Ultimate treat: milk chocolate, maple sugar and, yes, bacon

Milk chocolate maple bacon cookies are decadent (and can be frozen, too).

Spice up mealtime with stuffed jalapeños

Stuffed jalapeños work perfectly as a precursor to a grilled entree or on a platter of other munchies.

Kids' ideas go way beyond vanilla

Have a kid show you how to play around with textures and flavor contrasts.

Zesty Caribbean shrimp salad has zing

Grilled corn, tomatoes and baguettes round out the salad.

Add what's on hand to versatile fried rice for a last-minute meal

Got rice? You've got a meal. Shrimp fried rice with pickled radishes is flavorful version of the crunchy, satisfying dish.

Tapas-style meal perfect for Mother's Day brunch

A tapas-style meal made up of a variety of small appetizer-like bites lends itself to a Mother's Day brunch.

Tapas-style meal perfect for Mother's Day brunch

Stuffed baby bell peppers blend sweet and savory flavors an appetizer-size bite.

Tapas-style meal perfect for Mother's Day brunch

Cheese, strawberries and croissant piece make an attractive, unique Mother's Day brunch item.

Fruit Punch Cupcakes a lively mix of cake, lime-lemon, sprinkles

The recipe makes 12 cupcakes, spiked with a confetti of finely chopped jelly beans.

2-step method to moist roasted chicken

Herb-brined, walnut-crusted chicken thighs are crispy on the outside, moist inside.

Hearty potato gnocchi complements spring veggies, light proteins

Blending hearty winter pasta, potato gnocchi, with a light vegetable, asparagus, and a not-too-heavy protein, shrimp, reflect spring's in-between feel.

Rhubarb works well in sweet, savory recipes

Pork tenderloin medallions with rhubarb-orange sauce might make new fans of the veggie and of mixing savory and sweet.

Frame your Easter meal with an easy appetizer and dessert

With store-bought phyllo cups, these creamy lemon-berry tartlets served on a platter make for a colorful, tasty dessert after the main Easter meal.

Frame your Easter meal with an easy appetizer and dessert

Mini-quiche appetizers, made with phyllo cups, are simple to prepare and can be filled with meats,cooked vegetables or cheeses.

Here's a classic Easter lamb infused with mint pesto

This Easter lamb dish is stuffed with a mint pesto so that its flavor is infused with the mint. You can serve even more mint as an accompaniment, if you like.

Broccoli, asparagus get crusty treatment

Almond-crusted, bake-fried asparagus is a remarkably easy way to entice veggie phobes in the family.

Sip green beverage to honor saint

Clockwise from top, try an emerald Mary, an herbal remedy or an Irish grasshopper for St. Paddy's.

CANAPES THAT TAKE the PRIZE

Take a building-block approach to Oscar party canapes: Select from a buffet of ingredients - bases, spreads, toppings and garnishes - to design snacks of your choice.

Noodling around with fast, fun meals: This stir-fry fine for busy weeknights

A shrimp and shitake noodle stir-fry is a fun, approachable alternative for a busy weeknight or to celebrate Chinese New Year.

Sweet, savory flavors contrast in fast chicken curry - sans fat

Use thighs to make this quick and light chicken curry. Thighs have a richer flavor and don't get tough the way breasts can.

Valentine's treats don't get much easier

Make Valentine's Day bark with good-quality chocolate and contrasting flavors - something crunchy, something tangy, something salty. Top the chocolate with whatever your love loves.

Valentine's treats don't get much easier

Four variations of Valentine's Day chocolate bark are shown. Create your own favorites by switching toppings and the types of chocolate.

Full meal in bowl: Italian onion soup

Add some pancetta to onion soup, and top it with a poached egg instead of the usual croutons and Gruyere cheese, and you'll have a healthier but still-rich dish.

Easy Elegance

Spring pea guacamole has a festive color and a dash of spice.

Easy Elegance

Feta cheese and honey blends sweet and savory flavors.

Easy Elegance

Brie with bourbon-balsamic glaze is simple to make and adds culinary sophistication to the hors d'oeuvre table.

Add a touch of sweet to crispy potato pancakes

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Use science know-how to make perfect holiday meal

A physics, chemistry and biology lesson can help cooks understand how to avoid common flubs such as lumpy gravy, gummy mashed potatoes.

Scary good

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Scary good

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Scary good

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Scary good

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Casserole is cheesy - ooey, gooey cheesy

Cheeseburger casserole in paradise (apologies to Jimmy Buffett).

Coffee in batter gives this coffeecake a java jolt

This coffee cake not only accompanies a cup o' joe well, it is spiked with java.

Just say 'Nuts!' to easy, nutritious, dream recipes for weeknight cooks

Marcona almonds add a protein-rich crunch and a savory flavor to baked chicken breasts.

Slushies: chilly, smooth solution for 100-degree days

No neon-colored chemicals are required to whip up these Coconut-Lemonade, Orange-Banana-Cinnamon and Strawberry-Ginger-Limeade slushies.

This salad's supercharged with flavor

Arthur Potts Dawson's Cucumber, Watermelon and Mango Salad.

Sipping on thin ice

Shaved ice - not snow cones - is the hot "new" old way to stay cool this summer.

Sipping on thin ice

Cocoa powder and instant coffee are blended into a mocha shaved ice.

Simple snack bars so yummy kids will want s'more

Peanut butter s'mores bars are an easy and portable summer or afterschool snack.

What's sweeter than sugar and related to tequila?

Agave syrup is sweeter than white sugar. You can use less of it without sacrificing flavor in recipes, such as agave-barbecue roasted chicken.

Potato salad shows it can be a healthy side

The healthy version of creamy potato salad includes artichokes, pimentos and herbs.

Pomegranate molasses sweetens, tarts up Middle-Eastern dishes, savory meats

Roasted chickpeas in a thick pomegranate molasses top a salad.

Brain freezes aren't just for kids: summer indulgences for grownups

Bourbon and Chambord liqueur make a purple velvet milkshake a decidedly adult treat.

Chia's now a superfood

After decades of being known for clay critters, chia seeds are ready for their closeup in the kitchen.

Chia's now a superfood

Basil Mango Lime Smoothie with Chia

Mom's meals inspire top chefs

Banana Colada Cake is layered with caramelized pineapple.

Mom's meals inspire top chefs

Elizabeth Karmel's classic Classic Sour Cream Coffee Cake has a pecan filling.

Different ideas for Easter meal

Rosemary-cider brined Easter pork loin is an alternative to the traditional ham. The brining process adds a bit of salt, the flavor of the brine and a whole lot of moisture to the meat.