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A timeless favorite, jam thumbprints are a staple of bake sales and cookie swaps from America's Test Kitchen, The Perfect Cookie.

Introduction

A timeless favorite, jam thumbprints are a staple of bake sales and cookie swaps. Their jewel-like centers make them an eye-catching option, and the contrast between the fruity, plush jam and a rich, buttery, crisp cookie makes them hard to resist. Recipes tradition- ally call for plunging your thumb into balls of dough to make room for the filling, hence the name. We kept our thumbs out of our thumbprints and instead used the bottom of a greased 1-teaspoon measure to ensure even craters. When we added the jam to the indentations before baking, the sugars caramelized and the centers became sticky and leathery; but jam added after baking was too loose. After a bit of trial and error, we discovered the key to success: reshaping the thumbprints halfway through baking. Re-forming the indentations before the cookies were completely set meant we could fill them with a generous amount of jam, and adding the jam partway through baking resulted in a filling that was married to the cookie and set just enough, Any seedless jam can be used.

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Try them stuffed with chicken and green olives, spiced pork and potatoes, braised lentils, or even apples for a dessert variety.

Introduction

Empanadas are a near-perfect homemade convenience food. They transport well, are easy to eat and are very filling—ideal lunch box material, if you ask me. We adore the traditional filling of ground beef, hard-boiled eggs, olives, onions and seasonings (we tend to leave out the raisins), but empanadas can be as versatile as you like. Try them stuffed with chicken and green olives, spiced pork and potatoes, braised lentils, or even apples for a dessert variety.

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This twist on chicken Parmesan uses a little less meat and includes rounds of zucchini under the traditional bubbly tomato sauce.

Introduction

We’re a family who loves our comfort foods, so I am always looking for ways to incorporate vegetables into the classics. This twist on chicken Parmesan uses a little less meat and includes rounds of zucchini under the traditional bubbly tomato sauce and melted cheese. This is one of my favourite dishes to take to new parents, as it is so nourishing and comforting. I serve this over pasta to my crew, but it would be delicious on its own as a gluten-free main dish.

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This sweet, spicy espresso with notes of pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg and chocolate takes the chill out of a cold winter day.

Introduction

This is my go-to drink when the weather gets cold. This sweet, spicy espresso with notes of pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg and chocolate takes the chill out of a cold winter day and is such a treat!

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This simple side dish is carrots from top to bottom from Lynn Crawford's cookbook, Farm to Chef: Cooking Through the Seasons.

Introduction

This simple side dish is carrots from top to bottom. Roasted grapes bring out the natural sweetness of the caramelized carrots, and the creamy, rich carrot-top dressing completes the dish. Carrot tops are loaded with vitamins and give the dressing an herbaceous, almost carrot-like flavour I think you’ll love!

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This is not your old-school, pedestrian baked potato from Caren McSherry's cookbook Starters, Salads, and Sexy Sides.

Introduction

This is not your old-school, pedestrian baked potato; I have taken it up a notch by using sweet potatoes and garnishing them with creamy herbed feta and chorizo. Bring it on! For a vegetarian option, omit the chorizo.

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Making this cake is a labor of love, but that’s only appropriate, we think, for a cake adorned with rose petals.

Introduction

Making this cake is a labor of love, but that’s only appropriate, we think, for a cake adorned with rose petals. If you want to save time, however, you can do without the petals or use store-bought dried rose petals—the cake and cream are both special enough for those you feed to know you love them. If you are going all out with the roses, red or pink petals are a matter of preference; the red petals will turn a deep purple once candied.

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Bake this spooky treat for your next Halloween event from The Redpath Canadian Bake Book.

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While fresh blueberries are fab for these, they can be made with frozen ones, so you can have the perfect baked good for any time.

Introduction

As soon as the weather starts moving from summer to crisp fall, I start baking. It’s almost an instinct, like hibernation, except for me it’s more like carbernation. These blueberry muffins always hit the spot. While fresh blueberries are fab for these, they can be made with frozen ones, so you can have the perfect baked good for any time of year.

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Navigate the perils of the busy school year with this recipe to make Broccoli and Cheese Patties for your kids.