half and half

This French classic needs little introduction, but if you haven’t had it in baked form, you’re in for a treat. Think upscale ham sandwiches drenched in egg custard and cheese, melted to a deep golden-brown. There are no tricks here, save for the addition of two extra yolks for maximum French-toast tenderness. Serve it warm, or at room temperature — a fitting breakfast feast that's welcome any time of the day.

Croque-Monsieur Breakfast Casserole

tablespoons unsalted butter, softened,

(10-

Dijon mustard

milk

half-and-half

eggs

black pepper

Gruyère cheese, shredded (about 1 cup)

Parmesan cheese (packed 1/4 cup)

Parsley, leaves torn, mustard, and cornichons,

Heat oven to 325 degrees and generously butter a 9-by-13-inch (or 1 1/2- to 2-quart) baking pan. Butter the slices of bread on one side and spread a thin layer of mustard on the other side. Arrange, shingled, over the bottom of the pan, buttered side up; you may not need all the bread. Drape evenly with ham.

Whisk together milk, half-and-half, egg, egg yolks and pepper. Pour evenly over the bread and ham. Sprinkle with Gruyère and Parmesan cheeses, allowing the ham to peek out in places. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes (for the bread to sop up the milk) or up to overnight. Bake until the custard is set, and the bread and cheese are golden brown, 40 to 45 minutes.

Remove from the oven and allow to set 20 minutes before scattering evenly with parsley. Scoop and serve warm or at room temperature, with mustard and cornichons.

<p>These delicious and hearty noodles are made with blended squash plus a few simple ingredients. You&#8217;re going to love this quick hearty winter noodle dish!</p>


Creamy Kabocha Squash Noodles

olive oil

onion,

garlic,

cashew nuts

linguine pasta

pasta water

nutmeg

brown sugar

Salt and pepper

cayenne

Chives, garnish

Parmesan cheese, garnish

Broccoli rabe (sometimes spelled raab, or known as rapini greens) is one of the most delicious members of the mustard green family. The leaves, tender stems and broccoli-like buds have a distinctive pleasant bitterness when cooked. For this vegetarian lasagna, some of the cooked greens are puréed to make a garlicky pesto and the rest is coarsely chopped and added to the layers.

<a href="http://cooking.nytimes.com/68861692-nyt-cooking/1001747-the-greatest-lasagna-recipes">Find more lasagna recipes.</a>

Broccoli Rabe Lasagna

butter

all-purpose flour

half-and-half, heated,

nutmeg,

dry lasagna noodles

broccoli rabe,

garlic cloves,

ricotta cheese

lemon

Make the béchamel: Melt butter in a small saucepan. Whisk in flour and cook for a minute over medium heat without browning. Gradually whisk in half-and-half, 1/2 cup at a time, to obtain a smooth, lightly thickened sauce. Turn heat to low. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt, some ground black pepper, the cayenne and nutmeg. Cook, whisking, for 4 to 5 minutes, then place saucepan in a hot-water bath to keep sauce warm. Thin if necessary with a little more half-and-half.

Bring a large pot of well-salted water to the boil. Add lasagna noodles and cook for 5 minutes. Lift noodles from water with a spider and rinse well in a bowl of cold water. Drain and lay noodles flat on a kitchen towel.

Using the same cooking water, blanch the greens for 1 minute, until just wilted. Rinse greens with cool water, squeeze dry and chop them roughly. Put 1 cup of chopped greens, the minced garlic and 1/2 cup olive oil in a food processor or blender and purée to make a pesto. Season with salt and pepper to taste and transfer to a small bowl.

Mix the ricotta and lemon zest in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper to taste. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Organize to have all ingredients within easy reach for assembling lasagna. Use 2 tablespoons butter to grease an 8-by-10-inch baking dish.

