American

Smoked salmon and cream cheese pâté

A chunky spread that be served as a dip or slathered on bread or crackers, this smoked salmon and cream cheese spread can be made ahead, in bulk, and kept in the fridge for a day or two.

Cook time: 0

Servings: 3 cups

Blondies (butterscotch brownies) with peanut butter and chocolate chips

Made with dark chocolate morsels, pecans and Reese’s peanut butter morsels, I baked these butterscotch brownies for my husband's birthday many years ago. He loves butterscotch brownies, you see.

Cook time: 20

Servings: 12 brownies

Clam Chowder

Shucked clams, carrot, potato, celery, onion and heavy cream make a scrumptious pot of soup.

Cook time: 40

Servings: 4 people

Chinese American-style bang bang bang chicken

It bears nothing in common with its Chinese ancestor except for the spicy chili-based sauce, but this dish of fried chicken fillets tossed in sweet chili mayo is just as satisfying.

Cook time: 6

Servings: 4 people

Marbled butterscoth and chocolate brownies

Easy-to-make (no, you don’t have to prepare the butterscotch and choocolate batters separately) and budget friendly, these two-tone brownies make an ideal holiday food gift or potluck contribution.

Cook time: 40

Servings: 16 brownies