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This Chocolate Truffle Cake is deliciously rich from ganache to core, yet it is well balanced in every category. Hey, I love a really over-the-top sweet dessert, now and then, but for many occasions, it’s better to have something that is, well, on more of an even keel. Don’t get me wrong; there is sweetness here! But it is amply complemented by other flavors to yield a cake that, while rather rich, doesn’t overwhelm you in any given direction.

I actually prefer chocolate recipes in which the natural flavor of the chocolate is allowed to come out and play some, rather than being entirely masked by the sugar. This cake certainly fits the bill. It is also rather moist, and the creamy filling and ganache balance the flavor nicely without over-complicating things. And remember – you can make the cake ahead and freeze it until you’re ready to frost and serve it!

Recipe and photo courtesy of Food Network

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Quick tip: Use three 9-inch round baking pans for this recipe.

This Country Captain Chicken is a super-quick and easy version of an age-old Southern recipe, brought to you by way of Rachael Ray. It’s ready in just half an hour, which makes it a perfect weeknight meal for busy moms and dads!

I was scouring through one of Mother’s old cookbooks recently (you could say I’m always looking for ideas wherever I can find them, and I’m not shy about searching the old-school way), and I came across a recipe for a dish called “Country Captain Chicken.” Apparently, no one is exactly sure where and how the dish originated, though the theory is that it was introduced to Savannah, Georgia, in the 1800s by a sea captain who frequented the spice route from India. After a little searching online to see if an updated version of the recipe existed out there, I was delighted to come upon this quick and easy version here.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Food Network

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Quick tip:

This Tuna Swiss Melt Casserole is a nice twist on the traditional tuna casserole and makes for a great, quick, and easy midweek meal!

I may have been in the minority of people growing up who actually enjoyed tuna casserole. Maybe it’s just my Gulf Coast upbringing, loving everything from the sea. Even I have to admit that the classic recipes like this can get a bit tired after a while, though. Adding Swiss cheese and tomatoes to the mix makes for a nice upgrade, I think. Swiss cheese is one of those “happy medium” cheeses that has a distinct flavor without being too overpowering, and it actually takes on more depth of flavor when melted. The result: a really creamy casserole with a topping that nicely complements the natural flavor of the tuna. Just make a side salad, and you have a filling, soothing, well-balanced full meal–with minimal effort. Yummy!

Recipe and photo courtesy of Bickering Cooks

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Quick tip: Use a 9″ x 13″ baking dish, coated with cooking spray.

Have you been searching for a great cookie recipe that’ll wow you and your guests? Look no further because this is it! These white chocolate cranberry cookies would work particularly well for a holiday treat, though with that flavor, you could enjoy them most any time of year.

Believe it or not, I was not as familiar with the white chocolate cranberry flavor combination as I was with the white chocolate raspberry one, prior to baking some of these. I have to say, it works out nicely – richly sweet, with just the right amount of tartness from the cranberries to put everything in balance. The addition of cornstarch to the dough ensures that the cookies will remain soft, even the next day. And the use of dark brown sugar instead of light brown gives the flavor of the cookies that much more depth and ensures that they have a more chewy, less crispy texture.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Sally’s Baking Addiction

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Quick tip: These cookies stay fresh covered at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Fast-Making Meaty Deliciousness

Swedish Meatballs deliver a classic creamy and savory flavor and are really quick to make. I had some Swedish meatballs a few weeks ago at my usual tailgate spot, and I loved them so much, I just had to hunt down a recipe for them to share with you.

Fast-cooking recipes such as these are great for parties, tailgates, and midweek dinners. Just pair with your favorite pasta, and there you have it! These aren’t the Italian-style meatballs that most people are used to, but if you like savory and creamy sauces, you’ll really enjoy meatballs this way.

I think that you could practically drink this gravy. And yes, as the original recipe provider suggests, you may want to make a bit extra sauce if you are using broad egg noodles or something similar. This recipe is best if you have enough gravy that it can really soak into the pasta; that way, the savory flavor really takes hold, and you can make that great meaty taste stretch that much further.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Damn Delicious

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Quick tip: Serve with mashed potatoes.

If you are a chocolate lover but think that the average chocolate cake is a bit, well, one-dimensional, then this Black Magic Cake may be just right for you. It’s rather easy to make, can be made in under an hour, and makes use of a bit of coffee to draw out the elements of chocolate flavor that are all too often muted. I always thought that coffee and chocolate went well together; it turns out that they work brilliantly with each other in a cake!

I used to not like dark chocolate at all. Whenever someone offered me a slice of dark chocolate cake, I would cringe inside and have the tiniest piece ever. But something has happened over the years! I guess I’ve grown up because now I just can’t get enough of dark chocolate cakes, and this recipe is by far one of the best I’ve tried.

Recipe and photo courtesy of My Baking Addiction

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Quick tip:

Carrots go well with a lot of things, but sometimes, you want to tweak the flavor a bit to keep things interesting. These Oven-Roasted Ranch Baby Carrots are just such a nice tweak, with the help of a simple but delicious homemade ranch seasoning mix.

Hey, sometimes, the simple things are a huge hit. Everyone used to rave over Mother’s carrots, and she made them so simply, she didn’t even really consider it a recipe. This is a simple side dish, but that ranch seasoning mix really delights the palate and probably would go well on a lot of other vegetables. Oven-roasting the carrots gives them a lovely crisp surface while leaving the inside nice and tender, just how I like it. The best part is; all the kids love it, too, so they’ll eat their veggies without a single complaint!

Recipe and photo courtesy of Damn Delicious

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Quick tip: Use this recipe for any of your favorite vegetables!