Buttercream-Coconut Cake Icing
This coconut icing is ideal for sprinkling on top of your preferred cake. Pecans and coconut flakes give the snack a festive crunch.

In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to thoroughly blend the butter and shortening before adding the vanilla extract.

Beat confectioners’ sugar gradually into the butter mixture until well combined.

The substance will seem to be dry.

Add just enough milk to the butter mixture to get the icing’s desired consistency.

Spread the icing over the cake after folding in half the coconut.

Over the icing, scatter the remaining coconut and pecans.

Perfect Cut-Out Cookie Dough
Cookies with cutouts are made with butter and powdered sugar in this recipe. You can add spices and various extracts. I mix nutmeg, cinnamon, and maple extract for autumn.

Beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until smooth.

Blend egg and vanilla extract into the butter mixture.

Stir flour baking powder and salt together in a bowl; mix into the butter mixture until just incorporated.

Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour.

Remove from refrigerator and let the dough warm to room temperature.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Roll dough out onto a flat surface to about 1/4 inch in thickness.

Cut dough into shapes with cookie cutters; arrange onto baking sheets.

Air Fryer Sausage Patties
These air fryer sausage patties are quick and easy to make for breakfast. They come out perfectly browned — without stovetop grease splatter!

Preheat an air fryer to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

Lightly grease the inside of the air fryer basket with nonstick spray.

Arrange sausage patties in a single layer in the air fryer basket.

Cook in the preheated air fryer for 5 minutes; flip the patties and cook about 3 minutes more.

An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of a patty should read at least 160 degrees F (70 degrees C).

Cheese’s Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Homemade macaroni and cheese, baked with sliced kielbasa sausage, makes a warming weeknight supper.

Cook and stir the cut-up kielbasa in a large skillet over medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes until heated through and beginning to brown.

Remove the sausage from the skillet and set aside.

Fill a pan with lightly salted water bring to a boil over medium-high heat stir in the macaroni and return to a boil.

Cook stirring occasionally until the pasta has cooked through but is still firm to the bite about 8 minutes.

Drain well.

Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.

Simple Beef Stroganoff
This ground beef stroganoff recipe made with basic pantry items is rich and creamy, super simple to prepare, and ready to serve in under 30 minutes.

Saute ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat until browned and crumbly; 5 to 10 minutes.

At the same time fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rapid boil.

Cook egg noodles at a boil until tender yet firm to the bite 7 to 9 minutes.

Drain and set aside.

Drain and discard any fat from the cooked beef.

Stir condensed soup and garlic powder into the beef.

Simmer for 10 minutes stirring occasionally.

Green Chutney
This quick and easy cilantro chutney can be made in just a few minutes. Simply process the cilantro until smooth and add fresh lemon juice, a tiny green chili, peanuts, salt, garlic, and fresh ginger.

Snert (Split Pea Soup)
A hearty split pea soup made in the slow cooker with ham hock, bacon, and potatoes. The name of the soup is Dutch.

Place dried split peas ham hock and bacon into slow cooker; pour in chicken broth and 3 1/2 cups water.

Cover cooker and cook on High until peas are tender and broken apart 3 to 4 hours.

Stir in more water as needed to prevent soup from burning on the bottom.

Stir occasionally throughout cooking.

Stir potatoes carrots leek onion celery and garlic into soup; mix in more water if needed.

Cover and cook soup on High for 2 more hours.

Season with salt black pepper thyme nutmeg and cloves; mix sausage slices into soup.

Cover and cook 2 more hours to blend the flavors.

Vegan Butternut Squash Soup
Try this main dish that is entirely vegan: Flavorings for the creamy butternut squash soup include ginger, onions, and sweet maple syrup.

Over medium heat, warm the olive oil in a sizable saucepan.

Include ginger, garlic, and onions.

For about 5 minutes, cook and stir until browned.

Add 1/2 teaspoon of salt, allspice, and nutmeg.

cinnamon, cloves, cumin chili flakes, paprika, and coriander.

Add the celery, carrots, and butternut squash.

Just cover with water after adding it.

Bring soup to a boil by turning up the heat.

Reduce heat and simmer for 30 to 45 minutes, or until all vegetables are tender to the fork.

Soup is placed halfway into a blender.

With a potholder, cover the container and secure the lid.

Pulse the food a few times before blending.

Refill the saucepan with this.

Continue with the remaining soup.

Add the final 1 teaspoon of salt, the maple syrup, and the apple cider vinegar.

Sweet Potato Pan Dumplings with Bacon Butter
Chef John brings starchy sweet potato and tangy goat cheese together to make these crispy pan dumplings that are fried in a simple bacon butter.

Place sweet potato on a microwave-safe plate.

Poke holes all over and microwave until completely tender 8 to 10 minutes.

Let cool briefly.

Cut sweet potato in half and scoop flesh into a bowl.

Mash thoroughly while still warm.

Add egg goat cheese black pepper cayenne pepper and salt.

Whisk until well combined.

Add flour; mix with a spatula until no dry spots remain.

Cover dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat.

Add bacon.

Cook and stir until bacon is just starting to crisp 3 to 5 minutes.

Boozy Banana Bread
An excellent “boozy” banana bread is made with lots of ripe bananas and a hint of amaretto liqueur; it tastes even better when accompanied by butter.

Set oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees C).

Apply cooking spray to a loaf pan.

In a bowl, combine flour, salt, and baking soda.

In a different bowl, combine the bananas, brown sugar, butter, eggs, almond extract, and amaretto.

Add the flour mixture and mix for about a minute, just to incorporate the flour.

Mixture should be poured into the prepared loaf pan.

Cook in the preheated oven for about an hour, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Let stand for around 30 minutes before serving.