 | “I made Sausage-Mushroom-Sage Dressing for Thanksgiving 2005, looking to add something different to my menu. Everyone commented on how much they enjoyed this dish. It’s been a favored regular at Thanksgiving ever since.” —Lori Schneider |
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 | “My all-time favorite recipe from Cooking Club is Angel Hair Pasta with Scallops, Spinach and Pine Nuts. When I first served this to friends, they raved so much about the recipe and begged me to share it. I sort of wanted to keep my super-hit recipe a secret, but I relented and gave them copies.” —Lana Jobe |
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 | “Just reading the recipe for Pumpkin Pound Cake with Cinnamon Glaze made my mouth water! I’ve made it many times and always have to keep a copy of the recipe with me when I take it somewhere as everyone loves it. It’s just so rich and delicious, and the scent coming from the oven as the cake bakes fills the whole house!” —Barbara Miller |
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 | “Beer-Braised Pork with Bacon really says ‘home cooking’ to me and gives you that yummy in your tummy feeling while it fills you up. Slow cooking the pork roast made it very tender. And I really liked the flavor combination that I got from all the different spices and vegetables.” —Karen L. Taylor |
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 | “I have a large family, and they absolutely adore Smoky Mexican Chicken Stew! When we go shopping, the kids always offer to grab the ingredients they know I need for it. To feed everyone and have some left over, I have to triple the recipe, but it’s well worth the effort to have such a happy household.” —Kim Macomber |
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 | “My husband and I absolutely loved Tuscan Pot Roast. I cooked the meat a little longer than recommended and it literally was falling apart. The meat was moist, and the sauce was delicious--just the right amount of saltiness and tartness from the olives, citrus from the tomatoes, heat from the garlic and sweetness from the onions. I can’t wait to make it again.” —Emily Gangi |
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 | “I can’t count the times I’ve made Arborio Rice Risotto with Shrimp and Spinach, that hint of lemon tops off the dish.”—Janet Mohlenhoff |
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 | “Maple, Apple and Pear Pie is simple and very tasty. Every time I make it, I get compliments. It’s a nice change from the traditional, plain apple pie, and the maple syrup adds to that comfort-food quality a good pie always has.” —Susan Aviram |
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 | “Flank Steak with Curry-Peanut Rub is an excellent way to prepare flank steak. I usually use it in fajitas, but this was a wonderful change.” —Nancy Sorensen |
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 | “I just love Pork Chops with Brown Sugar-Cider Glaze. I sometimes modify it by adding another tablespoon of shallots, using dark brown sugar, adding 1 tablespoon cream sherry or using it on chicken breasts. So many people like it that I’ve taken to saying it’s an old family recipe. We are family in the Cooking Club, right?” —Rebecca Willoughby |
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 | “Chicken Tortellini Soup with Parmesan is delicious. Members of my family have loved it and now make it themselves. I’ve given out the recipe to family members and friends. I’ve also made my own variations, which shows how versatile the recipe can be.” —Ann Marie Falco-Marr |
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 | “Brownie S'mores is such a great recipe for all ages. I fixed these to take to a family reunion and before I could get them out of the house, my husband ate half of them. He’s not a big fan of s’mores, but he loved these. I took what was left to the reunion, and they were a hit there, too.” —Aleta Conacher |
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 | “The flavor and texture of Espresso-Crusted Steak is incomparable to any other steak dish I’ve ever had. That combined with its simple preparation gives you the perfect steak recipe.” —Jenny Oliver |
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 | “When the tomatoes are so ripe during late summer, we love to make Summer Tomatoes with Warm Fresh Mozzarella! My family can’t eat enough of it!” —Traci Knechtges |
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 | “The thing I like most about Grilled Chicken and Asparagus Pasta is that you can make it for a quick dinner for your family or please the most discerning palates at a dinner party. It’s economical, and the ingredients are easy to find and summery fresh.” —Bonnie Cowart |
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 | "Shrimp and Crab Pasta Salad is refreshing and easy to make. You don’t have to spend hours to get a fantastic dish that really has that “wow” factor. You can use everything from fresh shrimp and crab to canned substitutes. It can also be made with tuna, salmon or any other firm flaked fish. I serve it on iceberg lettuce with a sprinkle of paprika on top.” —Bridgette M. Harris |
