Grapefruit juice and lemon vodka shaken with pomegranate juice and served in a glass rimmed with grapefruit-zest sugar. A tart, rosy cocktail that shakes off the travel blues and welcomes you home in style.

Recipe courtesy of Valerie Bertinelli Boiled lima beans and corn are tossed with golden sauteed onions and plum tomatoes in a bright cider vinegar dressing seasoned with parsley, sage, and nutmeg. This hearty, rustic salad celebrates classic American harvest ingredients and makes a wonderful Thanksgiving side dish.

Pea-infused risotto is chilled, formed around cubes of mozzarella, coated in panko, and deep-fried until golden and crispy, then served with a fresh herb-Meyer lemon-yogurt dipping sauce. These elegant, spring-green arancini with their molten cheese centers make a stunning passed appetizer for a Galentine's Day dinner or any special gathering.

These Shakin’ Chicken cutlets are my go-to for a crispy, flavorful dinner that’s easy to make ahead and keep in the freezer. Cook them whenever you need a quick, comforting meal — especially perfect topped with a fresh, lemony arugula salad.

Golden choux puffs are baked until crisp and hollow, then filled with both vanilla whipped cream and espresso whipped cream and dusted with confectioners' sugar. These light, elegant pastries pair two classic flavors in one impressive yet surprisingly approachable dessert.

A buttery food-processor crust is spread with cream cheese-egg yolk filling, mounded with fresh cherries tossed in cornstarch, folded at the edges, brushed with egg wash, and sprinkled with crunchy Demerara sugar. This rustic, free-form galette delivers all the charm of a homemade cherry pie with a fraction of the fuss.

A vibrant brunch frittata loaded with asparagus, cherry tomatoes, goat cheese, and fresh herbs. Finished under the broiler for a golden top and served straight from the skillet.

Who says pot roast can't have a second act? Val turns leftover shredded beef into a silky, cheesy pasta with wilted Swiss chard and a golden breadcrumb crunch on top — comfort food that tastes nothing like leftovers.

Store-bought tortilla chips spritzed with olive oil and dusted with chile-lime Tajin seasoning, then warmed in the oven. A dead-simple upgrade that makes everyday chips taste homemade.

Ground turkey simmered with tomato paste, allspice, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, cloves, vinegar, Worcestershire, and a touch of chocolate is ladled over spaghetti and topped with shredded Cheddar and green onions in true Cincinnati style. This warmly spiced, unconventional chili is a beloved Ohio comfort food tradition that converts skeptics with every bite.