Eggnog Jello Shots

I love a frothy mug of eggnog, but the Christmas classic is even more fun in jello-shot form.

White Chocolate and Raspberry Frozen Mousse Bombes

If you're ever in the mood to put together a fancy dessert at home, mousse bombes are a fantastic way to go. They satisfy my craving for many things at once; a little cake, a little frozen mousse, and a surprise bit of fresh fruit, jelly, or nuts. Best of all, they have a gorgeous, smooth shell of chocolate that looks as beautiful as it tastes, giving you the dramatic payoff of a plated dessert with just a little effort.

Fresh Basil Mousse

The flavor and color of this emerald green mousse comes from fresh basil, ground to a paste with sugar, then steeped into an eggless custard base. White chocolate adds richness and body, while melding seamlessly with the herbal aroma—the perfect showcase for fresh summer strawberries, apricots, and nectarines.

Old Fashioned Jelly Shots

It's easy to reimagine light, fruit juice-based drinks as jelly shots, but what about more serious cocktails? For my first foray into the world of Jelly Shot Test Kitchen I decided to tackle a classic, the Old Fashioned, to see how it would fare in jelly form.

Homemade Jell-O Style Chocolate Pudding

The flavor of this pudding changes dramatically depending on the ingredients used. Skim milk makes a pudding with the lighter taste and texture of the "low-fat" puddings whereas whole milk gives the full flavor of the original. High-end fancy cocoa powders like Valhrona will result in a really dynamic, flavorful chocolate pudding, whereas grocery store staples like Hershey's will have a simpler flavor more in line with the taste of the pudding you remember.

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

Delightfully salty-sweet, creamy, and crunchy, strawberry pretzel salad is a staple at picnics, potlucks, and holiday celebrations.

Pomegranate Jelly

This quick and simple pomegranate jelly makes a perfect gift for Valentine's Day. The secret is to use top quality store-bought pomegranate juice. Feel free to experiment with blends like pomegranate-grape or pomegranate-raspberry.

Creamy Chocolate Raspberry Summer Pudding

Rich chocolate custard and crushed raspberries moisten soft bread in this cool no-bake bread pudding.

Homemade Pudding in a Cloud

This is a homemade version of a retro recipe consisting of chocolate Jell-O nestled in a cloud of Cool Whip.

Champagne Julep

Let's start the weekend right--with a cocktail recipe from Paul Clarke (The Cocktail Chronicles). Need more than one? Hit up the archives. Cheers! The great heat wave of aught-nine seems to have broken in the Northwest, but that doesn't mean...