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 | “I loved Smoky Chili Burgers. My husband and I both lover burgers, and he’s getting into trying new things. The pepper Jack cheese with the chipotle chiles was fantastic to him.” —Anitra Polk-Davis |
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 | “Easy Baby-Back Barbecued Ribs are delicious, and my family really enjoys them. I was always searching for a good and easy recipe for ribs that didn’t require about 10 hours of cooking. This was the one that won me over. Kickback BBQ Sauce and Smoky Seasoning Rub just add the right amount of slow-cooked flavor and zest.” —Deborah Feinberg |
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 | “I made Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Cake on my daughter’s birthday. It was such a great hit that she’s made me promise to make it every year for her birthday. The only thing I did different was I left the cookies whole instead of breaking them into 1-inch pieces. This way they covered a little better.” —Paula Aguirre |
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 | "My favorite recipe is Stuffed Chicken Caprese. I love fresh summer tomatoes and I grow my own basil, so this recipe fits the bill for a wonderful summertime dining. It’s a delicious recipe, worthy of company." —Diane Talts |
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 | “I’ve never been a fan of the plain pound cake. Orange-Cornmeal Pound Cake has flair. Using this pound cake when making tiramisù allows for a flavor explosion that will leave you begging for more. You have to taste it to believe it.” —Marie Mather |
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 | “Orange-Rosemary Pork Tenderloin was very easy; I had all the ingredients at home. The tenderloin was very moist and tender, and the flavor was terrific. Everyone loved it !” —Barbara Tauber |
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 | “Hazelnut Chicken Salad is a great summertime recipe, not only for the family but when friends come. It’s no-fuss and is light, so you don’t feel weighed down. It was quickly devoured by everyone, with compliments to go around.” —Sarit Raphael |
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 | “I liked Fresh Salmon Salad because it was easy and tasted great. I didn’t even use the avocados, just crackers as a dipper for an appetizer at a party, a little more lemon juice and mayo. It was a hit; the bowl was empty before I knew it.” —Beverly Miller |
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 | “Spinach-Mozzarella-Stuffed Burgers are an oldie but a goodie. I love the richness of the cheese and the lightness of the spinach, and they're beautiful! Looking good really does improve taste (presentation)!” —Peggy Sharpe |
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 | “My family and I all thought Italian Ham-and-Cheese-Stuffed Chicken Breasts were delicious. I also made them for guests and received many requests for the recipe. It takes a little time to prepare, but it’s well worth it.” —Lorraine Magur |
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 | “I loved Spinach Salad with Toasted Pine Nuts and Strawberries. I was having a few friends over for lunch and wanted something that was light and refreshing. It had a refreshing summer taste, without a lot of ingredients and preparation. The only difference I made was selecting almonds instead of pine nuts.” —Duffy Armillotti |
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 | "I tried Lemon Chicken with Asparagus, Radishes and Carrots, and it was fantastic. It's easy to make, light and filling, and the flavors are simply exquisite!" —Fanny DeRosa |
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 | “Rhubarb-Ginger Upside-Down Cake turned out lovely. Anything with crystallized ginger has to be good, and this proved to be utterly delicious. I used frozen rhubarb.” —Ken Thomas |
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 | "I loved Grilled Cuban Sandwiches. The recipe was simple and delicious, and it taught me how to make panini without a panini pan. My husband and I make this meal often." —Lori Krzyzaniak
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 | “Growing up, my favorite dessert was a chocolate pudding cake that my mother made for special occasions. After not having it for several years, I tried it again--and it was terribly sweet. Then I found Chocolate-Espresso Pudding Cake and fell in love! It’s a grown-up version of my childhood favorite. It doesn’t get any better than that!” —Felicity McFerrin |
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 | “Chocolate Crunch Mousse Cake is fantastic--very rich. It takes some time to make, but it’s well worth it. And the crust! Yummy! I’ve made it many times and have had people drive for an hour or more just to have some! I’ve even done it in individual mini cupcake liners for easier serving.” —Bethany Smith-Globig |
