Two whole chickens, propped up on vertical roasters, rubbed with spices, and leisurely cooked and smoked over an indirect fire.
This is a cake that should come with a warning: Only proceed if you love molasses. If you do love molasses and its dark, bitter sweetness, then proceed immediately, and with haste. This cake is dark, fudgy, damp and rich. It's like a chocolate cake for people who don't like chocolate.
Psycho (1960)
Kentucky Apple Stack Cake--Traditional Version
Given 15 minutes for prep, a slow cooker, some dried beans, garlic, onions and whatever seasoning moves you, you can launch a bean stew or this Quick and Spicy Bean Soup. Take off to bed and wake up with a couple of days of good eating ready to go.
Even people who aren’t big pumpkin pie fans will like this genteel version. Light, delicate, and sweet, it is a recipe from a kinder, gentler time. Its very name—“chiffon”—evokes a sheer and floaty fabric, a long way from today’s sturdy Spandex. Even after a hearty holiday meal, we find there’s always room for a small slice of this lovely pie.
Seasoning is totally your call and it can have as much attitude as you’d like, as in these warm-tasting spices of the West Indies and a garlic-tomato sauté.
A lush, yet light dessert that's much better if made a day ahead. Take a bit of fig on the tip of your fork, sweep it through the mascarpone and pop it into your partner's mouth. Mascarpone is a dense, creamy fresh cheese from Italy. If it isn't available, whip some heavy cream and flavor it with vanilla. Use organic ingredients if possible.
Inspired by an old 19th-century American recipe, these golden peaches or nectarines are stained crimson by port wine and served in an intense vanilla cream drizzled with their ruby cooking syrup. Do two to three days ahead and keep chilled. Assemble at the picnic site.
I call this "Challah French Toast à la Peter Pan" after the restaurant where I first had it as a child.