A rich, Southern, crunchy, candy-coated dream! As a rule, Im more inclined to go for the salty than the sweet. In fact, Im not much for candy in general, but anything with sugar and nuts is tempting. Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek And if the nuts happen to be pecans, well, get out of the way. Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek What Are Pralines? Candied nuts have been around for ages, but the praline is generally considered to hail from France....

With all of the flavor and texture of pecan pie, theyre perfect for sharing. First and foremost, pecan pie cookies need to have a buttery and flaky crust. The filling should be simple to make, sweet but not cloying, and packed with pecans. Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm Finally, and maybe most importantly, the ratio of filling and dough needs to be spot on. Unfortunately, I havent been able to find a recipe that has everything Im looking for....

Smoking a turkey is a great way to change up your annual roast turkey tradition. The process is both approachable and, most importantly, rewarding. Make this Thanksgiving one to remember by introducing the wafting smoke of smoldering pecan wood to a brined turkey. Simply Recipes / Mike Lang The brine ensures rich succulent meat while the smoke imparts a sweet nuttiness to the crisp mahogany skin. Ill walk you through the process and even the most infrequent smoker can find success....

This cocktail is for Scotch lovers only. Quick, think of a Scotch cocktail! It’s hard, isn’t it? Nancy Mitchell Gentler whiskeys, like rye and bourbon, play nicer with other ingredients. But if there’s one Scotch cocktail worth knowing, it’s the Penicillin. This Scotch-based whiskey sourmade with both blended and peaty Scotchis a true modern classic. Nancy Mitchell He finished the drink with a float of peaty Scotch, and a star was born....

Creamy and bright vodka sauce and penne are a classic combo, but rigatoni works too! Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel Growing up, I ordered penne alla vodka every time my family dined out. I love vodka sauce because it is rich and creamy with a touch of sweetness. Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel I also love how the sauce gets trapped inside the penne and bursts out in my mouth!...

Penne pasta is a perfect budget-friendly, midweek meal. My carb-avoiding sister couldn’t resist it. My father declared it a triumph! Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer Diligent Dad supplied a few notes and it all came back to her. Tip for the Meat Sauce The main trick to this penne pasta recipe? Sufficiently browning the meat for the meat sauce! Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer If the mixture seems dry, stir in a splash of water or milk to loosen it up again....

Simple spring pasta with asparagus, ricotta, Parm, garlic, and a dash of nutmeg. It’s a little heavy on the pasta, you could easily cut it back. More More More Fresh Asparagus! Elise Bauer (You will cook both the asparagus and the pasta in the same pot of water.) Add a couple teaspoons of salt. Have an ice bath ready. Add the asparagus and cook until tender but firm, about 4 minutes....

This retro brown sugar fudge melts in your mouth. My favorite fudge was penuche because the brown sugar agreed with my insatiable sweet tooth. Every year, I begged to stop there to get a big piece of penuche to bring home. Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm What Is Penuche? It is technically not fudge because of its brown sugar instead of white sugar. Penuche relies almost entirely on brown sugar for its butterscotch, molasses flavor....

Easy bell pepper, onion, and tomato saute to serve as a side for chicken or fish. This dish is certainly open for improvisation! When the oil is shimmering, add the onions. Elise Bauer Add the peppers and stir well to combine with the onions. Saute for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring often. The peppers should be al dentecooked, but with a little crunch left in them. Add the garlic, and saute another 1 to 2 minutes....

Boiled potatoes with melted Jalapeno pepperjack cheese and cream. My father is a meat and potatoes person. Usually I skip them (more for dad) in favor ofsomethinggreen. Elise Bauer The other day though, my mother made a cheesy boiled potato dish that I couldn’t stop eating. Jalapeno pepper jack cheese. Melty, stringy, spicy, peppery cheese. Elise Bauer Melt the cheese over russet or Yukon gold boiled potatoes and then douse with a little cream....

Quick and simple, but mightily impressive, steak au poivre. What Is Peppercorn Steak? The following recipe uses crushed black peppercorns, brandy, beef stock, and cream. Elise Bauer After searing, then a peppercorn sauce is made and served over the steak. The ribeye was predictably more tender (more fat marbling), but the top sirloin was also excellent. If you’re using whole peppercorns, measure them out first, then crack them. Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer...

Festive, chocolatey, and minty, it’s an easy gift to make. Though you may wind up eating it all yourself. It’s also ridiculously easy to prepare in just a few minutes! Simply Recipes / Photo by Julia Gartland / Food Styling by Samantha Seneviratne How To Make Peppermint Bark Ready for the grand instructions? Ok, here you go: Melt chocolate. Pour onto cookie sheet. Elise Bauer Sprinkle with crushed candy canes....

Laced with the flavor of classic candy canes, these caramels make fantastic gifts for friends and family. Theyre really just a mix of cooked sugar, cream, and butter. And while their sweet flavor is lovely on its own, caramels also convey other flavors really well. Simply Recipes / Jennifer Causey All you need is a small spoonful of extract. In fact, the buttery sweetness of the caramels actually enhances the bright flavor of the mint....