Assemble the lasagna: Put a layer of cooked noodles on the bottom of the baking dish. Spoon a quarter of the béchamel over noodles, then dot with a third of the ricotta. Complete layer with chopped greens, a drizzle of pesto and some grated cheese. Continue layering, finishing with a layer of pasta. Spread the last of the béchamel on top and sprinkle with Parmesan. (There should be 4 layers of pasta and 3 layers of filling.)

Dot with remaining butter and bake, covered with foil, for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake for 20 minutes more, until nicely browned and bubbling. Let lasagna rest 10 minutes before serving.

The humble potato gets the red carpet treatment in this easy yet luxurious recipe for potatoes au gratin. Sliced Yukon Gold or russet potatoes (you can use either, but don't use a combination as they cook at different rates) are layered with half-and-half or heavy cream, topped with butter and grated cheese, then baked until golden and bubbly. Feel free to play around: Add leeks, onions, garlic or more cheese between the layers. Experiment with fresh or dried herbs. It's incredibly adaptable and practically foolproof. Just don't forget to season with salt and pepper as you go. Like all potato dishes, it needs plenty of seasoning.

Potatoes au Gratin

Kosher salt and black pepper

unsalted butter

half-and-half cream

Parmesan

nutmeg (optional)

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Seasoning each layer with salt and pepper as you go, layer the potatoes in a 10- or 12-inch ovenproof skillet.

Dot the top with 2 tablespoons butter. Pour in half-and-half. (It should come about 3/4 of the way to the top.)

Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce to low and cook for 10 minutes, uncovered, until the half-and-half has reduced by about half.

Transfer to the oven and bake until the top is golden brown, about 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 300 degrees and cook until the potatoes are fork tender and the top is nicely browned, about 8 minutes more. Top with grated cheese and return to the oven until the cheese is melty and golden brown, about 3 to 5 minutes. Sprinkle with a pinch of nutmeg, if using, and serve.

This updated tuna noodle casserole recipe stays true to the classic 1950s dish, but substitutes a rich, homemade sauce for the can of cream of mushroom soup. The addition of cremini mushrooms — along with celery, onions, peas and parsley — makes this casserole surprisingly vegetable-packed, while briny capers complement the tuna and balance out the creamy sauce. Like any good tuna noodle casserole, this recipe’s pièce de résistance is the potato chip topping.

Tuna Noodle Casserole

unsalted butter,

(12-ounce) bag dried egg noodles or other shaped pasta

celery (about 4 ribs)

yellow

mushrooms (preferably cremini),

capers,

garlic cloves, minced

stock

dry sherry

(5- tuna

peas

parsley,

plain, salted potato chips, crushed

Heat the oven to 375 degrees and grease a 9-by-13 or other 3-quart casserole dish with butter.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions until just al dente. (Do not overcook.) Drain and set aside.

Meanwhile, in a medium Dutch oven or other heavy pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the celery and onion, season with salt and cook over medium, stirring occasionally, until the onions are translucent, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are tender, about 5 minutes. Add the capers and garlic and cook until the garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute.

Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and cook, stirring constantly, until no streaks of flour remain, about 1 minute, reducing the heat as necessary to keep from scorching. Add the stock, half-and-half, sherry, 2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and bring to a boil.

Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally and scraping the bottom of the pan, until the sauce has thickened slightly, 5 to 7 minutes. Off the heat, stir in the tuna, peas and parsley, if using; season to taste.

Add the cooked noodles and toss well. Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and smooth into an even layer. Sprinkle the crushed potato chips on top and bake, uncovered, until hot and bubbling, about 25 minutes. Garnish with additional parsley, if using, and serve hot.

The classic Italian panna cotta — cooked cream — is a pure white custard set with gelatin instead of eggs or starch. It can be prepared up to 2 days in advance, in individual ramekins or a larger mold. In season, it is lovely served with a compote of figs and berries. At other times of year, use other fruits or a simple fruit coulis. Alternatively, a caramel sauce or a bittersweet chocolate sauce drizzled over the panna cotta can be quite nice. Wait until just before serving to unmold.