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 | “My husband and I love coleslaw dishes, but I haven’t gotten very adventurous yet. Red Cabbage-Apple Slaw with Spiced Walnuts was perfect. This recipe is SO yummy. The mix of sweet/spicy walnuts with the cabbage and apples was a flavor burst and a texture adventure, made even more flavorful with the orange juice/balsamic vinegar dressing. This was a huge hit!” —Suzanne Childers |
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 | “I really love Mushroom-Spinach Lasagna. Everyone in my family loved this alternative to a tomato-based sauce, and I loved that it was quick to make and even quicker to eat!” —Susan Stender |
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 | “Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake has now become a regular item during strawberry season. I’ve made a few adjusts by adding raspberries and blueberries to the strawberries to make a mixed berry cheesecake. It doesn’t last long in my house.” —Susan Vick |
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 | “Jalapeño-Tequila Marinated Shrimp is wonderful,” says Connie Hale. “It bursts with flavor. I’ve made this for several family members and friends, and they all rave about how fantastic the taste is. I could eat these succulent shrimp every day.” —Connie Hale |
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 | “My favorite recipe is Crispy Health Bars. I’ve made this recipe several times and took the bars to work; my co-workers were very appreciative. It’s a good recipe for when you don’t want to use the oven but still want to make bars.” —Deborah Ellen Durbin |
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 | “I like Red Pepper-Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breasts so much. I made it for my family the first time, and we all thought it was delicious. It takes a little time to prepare, but it’s well worth it.” —Lorraine Magur |
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 | “Oatmeal Pancakes with Dates and Walnuts are outstanding! We eat them for supper instead of breakfast. With Banana-Butterscotch Syrup, they’re wonderful. They aren’t so sweet, but enough so that they’re great!” —Sally Hughes |
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 | "My husband is a sweets lover. I've made Coconut Pound Cake several times, and it's always a big hit. If you don’t have coconut flavoring, use 1 to 2 tablespoons of coconut rum. Yummy!" —Nancy Long |
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 | “Cheese Quiche with Mushroom Crust is the best thing ever! I’ve even adapted it to make mini quiches (it just requires spraying mini muffin tins and baking the quiches for 20 to 25 minutes; keep an eye on them). I always get compliments on how unusual the crust is and have even experimented with different mushrooms.” —Laurie Averitt |
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 | "Beef-Hominy Casserole is a quick one-dish meal that can be made without much effort and with items that are usually found in the pantry. Since my family likes their food on the spicy side, I use half a can of diced green chiles and half a can of diced jalapeños. It gives you leftovers for lunch the next day!” —Evelyn Pendley |
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 | “I served Parmesan-Crusted Baked Chicken over the holidays and got great reviews. Everyone wanted this recipe! The flavors of the spices and the cheeses blended beautifully. It’s definitely a keeper.” —Inge Holstein |
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 | “Chicken, Chorizo and Beaujolais Stew. My family has always enjoyed my version of coq au vin, but they really love the addition of chorizo to this stew. It was a big hit at the last family gathering. Kudos!” —Shirley J. Ford |
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 | “Tortellini with Spicy Sausage and Broccoli is easy and very delicious. My husband isn’t a fan of sun-dried tomatoes, but he really enjoyed this fast meal. He’s requested it again soon. It’s a recipe that I can make after work; with a salad and bread, we’re set.” —Sandra Galindo |
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 | “We live in northern Minnesota, where is gets cold in the winter—really cold. Slow-Cooked Chicken, Butternut Squash and Wild Rice Stew is ideal for warming us inside. It’s hearty enough for my husband and his buddies at deer camp, and our little one says it fills his tummy with yumminess.” —Jessica Cox |
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 | “I vote for Cardamom Sugar Stars. I added these sugar cookies to my Christmas baking last year, and they became an instant favorite for my family and friends. They’ve become my most-requested cookies. The combination of cardamom and vanilla is just great.” —Eileen Reed |
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 | “Southwest Pulled Pork is a great slow-cooker recipe to use during a get-together. It’s very tasty and easy to prepare. Slow-cooking is always a great way to fix a meal without having to spend a lot of time in the kitchen.” —Pam Tessitore |