The Best Recipes of 2013

Jennifer Davick
Our editors test and approve all recipes featured in our magazine, but these picks stand out above the rest.
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Maple-Pecan Sticky Buns

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Maple-Pecan Sticky Buns

Enjoy these morning glories without skimping on size. The secret? A low-fat roll mix creates extra-indulgent (and easy) sticky buns. To make ahead, assemble unbaked rolls in pans, cover with plastic wrap, and chill overnight. Let stand 1 1/2 to 2 hours to rise; bake as directed.

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Sautéed Greens with Olive Oil-Fried Eggs

Photo: Johnny Autry

Recipe: Sautéed Greens with Olive Oil-Fried Eggs

The key here is to fry the eggs fast (listen for the sizzle) and baste the yolks with the hot oil until they're opaque. Serve over Sautéed Greens and with a side of crusty bread.

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Crispy Chicken Thighs with Pasta and Pesto

Photo: Greg Dupree

Recipe: Crispy Chicken Thighs with Pasta and Pesto

This stovetop-to-oven method yields crisp, dark-golden skin and juicy, tender meat.

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Dark Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Dark Chocolate Chunk Cookies

For an even chewier texture, substitute 1/2 cup hazelnut or almond flour for 1/2 cup all-purpose flour.

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Lemon Bar Cheesecake

Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Lemon Bar Cheesecake

This indulgent recipe marries two delicious desserts: lemon bars and cheesecake. Using a dark springform pan ensures a golden brown crust without having to bake before adding the filling.

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Collards and Kimchi

Photo: Robbie Caponetto, Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Collards and Kimchi

Edward Lee, chef and owner of 610 Magnolia (Louisville, KY), celebrates two humble ingredients, using sautéed country ham and onions to create a robust harmony of sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami flavors.

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Piña Colada Icebox Pie

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Piña Colada Icebox Pie

Forget the rolling pin and tricked-out lattice topping—just pat the crust in the pan, add a little tropical flair (we're talking a delicious pineapple-coconut filling here), then bake and chill.

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Roasted Carrots with Avocado and Feta Vinaigrette

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Recipe: Roasted Carrots with Avocado and Feta Vinaigrette

In this salad, char, spice, and creaminess meld. The key to roasting veggies is to use similarly sized pieces. Spread them evenly on a baking sheet, and roast in a very hot oven until just tender.

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Pepper Jelly and Ginger Glazed Ham

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Pepper Jelly and Ginger Glazed Ham

You can use any supermarket bone-in or semi-boneless smoked ham for this recipe, but choose one brined in natural juices. Or order from one of our favorite small Southern producers. (For a list, visit southernliving.com/ham).

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35th Anniversary Hummingbird Cake

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck

Recipe: 35th Anniversary Hummingbird Cake

Over-ripe bananas (yellow peels splotched with brown flecks) are best for baking. You won't get the same depth of flavor or moistness without them.

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Strawberries and Cream Cake

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck

Recipe: Strawberries and Cream Cake

We used 6 (8-inch) disposable aluminum foil cake pans, so we could fill all the pans at once. This way, if you bake the layers in batches, the second batch is ready to go in the oven as soon as the first is done.

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Woodshed Margarita

Photo: Jody Horton

Recipe: Woodshed Margarita

This backyard cocktail gets its smoky flavor from cedar-infused tequila.

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Biscuit BLTs

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Biscuit BLTs

Try this Southern twist on a classic. Basil pesto gives a fresh spin on these tried-and-true flavors.

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Sweet Onion Stacks

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Sweet Onion Stacks

Salty strips of bacon and a tart Champagne vinaigrette play against the layered richness of sweet char-grilled onions and creamy goat cheese. Feel free to mix and match the stacks, maybe even slip in a sliced peach or two.

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Caramelized Sweet Onion Tarte Tatin

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Caramelized Sweet Onion Tarte Tatin

For maximum flavor, use a high-quality brand of frozen puff pastry dough that tastes of butter and gives rise to crisp, flaky layers.

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    Buttermilk-Ricotta Cheese Dip

    Photo: Hector Sanchez

    Recipe: Buttermilk-Ricotta Cheese Dip

    If you've never tried homemade ricotta, then you're in for a tasty surprise. This will change the way you think about the store-bought kind. Be sure to stir only when indicated in the recipe.

    Watch Us Make It: Buttermilk-Ricotta Cheese Dip

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    Blackberry-Peach Cobbler Bars

    Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck

    Recipe: Blackberry-Peach Cobbler Bars

    Looking for a party-perfect treat that's a cut above the classic fruit-filled cobbler? Consider it found.