Panna Cotta With Figs And Berries

granulated sugar

fine sea salt

almond extract

gelatin (1 package)

blueberries

blackberries

raspberries

figs,

60 milliliters kirsch

Panna Cotta With Figs and Berries

In a small saucepan, heat the half-and-half over medium-low until it just begins to simmer. Turn off heat. Add sugar, stir to dissolve, then add lemon peel, salt and almond extract, and let steep while you prepare the rest of the recipe.

Meanwhile, put gelatin in a small bowl and add 3 tablespoons cold water. Let dissolve, mashing with a spoon to prevent lumps, about 5 minutes. Add to the half-and-half mixture, and whisk well to incorporate.

Using a fine-meshed sieve, strain into a measuring cup with a spout. Pour mixture into 4 (4-ounce) ramekins, tea cups or wine glasses. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours. (It is a good idea to make the panna cotta several hours ahead or up to 2 days in advance.)

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Make the compote: In a small, wide skillet, a gratin dish, or a pie pan, arrange the berries, then the figs cut-side-up. Sprinkle with the granulated sugar and the kirsch or Calvados. Roast, uncovered until juicy, with most of the liquid evaporated, about 40 minutes. Let cool to room temperature.

To serve panna cotta, run a knife around edge of the ramekins, then invert them over a soup plate or dessert dish. Shake gently to unmold. Surround panna cotta with fruit and roasting juices. (Alternatively, serve in the ramekin or wine glass with fruit on top.)

This easy twist on classic North African shakshuka (traditionally eggs baked in tomato-pepper sauce, with cumin, paprika and cayenne) starts with an onion-garlic-chard sautéed until gently wilted: a nest of sorts for steam-poaching eggs. Once the eggs go in, be sure to keep the flame low and keep the pan covered while cooking, so the eggs stay soft and almost oozy at their yolk, and the Cotija melts a bit. The chard and the half-and-half create a sort of light broth at the bottom of the shakshuka, which holds so much flavor and is one of the dish’s charms. Lastly, be daring with smoked hot sauce at the end: It’ll push the creamy avocado, cheese and eggs to their peak.

Green Shakshuka With Avocado and Lime

yellow onion,

garlic cloves, thinly sliced

salt, plus more as needed

black pepper,

cotija cheese

avocado, sliced,

jalapeño,

cilantro,

Smoked hot sauce,

Corn tortillas, toasted,

lime,

Heat oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-low heat. Add onion and cook until softening, 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, 5 minutes more.

Raise the heat to medium-high, add the chard stems, and cook to release some liquid, 5 minutes. Add the chard leaves, in batches, adding more as they wilt, and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until completely wilted, 3 to 5 minutes more. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt, pour in the half-and-half and stir loosely together.

Make eight small hollows in the cooked chard with the back of a spoon. Gently crack an egg into each hollow. Cover with a lid or foil and cook on medium-low until the eggs are just set, but still soft, about 7 to 9 minutes. Remove the lid, sprinkle with salt, pepper, cotija, avocado, jalapeño and cilantro. Serve with smoked hot sauce, toasted tortillas and lime wedges.

If cheesy mashed potatoes became a cozy soup, it would be this. It’s rich but not excessive, hearty but not heavy, and spiked with a little chili powder and some garlic to liven it up. The homemade pickled jalapeños give this a bright tang that perks up every creamy bite. Quick and easy to make, the jalapeños are leagues better than anything in a jar, and leftovers are excellent in sandwiches or scrambled into eggs.

Potato-Cheddar Soup With Quick-Pickled Jalapeños

jalapeños

limes, halved

granulated sugar honey

celery stalks, diced

chili powder,

Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes

vegetable broth

Cheddar (8 ounces),

heavy cream

scallions,

Thinly slice the jalapeños, discarding the seeds if you like. Put slices in a bowl and squeeze in enough lime juice to cover them. Add a pinch each of salt and sugar. Let sit at room temperature while you make the soup. (The jalapeños can be prepared up to 5 days ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator; they get softer and more pickle-y as they sit.)

