American

There are fluffy eggs, melting cheese, and golden hash browns in every bite of this one-dish meal. It makes a good stand-in for quiche, with potatoes acting as a crust.

Homey and old-fashioned, this comforting dish can be on the table in a flash, thanks to store-bought rotisserie chicken and biscuits made with self-rising flour.

Editor's note: The recipe and introductory text below are from Jamie Oliver's book Happy Days with the Naked Chef. For Oliver's Valentine's Day tips, click here. This great little cocktail was made by the barman after my mate Ben and I started working at Monte's.

Editor's note: The recipe and introductory text below are from The Skinny: How to Fit into Your Little Black Dress Forever by Melissa Clark and Robin Aronson. Roasting the pears in chestnut honey gives this dish a nice robust flavor, but if you don't have any around or don't feel like seeking it out at a specialty store, regular honey works well too. The sprinkling of cinnamon on top is a classic with the pears, but feel free to flavor this dish any way you'd like — our variation using black pepper and thyme lends the pears an unexpected sweet and savory twist. Be sure to use firm Bosc pears here. Other varieties tend to fall apart.

Editor's note: The recipe and introductory text below are from The Skinny: How to Fit into Your Little Black Dress Forever by Melissa Clark and Robin Aronson. Dressed with roasted red peppers, olive oil, mustard, and garlic instead of the usual bland mayonnaise, this chicken salad packs a punch. It's great made into a sandwich for lunch at the office. Or if bread isn't on your menu, serve the chicken salad on a bed of greens tossed with a little olive oil and sprinkled with salt.

The spices in Indian chai tea flavor this creamy cheesecake.

East meets West in this dessert version of the spring roll.

For an extra special look, pick up a mix of white, red, and purple baby potatoes.

Top this hearty vegetarian omelet with sour cream and chopped red onion. Serve with warm tortillas.

Smoked turkey drumsticks can be found in the meat section of most supermarkets. If unavailable, substitute smoked ham hocks. WHAT TO DRINK: A pale ale with a spicy finish, like Sierra Nevada.

This recipe originally accompanied Smoked Turkey and Bacon Chowder .

A rich, aromatic (and potent) version of hot buttered rum.