Associated Press (Alison Ladman)

Bright citrusy flavors. Splashes of colorful, sugary confetti. Rich, creamy frosting flecked with berries. These cupcakes have it all and are a perfect way to welcome spring. We start with a moist white-chocolate cake recipe, then infuse it...

An Irish Grasshopper, left, Emerald Mary and Herbal Remedy offer alternatives to green beer for St. Patrick's Day partying.Can we all just agree that unless you're a frat boy (or girl), green beer belongs nowhere near your lips on St. Patrick's D...

Irish soda bread, ,left plus variations: oatmeal-rye with herbs and walnuts, top, and double chocolate cherry, right.With no rising time or kneading necessary, classic Irish soda bread lends itself to numerous creative variations. Traditional...

You can call it a peppercorn all you like, but the peppery ingredient that puts the buzz in Sichuan-style cooking actually isn't one. Though it resembles and is used in a way similar to black peppercorns, Sichuan pepper isn't a peppercorn at all. R...

Lemon pear upside-down gingerbread cakeThere is no subtle way to say this: This cake screams Christmas. To start with, it's gingerbread. The aroma is embedded in the definition of this holiday. That aroma, of course, is paired with an ultra...

Triple-ginger cranberry barsThese bars are a serious triple-ginger threat. We packed three varieties of ginger into these tender, chewy bars – grated fresh ginger, dry ground ginger and chopped crystallized ginger. Combined with the elderflo...

A healthy chopped summer salad with grilled chicken gets a good bit of zing from an herb-filled salsa-style mix.Salads can be a great way to pile on the vegetables, not to mention serve as a fine canvas for showing off summer's bounty. But s...

Braised chicken legs with spring vegetables.To make the most of tender spring vegetables, it's important to use a gentle touch at the stove. That not only results in a more delicious dish, it is also usually much less work. This simple brais...

In this Feb. 6, 2012 photo taken in Concord, N.H., a pot of lamb stew with potatoes, onions and carrots, is shown. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)If you're a purist, Irish stew is one of the easiest dishes to make for St. Patrick's Day. That's becaus...

This Jan. 4, 2012 photo shows Super Bowl cupcakes in Concord, N.H. These cupcakes are big, bold, manly and totally down for a Super Bowl spread.These are not your girlfriend's cupcakes. There is no frilly pastel frosting piped on top. They are no...