sweet, silky perfection.

A sweet, salty, and spicy eggplant dish that’s even better than takeout. Brining then frying in a blazing hot wok gives it a spectacular finish.

A sticky, sweet, and lightly spiced platter of roasted chicken thighs sounds pretty fantastic, doesn’t it? Let us assure you, it really is.

A chocolate lover’s dream come true, in the form of a lightly textured, dark chocolate mousse. Not too sweet, not too rich—just right.

A lovely jar of sweet, funky heat for those of you who love anything with a little extra kick. Add a little (or a lot, you spice fanatics) to anything you fancy.

A lovely and light refresher with a tangy topping, steeped with warming cardamom. Easier to make than you might think, this elegant panna cotta is a simple stunner.

Authentic lamb meatballs like you’d get in a Middle Eastern restaurant that are easy to make at home yet really quite hard to resist.

Not as dense or as sweet as a pound cake, this lovely tea cake is rich and buttery and subtly infused with layers of apple and cinnamon with a tart lemon drizzle as a finishing flourish.