1 of20 Photo by Leigh Beisch
Speedy Chicken Posole with Avocado and Lime
This dish, using canned hominy, takes a fraction of the time needed for regular posole. Serve with warm corn tortillas.
Recipe: Spicy Chicken Posole with Avocado and Lime
2 of20 Photo by Jennifer Martiné; food styling by Randy Mon
Cherry Tomato and Asparagus Salad
This colorful salad made of late-spring produce is the perfect opener to a healthy meal.
Recipe: Cherry Tomato and Asparagus Salad
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3 of20 Photo by Iain Bagwell
Grilled Chicken Pita Salad
All the best flavors of the Mediterranean, tossed in a lovely salad. We prefer the chicken grilled and sliced, but if you're pressed for time, you can easily substitute 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken from the deli.
Recipe: Grilled Chicken Pita Salad
4 of20 Photo by Shelly Strazis
Pumpkin Tacos
Pumpkin tacos are easy appetizers to prepare, but offer complex flavors. Guests can assemble their own, adding toasted chiles, slaw, and pumpkin seeds.
Recipe: Pumpkin Tacos
5 of20 Photo by Jeffery Cross
Miso, Sesame, and Sweet Potato Dip
Sweet potatoes are naturally silky textured yet low in fat. They’re also a great source of betacarotene and fiber. Scoop it with baby bok choy, separated into leaves.
Recipe: Miso, Sesame, and Sweet Potato Dip
6 of20 Photo by Annabelle Breakey; styling by Karen Shinto
Mediterranean Deviled Eggs
Chopped kalamata olives, capers, and a splash of white balsamic vinegar add Mediterranean flavor to liven up this classic appetizer.
Recipe: Mediterranean Deviled Eggs
7 of20 Photo by Annabelle Breakey; food styling by Karen Shinto
Squash and Chickpea Fritters with Winter Greens and Hazelnut Salad
Warm and crispy veggie fritters accompanied by a crisp seasonal salad makes for a lovely autumn appetizer.
Recipe: Squash and Chickpea Fritters with Winter Greens and Hazelnut Salad
8 of20 Photo by Annabelle Breakey
Korean Kimchi Burgers
Follow the recipe to make your own kimchi, or take a shortcut and use the condiment ready-made from the store. Pair the burgers with a beer with balanced malt and hops like Saigon Export.
Recipe: Korean Kimchi Burgers
9 of20 Photo by Thomas J. Story; food styling by Randy Mon
French Toast Kebabs
Turn French toast into food-on-a-stick. It takes just three tricks for perfect results: Use day-old bread, cut each bread cube to include some crust, and soak the skewers.
Recipe: Grilled French Toast Kebabs
10 of20 Yunhee Kim
Bengali Five-Spice Roasted Chicken and Vegetables
Recipe: Bengali Five-Spice Roasted Chicken and Vegetables
Baked in a very hot oven, the sauce reduces until the panch phoron seeds cling to the chicken and vegetables in chewy nubbins.
11 of20 Photo by Annabelle Breakey, styling by Randy Mon
Stuffed Chicken with Rosemary Polenta
Recipe editor Amy Machnak makes this rustic Italian dish when friends come over to watch Nip/Tuck. “It has a wow factor when you serve it with a bottle of Pinot Grigio.”
Recipe: Stuffed Chicken with Rosemary Polenta
12 of20 Photography by Leigh Beisch, food styling by Dan Becker
White Wine Coq Au Vin
Think of this as a fresher, green-herb-laced version of the French classic. Serve with a crusty baguette for dunking.
Recipe: White Wine Coq Au Vin
13 of20 Photo by Annabelle Breakey; food styling by Randy Mon
North Indian-style Spinach Chicken
“Serve this curry with basmati rice, some plain yogurt, and a chopped cucumber–red onion salad―which you can make while the chicken cooks,” says food editor Margo True.
Recipe: North Indian-style Spinach Chicken
14 of20 Annabelle Breakey; styling by Robyn Valarik
Root Vegetable Gratin
We love the earthy, sweet flavor of the root vegetable combination in this cheesy gratin, but you could also go with the classic all-potato version (use 5 large potatoes, about 31/2 lbs. total, in place of the celery root and parsnips).
Recipe: Root Vegetable Gratin
15 of20 Photo by Annabelle Beakey; styling by Karen Shinto
Sugared Chocolate Beignets
These gourmet doughnuts can be prepared ahead, requiring only a quick baking once your guests arrive.
Recipe: Sugared Chocolate Beignets
16 of20 Photo by Annabelle Breakey
Tangerine Olive Oil Cake
Sweet citrus brightens up this light dessert.
Recipe: Tangerine Olive Oil Cake
17 of20 Photo by Annabelle Breakey; styling by Karen Shinto
Fruit Cocktail with Margarita Dressing
Instead of chopping fruit, we cut it into long, easy-to-pick-up pieces. Serve the extra fruit as a side salad or save for breakfast the next day.
Recipe: Fruit Cocktail with Margarita Dressing
18 of20 Photo by Yunhee Kim
French Four-Spice Cake with Browned Butter Spice Frosting
This cake starts out tasting like citrus and sweet spices, then builds to a gentle pepper glow if the quatre épices is made with white pepper, or a good kick if it’s based on black pepper.
Recipe: French Four-Spice Cake with Browned Butter Spice Frosting
19 of20 Photo by Thomas J. Story
Chocolate Hazelnut Brownies
Chewy, and big enough to share—though you may want every bite. For the richest flavor, use dark chocolate and cocoa such as Scharffen Berger.
Recipe: Chocolate Hazelnut Brownies
20 of20 Photo by Shelly Strazis; styling by Valerie Aikman-Smith
Long Beach Lime Pies
In these luscious Key lime pies (pictured at center bottom), we use Mexican limes (the West Coast name for Key limes).
Recipe: Long Beach Lime Pies