Matcha cheesecake

Active: 20 minutes; Total: 2 hour + 5 refrigeration time; Yield: 8 servings

Butter, melted	100g
Graham crackers, crushed	180g
Sugar, granulated	25g + 200g
Matcha powder	24g
Cream cheese, room temperature	675g
Cream, heavy	320g
Cornstarch	16g
Eggs, divided; lightly beaten	2 whole + 2 yolks

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. 
2. Grease a 9-inch springform pan with butter. 
3. Prepare boiling water for water bath. 
4. In a medium bowl, combine the crackers and 25g sugar, then the butter; dump into the prepared springform pan. 
5. Using a flat glass (I prefer my heavy-bottomed whiskey glass), press the crumbs into an even layer. 
6. Bake for 8 minutes; cool to room temperature. 
7. Reduce oven to 325°F. 
8. Gently whisk together 200g sugar and matcha powder to remove any lumps. 
9. In a separate bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth, about 2 minutes. 
10. Add the matcha-sugar mixture, starting slowly, whisk until smooth. 
11. Add one-third of the cream, whisking until smooth, then whisk in the remaining cream until well combined. 
12. Add the cornstarch, whisking until the mixture looks smooth. 
13. Add the eggs, one at a time, whisking until incorporated. 
14. Using a rubber spatula, scrap the sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure the mixture is evenly incorporated. 
15. Pour over the prepared crust; tapping gently on the counter to level and dislodge any hidden air bubbles. 
16. Using an oven bag to protect the cheesecake, place the springform pan into a large waterbath pan, then place in the over. 
17. Carefully add the boiling water to the waterbath pan, about one-third to one-half the way up the side of the springform pan. 
18. Bake 70 minutes, until it wobbles and bounces when gently tapped on the side; turn off the oven, open the door about 1 inch, and let the cheesecake rest in the oven for about 30 minutes. 
19. Remove from the oven and cool to room temperature, then chill in the refrigerator for at least 5 hours before serving. 

Recipe by Aya Caliva on Pastry Living.

Pork chop Milanese with arugula salad

Active: 40 minutes; Total: 40 minutes; Yield: 4 servings

Pork chops, bone-in, rib-cut, about ½-inch thickness; frenched, fat and membrane removed, pounded to ¼-inch thickness	4
Salt, kosher	1 ½ teaspoons + ½ teaspoon +  ¼ teaspoon
Pepper, freshly ground	½ teaspoon + ½ teaspoon + ¼ teaspoon
Flour, all-purpose	½ cup
Eggs; beaten	3 large
Breadcrumbs, plain	1 cup
Parmesan cheese, grated	½ cup + ½ cup
Italian seasoning blend	1 ½ teaspoon
Canola oil	¾ cup
Arugula	4 cups
Olive oil, extra-virgin	1 tablespoon
Vinegar, white wine	1 tablespoon
Tomatoes, cherry; cut in half	½ cup

1. Preheat the oven to 200°F. 
2. Set a wire rack on a large rimmed baking sheet; set aside. 
3. Season the pork chops evenly with 1 ½-teaspoons salt and ½-teaspoon pepper. 
4. Place the flour in a large, shallow bowl. 
5. Place the eggs in another large, shallow bowl. 
6. In a third large, shallow bowl, stir together the breadcrumbs, ½-cup cheese, Italian seasoning, ½-teaspoon salt, and ½-teaspoon pepper. 
7. Working in batches, dredge the chops in the flour, shaking to remove excess; dip in the egg, letting excess drip off. 
8. Dredge in the breadcrumb mixture, patting to adhere; transfer the coated chops to a parchment paper-lined work surface. 
9. In a large skillet, pour canola oil in to a depth of ¼ an inch; heat over medium-high heat until shimmering. 
10. Working in batches, cook the chops until golden brown and a thermometer inserted near, but not touching, the bone registers 140°F, 2 to 3 minutes a side. 
11. Place the chops on the prepared wire rack on a baking sheet, and sprinkle with salt to taste; transfer to the preheated oven to keep warm while preparing the remaining chops and salad. 
12. Combine the arugula and ½-cup cheese in a medium bowl. 
13. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and drizzle with olive oil and vinegar; toss to combine, and garnish with tomatoes. 
14. Serve salad with the pork chops. 

Recipe from Food & Wine Annual 2025.

Peach ice cream

Active: 30 minutes; Total: 4 hours 30 minutes; Yield: 1 quart

Peaches, peeled, sliced	2 cups
Sugar, granulated	½ cup + ½ cup + ¼ cup
Lemon juice	½ teaspoon
Salt	¼ teaspoon
Egg yolks	5 large
Cream, heavy	1 ½ cups
Milk, whole	1 ½ cups
Vanilla extract	1 teaspoon

1. In a large bowl, toss the peaches with ½-cup sugar and lemon juice; let rest at room temperature for 30 minutes to an hour, until the peaches are soft and have released their juices. 
2. Mash the peaches with a fork or potato masher until very small chunks remain. 
3. Strain the juice into a separate bowl, reserving both the liquid and the pulp, refrigerating until ready to use. 
4. In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, stir together the cream, milk, ½-cup sugar, and salt; heat until hot but not bubbling. 
5. In a large bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and ¼-cup sugar until light in color, about 2 minutes. 
6. While whisking, ladle in ½-cup of the hot cream mixture to temper the eggs, then add another ½-cup. 
7. Pour the egg yolk mixture into the saucepan with the rest of the custard base, stirring gently until the temperature is between 170-175°F, and the mixture is thicken enough to coat the back of a spoon. 
8. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla. 
9. Strain the custard base through a fine mesh strainer into a clean bowl, then stir in the liquid from the mashed peaches; refrigerate for 4 hours, until thoroughly chilled. 
10. Pour the custard base into the ice cream maker, and churn until it looks like soft-serve ice cream, about 25 to 30 minutes. 
11. Add the reserved peach pulp during the last 30 seconds of the churning process; transfer to an airtight container, and freeze at least 24 to 48 hours to cure. 

