the weeks without a whole roasted chicken are few and far between in my house. This dish is so easy to prepare, and honestly, it’s the juiciest and best chicken you’ll find. It takes about 5 minutes to put together and easily feeds a family of five with leftovers.

This is my go-to recipe, and although we eat them regularly, these roasted Brussels sprouts are anything but ordinary. The ground coriander and garlic powder give them a nice seasoned crust that’s accentuated by roasting. And if you’ve never cooked with whole cumin seeds before, be prepared to fall in love. The seeds lend the same great cumin flavor but packed into toasted, crunchy little nuggets that add surprising texture to each bite.

This sour and spicy tonic has been my go to cure for colds, tummy upset, or stress for several years. Refreshing and soothing, the tonic can be drunk hot or cold for a high dose of vitamin C and antioxidants.

A 24 hour spicy citrus marinade and quality strip steaks elevate these tacos to fancy fare, but don’t worry, this meal is definitely easy enough to prepare. Don’t be tempted to skimp and get skirt or flank steak. The tender strip steak almost melts as you bite into it, preventing the tacos from falling apart and allowing you to enjoy all the beautiful flavors in harmony.

Baked Alaska is a decadent rule breaker who’s always ready for a party. As such, it is nothing if not the perfect dessert for celebrating the New Year. And honestly, cake topped with layers of ice cream and meringue and then set on fire; what’s not too love about that?

Warm with ginger, cumin, and earthy oven-charred squash, this soup is the perfect lunch to thaw you out on a cold winter’s day.

Each of these cookies is a small mint chocolate present wrapped in sweet dough and glittering sugar: a perfect holiday treat. Besides being delicious these little bites are so easy!

Chocolate babka is the queen bee, the ruler of the yeasted cake world. Elegant chocolate swirls envelope a bright and zesty enriched dough that is crowned with syrup glazed pecans.

These snobby cookies think they are too good for plain, old Hershey’s kisses, and you might agree once you try them. Rich chocolate ganache piped into a fancy star replaces the classic kiss for a jazzy version of a traditional holiday cookie.

Bejeweled with tart cherries and spicy ginger, these lacy ladies are all dressed and ready for tea time. Crunchy, warming, and elegant, florentines are beautiful during the fall and winter holidays when you want to add a little snazziness to your dessert array.

If I had to classify this chili, I’d say it’s a cross between Texas style and vegetarian three bean chili, with a hint of Cincinnati tossed in. I’m sure many a die-hard chili fan would decry this recipe as an abomination, but my winter chili doesn’t want to offend your favorite iteration; it just wants to be friends, and it has a good track record of winning over new acquaintances when given the chance.

This bread is the matron who opens the door and welcomes you home after a long and arduous journey. It’s been awhile since you visited, and you’ve changed some, but here you can shed your burdens with your coat and boots and forget for a moment that you are not a young child swaddled in the arms of comfort.