In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add onion, celery and a large pinch of salt, and sauté until lightly golden and soft, about 10 minutes. Add garlic and chili powder and sauté until fragrant, 1 minute.

Add potatoes, broth and 2 teaspoons salt, and bring to a simmer. Cook until potatoes are very tender, 30 to 40 minutes.

Using an immersion blender or transferring the soup to a regular blender in batches, purée the soup, adding some water as needed to thin it out. (The soup can be as thick or brothy as you like.)

Return the soup to the pot if you removed it and reduce heat to medium-low. Add cheese and half-and-half, and cook at a very gentle simmer, stirring, until the cheese melts, 1 to 2 minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.

Top each bowl with pickled jalapeños, plus a drizzle of their pickling liquid and a pinch of chili powder, along with scallions, cilantro and more Cheddar.

Indian Butter Chicken with Basmati Rice is a delicious, Indian recipe featuring tender chicken in an Indian spiced creamy, tomato based sauce featuring the flavors of garam masala.

Indian Butter Chicken with Basmati Rice

olive or canola oil

onion (1/2 lb.), peeled and chopped

ginger,

garam masala

chili powder

cardamom

coriander

(6 oz.) tomato paste

chicken broth

half and half or heavy cream

bay leaves

chicken

salt

(1/8 lb.) butter

Basmati Rice

Naan

Cilantro

Lime Wedges

Cook rice according to package instructions.

In a large cast iron pan, add 1...

In a large cast iron pan, add 1 tablespoon of oil and eat over medium heat.

Add the onion and sauce for 5 minutes....

Add the onion and sauce for 5 minutes. Then, add the garlic, ginger, and fresh jalapeño and sauce for another 5 minutes.

Stir in the garam masala, chili powder, cardamom,...

Stir in the garam masala, chili powder, cardamom, and coriander. Saute for an additional 2 minutes.

Scrape mixture into a blender or food processor;...

Scrape mixture into a blender or food processor; add tomato paste and chicken broth. Blend until very smooth. Set aside.

Pat the chicken dry. Mix chicken with salt...

Pat the chicken dry. Mix chicken with salt and pepper. Set pan over high heat (I usually use the same pan; add 1 tablespoon butter and the chicken.

Stir until chicken is no longer pink on...

Stir until chicken is no longer pink on the surface, about 3 minutes. Depending on the size of your pan, it may be best to cook the chicken in batches so that it does not over crowd. If using this method, transfer the cooked chicken to a plate or bowl before working on the next batch.

Add the sauce from the blender to the...

Add the sauce from the blender to the pan with all of the cooked chicken and the half and half or heavy cream.

Simmer over medium low heat, stirring often, until...

Simmer over medium low heat, stirring often, until chicken is tender and no longer pink in the center (cut to test), about 15 minutes minutes. Cut remaining 3 tablespoons butter into chunks and stir into sauce until melted.

Spoon chicken and sauce onto rice. Squeeze lime...

Spoon chicken and sauce onto rice. Squeeze lime juice over portions and garnish with cilantro. Serve with naan alongside.

You could use a combination of berries (raspberries, blueberries and blackberries in equal parts) in this crisp, but it especially sings with just blackberries. (Wild blackberries, if you can find them, are even better.) Cardamom perfumes the accompanying rich custard sauce. The warm, musky spice adds a flavor that’s perfect with berries. The crisp needn’t be served piping hot straight from the oven; it’s delicious served at room temperature or just slightly warm.

Blackberry Crisp With Cardamom Custard Sauce

salted butter, cold and thinly sliced

cardamom seeds,

Make the topping: Put flour, sugar, butter and ground cardamom in a medium bowl. Using your fingertips, work ingredients together until the mixture resembles wet sand with a few stray pebbles. (The topping can be made in advance and refrigerated for 1 week or frozen for up to 2 months.)

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Toss the blackberries with ½ cup/100 grams sugar and transfer the mixture to an 8-inch square baking dish.

Sprinkle topping over berries loosely, and transfer to the oven. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until the topping is well browned. Let cool for 10 minutes, or serve at room temperature.

As the crisp bakes, make the custard sauce: Put half-and-half and sugar in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the cardamom seeds and bring to just under a simmer, stirring. Put yolks in a bowl and whisk until smooth, then whisk in 1 cup of hot half-and-half mixture. Pour the contents of the bowl back into the saucepan and cook, whisking, on a very low flame until the mixture barely thickens, about 5 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve. Serve sauce hot, or let cool and refrigerate until ready to use. (Sauce can be made up to 2 days in advance.)

To serve, scoop large spoonfuls of crisp into individual shallow bowls. Ladle the sauce around each serving or pass the sauce at the table.

Lemon Meringue Pots de Crème

eggs,

sugar,

cornstarch

unsalted butter, softened

lemon zest

lemon juice

pistachios

Heat half-and-half to just under a boil in a heavy-bottomed saucepan or a double boiler. In a mixing bowl, combine egg yolks, 3/4 cup sugar, cornstarch and salt. Whisk well until creamy, a minute or two.

Slowly whisk 1/2 cup of hot half-and-half into egg-sugar mixture, then add remaining half-and-half and mix well. Pour back into saucepan and cook over medium heat, whisking continuously, until custard is thick, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in butter, lemon zest and lemon juice. Spoon custard into 6 4-ounce ramekins. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, and up to several hours. (May be done even a day ahead.)

Combine chopped pistachios with 1 tablespoon sugar. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Put egg whites in mixing bowl and add 3 remaining tablespoons sugar. Beat whites to stiff peaks. Spoon a pile of meringue onto each custard-filled ramekin, using all the meringue. Sprinkle with pistachio-sugar mixture. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until the tops are browned. (May be baked just before guests arrive, then kept at room temperature until time for dessert.)

This recipe for a rich, winter-y rice porridge comes from Minh Phan, the owner of Porridge + Puffs in Los Angeles. Ms. Phan is a porridge whisperer, creating all kinds of complex, beautiful rice bowls, and her velvet porridge rich with roasted squash is no exception. To make a simple version of it at home, roast a mix of squash then purée it with brown butter and a little half and half. Stir the mixture into loose, cooked rice for a comforting meal you can eat plain, topped with pickled vegetables and herbs, some browned sausage or dressed salad leaves. Ms. Phan lets the cooked rice rest overnight so the grains absorb the seasoning evenly, but if you’re in a rush, you can go ahead and eat it right away.

Rice Porridge With Squash and Brown Butter

water

white rice

kosher salt,

Black pepper,

squash,

vegetable oil

herbs,

vegetables,

In a pot, add the cold water and rice, and place over medium heat. Slowly bring to a boil, stirring occasionally to keep rice from sticking to the bottom of the pan, then turn down to low heat and simmer. When rice is tender and water is almost evaporated, about 20 minutes, season the rice, and stir well. Cool at room temperature, then transfer to the fridge overnight.

Heat the oven to 400. Halve the squash, then use a knife to remove the skin, and roughly chop squash into 2-inch pieces. Toss with oil, and spread on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt, and roast for 30 minutes, or until browned and tender all the way through.

Top 29 half and half recipes from across the web

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Top 29 half and half recipes from across the web

The most viewed half and half recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engineic_arrow_forward_48px

Top Tags

Croque-Monsieur Breakfast Casserole

Creamy Kabocha Squash Noodles

Broccoli Rabe Lasagna

Potatoes au Gratin

Tuna Noodle Casserole

Panna Cotta With Figs And Berries

Green Shakshuka With Avocado and Li...

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Blackberry Crisp With Cardamom Cust...

Lemon Meringue Pots de Crème

Rice Porridge With Squash and Brown...

Broccoli-Cheddar Quiche

Roasted Vegetable Mac and Cheese

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Spinach & Cheese Strata

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