Recipe from House of Nash Eats.

Double Dutch dark chocolate ice cream

Active: 20 minutes; Total: 8 hours 30 minutes; Yield: 1.5 quarts 

Cream, heavy	2 cups
Buttermilk	1 cup
Sugar, dark brown	¾ cup
Sugar, granulated	2 tablespoons
Double Dutch dark cocoa	6 tablespoons
Eggs	5 yolks
Espresso powder	1 tablespoon
Salt, kosher	¼ teaspoon
Vanilla extract	2 teaspoons
Chocolate, dark (around 60%), chopped	3 ounces
Bourbon	1 tablespoon

1. In a saucepan, whisk together the cream, milk, sugars, cocoa, yolks, espresso powder, and salt; the mixture will appear lumpy but it will smooth out as it cooks. 
2. Over medium heat, warm the custard while whisking constantly, just until it begins to steam and is barely bubbling around the edges; don’t let it come to a boil. 
3. Remove from the heat and whisk in the vanilla and chocolate until smooth. 
4. Pour the custard into a blender (or use an immersion blender) and blend for 30 seconds to ensure all the cocoa powder is broken down for a very smooth texture. 
5. Cover the bowl, with plastic wrap resting against the surface of the custard, and refrigerate until well chilled, preferably overnight. 
6. Pour the chilled custard into your ice cream maker, and churn according to the manufacturer’s instructions, until it has a soft-serve consistency. 
7. During the last minute of churning, add the bourbon. 
8. Scrape the ice cream into a lidded container, and freeze until firm, at least 8 to 10 hours. 

Recipe mildly adapted from curlygirlkitchen.com.

Triple strawberry shortcakes

Active: 1 hour; Total: 2 hours; Serves: 6

Flour, all-purpose	2 cups
Strawberries, freeze-dried	½ cup + ¼ cup
Sugar, granulated	¼ cup + ¼ cup +
Baking powder	1 tablespoon
Salt, kosher	½ teaspoon
Butter, unsalted, cold, cut into small pieces	6 tablespoons
Cream, heavy	¾ cup + 1 cup
Egg	1 large
Strawberries, hulled and halved or quartered	1 ¾ pounds
Lemon juice	½ lemon
Sugar, confectioners’	¼ cup
Vanilla extract	1 teaspoon

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 
2. Pulse the flour, ½-cup freeze-dried strawberries, ¼-cup granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt in a food processor until the strawberries are crushed. 
3. Add the butter, and pulse until it is pea-sized pieces. 
4. In a small bowl, whisk together ¾-cup cream and an egg. 
5. Pulsing constantly, drizzle the cream mixture into the flour mixture; pulse into the dough comes together. 
6. Transfer to a medium bowl, and kneed three or four times. 
7. Scoop six balls of the dough (about ½ cup each) onto the baking sheet using a large ice cream scoop or a measuring cup, spacing the dough 2 to 3 inches apart. 
8. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. 
9. Preheat the oven to 400°F. 
10. Lightly brush each ball of dough with cream, and sprinkle with granulated sugar. 
11. Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. 
12. Let cool 10 minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer the shortcakes to a rack to cool completely. 
13. Meanwhile, puree 2-cups strawberries in a blender until smooth (you should have about 1 cup puree). 
14. Toss the remaining 4-cups strawberries with ½-cup strawberry sauce, ¼-cup granulated sugar, and lemon juice; cover and refrigerate until ready to use. 
15. Crush or finely chop ¼-cup freeze-dried strawberries until powdery; transfer to a large bowl and add 1-cup cream and ¼-cup confectioners’ sugar. 
16. Beat with a mixer on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form. 
17. Add the vanilla, and beat until combined. 
18. Gently fold in the remaining ½-cup strawberry sauce; refrigerate until ready to use. 
19. Split each shortcake and fill with the strawberry mixture and strawberry whipped cream. 

Recipe from Food Network Magazine.

Best banana bread

Active: 20 minutes; Total: 1 hour 30 minutes; Serves: 8 to 10

Butter, unsalted, melted	½ cup
Pecans, toasted, chopped	1 cup
Flour, all-purpose	1 ¾ cup
Sugar, granulated	½ cup
Baking soda	1 teaspoon
Cinnamon, ground	1 teaspoon
Salt, fine	½ teaspoon
Nutmeg, freshly grated	¼ teaspoon
Eggs, lightly beaten	2 large
Buttermilk, sour cream, or yogurt	½ cup
Sugar, brown	½ cup
Vanilla extract	1 teaspoon
Bananas, mashed	1 ½ cups

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F; lightly butter a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan. 
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the pecans, flour, granulated sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg. 
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, butter, buttermilk, brown sugar, and vanilla; stir in the bananas. 
4. Fold the banana mixture into the flour mixture until just combined. 
5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, and lightly tap the pan on the counter to evenly distribute the batter. 
6. Bake until browned and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 1 hour. 
7. Let the bread cool for 10 minutes in the pan on a rack, then turn out onto the rack to cool completely. 

Recipe from Food Network.