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    Tomato, Cheddar, and Bacon Pie

    Photo: Hector Sanchez

    Recipe: Tomato, Cheddar, and Bacon Pie

    We raised the ante on classic tomato pie with a sour cream crust studded with bacon, layers of colorful tomatoes, and plenty of cheese and herbs to tie it all together. For best results, seed the tomatoes and drain the slices before baking.

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    Shout Hallelujah Potato Salad

    Photo: Hector Sanchez

    Recipe: Shout Hallelujah Potato Salad

    Bragging rights for this flavor-packed, perfectly balanced favorite (from The Southern Foodways Alliance Community Cookbook) go to Blair Hobbs of Oxford, Mississippi.

    Cooking Video: Shout Hallelujah Potato Salad

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    Candied Jalapeños

    Photo: Hector Sanchez

    Recipe: Candied Jalapeños

    This is our new go-to summer condiment. Chill at least 48 hours ahead so the jalapeños have time to take on a fiery-sweet crunch.

    Watch Us Make It: Candied Jalapeños

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    Patchwork Cobbler

    Photo: Hector Sanchez

    Recipe: Patchwork Cobbler

    Topped with squares of sugar-crusted pastry, this cobbler shows off summer fruits in a rich, just-sweet-enough-filling.

    Watch Us Make It: Patchwork Cobbler

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    Two-Step Fresh Peach Pound Cake

    Photo: Hector Sanchez

    Recipe: Two-Step Fresh Peach Pound Cake

    Turn out a high-rise cake with a moist, tender crumb by layering the ingredients in the bowl in the order specified. Don't have a stand mixer with a 4-qt. bowl and paddle attachment? Prep the batter the traditional way.

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    Pasta with Burst Tomatoes and Mascarpone

    Photo: Hector Sanchez

    Recipe: Pasta with Burst Tomatoes and Mascarpone

    Blister and burst tomatoes under the broiler to hide imperfections and concentrate flavor. Use extras to fill omelets or sandwiches.

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    Melon and Crispy Prosciutto Salad

    Photo: Hector Sanchez

    Recipe: Melon and Crispy Prosciutto Salad

    Build the base of this sweet, salty, and crunchy salad with any melon.

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    Chicken-Vegetable Kabobs with White BBQ Sauce

    Photo: Hector Sanchez

    Recipe: Chicken-Vegetable Kabobs with White BBQ Sauce

    Swap new veggies to transform the meal. Go Mediterranean with cauliflower florets and eggplant.

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    Apple-Pecan Carrot Cake

    Photo: Hector Sanchez

    Recipe: Apple-Pecan Carrot Cake

    Top a showstopping crown of Mascarpone Frosting with swirls of Apple Cider Caramel Sauce and a scattering of salty-sweet Spiced Pecans. Caramel sauce, rather than fosting, sandwiches together the moist cake layers.

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    Grill-Roasted Chicken

    Photo: Hector Sanchez

    Recipe: Grill-Roasted Chicken

    Grilling over the indirect heat of a two-zone fire mimics oven heat. An aromatic rack of early fall apples and vegetables catches all the chicken’s flavorful juices.

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    Buffalo Chicken Meatball Sliders

    Photo: Hector Sanchez

    Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Meatball Sliders

    For a cool, crunchy slider topping, toss thinly sliced celery and fresh parsley leaves with a splash of Champagne vinegar and drizzle of olive oil. Season with table salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

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    Pork-and-Green Bean Stir-Fry

    Photo: Melina Hammer

    Recipe: Pork-and-Green Bean Stir-Fry

    The key to this dish is developing a nice char on the green beans. To do so, heat the oil in your skillet until it almost smokes before adding the beans. Let them sear, stirring every 20 to 30 seconds, and they'll take on color. Feel free to sub thinly sliced strips of red bell pepper instead of hot chiles.

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    Skillet Cornbread

    Hector Manuel Sanchez

    Recipe: Skillet Cornbread

    Quickly incorporate the hot bacon drippings into the batter with a fork. When you pour it back into the hot skillet, listen for the sizzle. That sound means your crust will be dark golden and crisp.

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    Tex-Mex Chicken Chili with Lime

    Photo: Jennifer Davick

    Recipe: Tex-Mex Chicken Chili with Lime

    Store-bought rotisserie chicken shortcuts the cook time, while white ale adds spice, body, and flavor.

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    Buttermilk-Glazed Mini Fig Cakes with Vanilla Hard Sauce

    Photo: Hector Sanchez

    Recipe: Buttermilk-Glazed Mini Fig Cakes with Vanilla Hard Sauce

    Muffin pans make the perfect baking vessels for these little fig cakes. Gussy them up by spooning a dollop or piping a silver dollar of hard sauce on top, and then garnish them with halved fresh figs, fresh herbs, or even pecan halves.