An authentic mango lassi requires perfectly ripe, tender mangoes. At the market, look for fruit that feels heavy for its size and gives off a sweet, heady perfume.

Like many Indian dishes this only improves with age, so feel free to make it a day or two ahead. Serve over basmati rice with cilantro chutney. Perfection!

With the proper tools and a little practice, homemade sushi can be a great activity for the whole family. We’re starting with a basic avocado-cucumber roll, but feel free to add your favorite restaurant fixings once you’ve mastered the basics.

This rich chowder offers a delicious harmony of flavors; sweet corn, smoky bacon and sharp cheddar cheese. Fresh corn in season is always best, but frozen corn also works very well, and makes the chowder a snap to prepare.

In the time it takes to fry a tortilla, you can whip up this crisp, flavorful dish. Beans, cheese and vegetables make a great starting point, but feel free to pile on leftover chicken or beef and a drizzle of your favorite salsa as well.

Chia seed drinks are popular all over the world. Try this variation that is sold by street vendors all over El Salvador. While many vendors color their drinks, raspberries add natural color and great flavor.

This simple-yet-satisfying dish blends the tangy spice of salsa verde with the mellow richness of cheese. A sprinkle of crisp onion and fragrant cilantro is the perfect finishing touch.

Pupusas are stuffed tortillas that are very popular in El Salvador. We have two options for stuffing—bean and cheese or zucchini and cheese. Serve with my recipes for salsa rojas and curtido for an authentic meal full of flavor.

This red velvet is moist, delicious and gorgeous. Slather it  with Ultimate Cream Cheese and you have perfection.

As is so often the case with traditional dishes, theories abound about the origins of pasta carbonara. Because its name is derived from the Italian word for coal, some suggest that it was originally created as a hearty, simple supper for hungry charcoal workers.

This is a far cry from typical “gringo” tacos in pre-fried crispy shells, these scrumptious morsels showcase the full flavor of freshly fried corn tortillas. In Mexico, the most common filling is mashed potatoes

Making guacamole is more an art than a science, so feel free to adjust the balance of chilies, onion, and lime to suit your taste.

This classic fresh salsa is the essence of Mexican flavor. Eat it with chips, or use it as a condiment on everything from soup to scrambled eggs.

Perfectly simple and utterly delicious, this is home style Mexican cooking at its best. Prepare it in advance and warm before serving for an easy weeknight supper or crowd-pleasing party meal.

Golden puffs of biscuit afloat on hot, bubbling fruit… it’s no wonder the entire Southern portion of the U.S. is crazed for cobbler. It’s scrumptious with any type of fruit, but particularly beautiful with colorful choices like cherries or blueberries.

Cheesy, satisfying enchiladas are a simple and delicious way to feed a crowd. A sprinkle of fresh onions on top adds a little crunch and a nice burst of extra flavor.

In India, street vendors fry spicy aloo tikki on portable charcoal grills. The wafting aroma can draw hungry customers from miles around! Serve these as a party snack with an array of chutneys for dipping.

Tamarind chutney is one of the fundamentals of Indian cuisine. Dried tamarind pulp is easy to work with, and readily available at Indian grocery stores or online retailers like Namaste.com.

This classic Indian chutney is my all-time favorite condiment. I even eat it on toast in the morning! Try it with your favorite Indian dishes, with simple grilled chicken or lamb, or on a spoon straight out of the jar.

My mother always made this recipe one day ahead, to give the almond and vanilla flavors time to develop. Try it with Very Berry Topping for a dessert that is not only delicious and attractive, but also fat-free.

Pour this glorious topping over angel food cake or premium vanilla ice cream, savor a spoonful, and be spoiled for life. Fresh strawberries are essential here, but take advantage of convenient frozen packages for the rest of the fruit.

Flecked with tiny vanilla seeds, this simple delicacy is a treat for the eye as well as the palate. One taste, and you may never go back to standard store-bought ice cream!

This recipe uses the classic Indian technique of seasoning cooking oil with whole spices before adding the main ingredient. The fragrance is indescribable!

My friend Colleen Roberts makes this delightful pudding every Christmas Eve. She credits the recipe to her Aunt Marion, who began the tradition decades ago. I love that it’s so easy, yet special enough to feel truly festive.

This dough is easy to handle and yields heavenly cookies.

Traditional gingerbread becomes a decorator’s dream when baked into cute little molds. Find ginger baby molds at fancy kitchen shops or your favorite online cooking supply store. Gather the family and let the creativity run wild!