Brisket slow-cooked for six hours with onion soup mix until meltingly tender is piled onto potato buns and drizzled with a tangy Alabama-style white barbecue sauce made from mayo and vinegar. These rich, fork-tender sliders are an ideal make-ahead main for outdoor entertaining, with the creamy white sauce adding a Southern twist that cuts through the beef's richness.

INGREDIENTS 4 cloves 3 whole star anise 2 cinnamon sticks 1 bottle red wine 1/4 cup sugar, optional (depending on sweetness of wine) 2 strips orange zest, removed with a vegetable peeler 1 1/2 cups orange juice, freshly squeezed and strained, or store-bought 1 small sprig rosemary, plus sprigs for garnish DIRECTIONS 1. Wrap the cloves, star anise and cinnamon in a small square of cheesecloth and secure it with kitchen twine. 2. Combine the wine, sugar if using, orange zest, orange juice, rosemary and the spice pouch in a slow cooker. 3. Cook on low heat until hot, about 1 hour. 4. Adjust the slow cooker to the 'warm' setting. 5. Serve in mugs with a rosemary sprig as garnish.

A spice cake mix is layered with a ricotta-mascarpone filling that magically switches positions during baking, then topped with a pumpkin spice pudding-mascarpone frosting. This easy yet impressive cake captures all the warm spice flavors of fall and makes a delightful alternative to traditional pumpkin pie.

Vanilla ice cream is blended with milk, dark rum, and bourbon until thick and creamy, then poured into glasses and topped with freshly grated nutmeg. This shortcut eggnog skips the egg-tempering fuss entirely, delivering a rich, boozy, holiday-ready drink in under five minutes.

Toasted baguette slices topped with baked crispy pancetta and a bright arugula pesto made with pine nuts, Parmesan, and fresh lemon. A savory, crunchy appetizer that balances salty pancetta with peppery, citrus-kissed greens.

Ground turkey browned and simmered with pinto, kidney, and black beans, tomatoes, green chiles, and chicken broth until hearty and thick. A leaner, protein-packed chili that is perfect for weeknight dinners or casual get-togethers.

Thin beef patties are grilled with American cheese and stacked double-high on buns with a tangy special sauce made from mayo, ketchup, mustard, relish, and Worcestershire. These smash-style double cheeseburgers deliver the nostalgic, drippy, two-fisted joy of a classic American burger done right.

Layers of homemade pound cake, strawberries simmered in preserves, and cream cheese whipped cream stacked in a trifle bowl for a stunning layered dessert. A beautiful, show-stopping presentation that transforms a classic strawberry shortcake into a queenly grand finale.

A festive holiday salad of mixed greens and romaine tossed in a creamy Champagne vinaigrette. Topped with cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella balls, pine nuts, and sliced basil.

Thinly shaved fennel tossed in a red wine vinaigrette and topped with crumbled goat cheese and toasted pine nuts. A light, elegant salad for a Valentine's dinner.