RecipesHomemade Irish Cream Add some creamy goodness to your cup of joe with a splash or two of this homemade Irish cream. —Marcia Severson, Hallock, Minnesota
RecipesWatermelon Margaritas Summer’s best flavors get frosty in the cocktail we serve at all our backyard shindigs. We mix sun-ripened watermelon and our favorite tequila with just the right amount of ice for a thick and boozy sipper that’s perfect when we’re grilling and chilling.—Alicia Cummings, Marshalltown, Iowa
RecipesSpinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing My spinach salad with a comforting bacon dressing is a recipe I turn to again and again in winter. It’s quick, elegant and so delicious. I can always count on compliments. —Sandy Davis, Prescott, Arizona
RecipesOatmeal Waffles These healthful, good-tasting waffles are a tried-and-true family favorite—even with our two children. My husband and I have a small herd of beef cattle and some pigs. A hearty breakfast really gets us going! —Marna Heitz, Farley, Iowa
RecipesPistachio Pudding Cookies To top off the meal, Connie bakes these appropriately Irish cookies. “But they taste good anytime,” she says. “You can even change the food coloring to fit other holidays.” —Connie Lou Blommers, Pella, Iowa
RecipesGrandma’s Baked Ham Salad Sandwiches This is another tried-and-true recipe I found in my grandma’s recipe box. I love seeing her handwriting on faded notecards. — Crystal Jo Bruns, Iliff, Colorado
RecipesColored Sugar Creating your own colored sugar is so simple and easy. It’s a great way to add your own distinctive pop of color to cookies, cupcakes and other baked treats. —Sarah Thompson, Test Kitchen Director, Taste of Home magazine
RecipesMushroom-Stuffed Flank Steak Roll My daughter and her family, who live in Hong Kong, love to make my flank steak becuase it reminds them of home. —Ethel Klyasheff, Granite City, Illinois
RecipesPistachio Bread I love making many of these special loaves to give away for the holidays. They also freeze well, so it is easy to pull out for unexpected guests. —Judy Fischer, Green Bay, Wisconsin
RecipesRoasted Carrots and Mushrooms You’ll need only 10 minutes to get these savory veggies ready for the oven. Then just stir them a few times during roasting, and you’re done. It’s a busy cook’s dream!—Pam Corder, Monroe, Louisiana
RecipesSpicy Ranch Chicken Wings “My mother gave me this recipe more than 10 years ago,” writes Tracy Peters of Corinth, Mississippi. “Since then, I’ve made these lip-smacking wings for all different occasions.”
RecipesSpiced Apricot Baked Oatmeal Eat these spiced oatmeal squares while they’re still warm for a cozy morning treat. I freeze mine in single servings so I can grab, go and microwave when I get to work. I’m not too humble to say I have the best breakfast in the office. —Ellie Martin Cliffe, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
RecipesBarbecued Beef Brisket A guest at the RV park and marina my husband and I used to run gave me this flavorful barbecue brisket recipe. It’s become the star of countless meal gatherings, from potlucks to holiday dinners. Husband Ed and our five grown children look forward to it as much as our Christmas turkey. —Bettye Miller, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
RecipesKey Lime Bars I love Key lime pie, but some people are reluctant to take a whole slice of pie. These bars give just the right taste of Key lime and freeze well, so I can keep a stash for when I need a tart treat. —Kristine Staton, Broomfield, Colorado
RecipesStrawberry Tart This creamy strawberry tart boasts a crunchy chocolate layer tucked next to the crust. Try making individual tartlets instead of one big dessert. —Dawn Tringali, Hamilton Square, New Jersey
RecipesMexican Macaroni Salad Enjoy this easy twist on macaroni salad for a lunchtime change of pace. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen