In America, when we think of cheesecake, we usually think of New York Style cheesecake, which uses a cream cheese filling and a graham cracker crust. In other parts of the world, Cheesecake may incorporate cottage cheese ricotta, or other soft cheeses baked im a pie crust or phyllo dough. This recipe combines the best of all worlds, with a buttery shortbread cookie crust, creamy ricotta interior, fresh roasted pumpkin and warm spices.

This style of sourdough bread is what opened my eyes to the aesthetic and transformative side of bread making. It’s biology, chemistry, engineering, pleasure and adventure all at once. The idea such a seemingly simple ingredient as wheat flour could grow into a culinary masterpiece enthralled me. This recipe uses a wild yeast and lactobacillus culture, recipe here, which gives it a chewy, bursting crust and a cool, moist, subtley tangy crumb.

The arrival of summer screams for the most classic of all backyard grillable foods – the burger! These buns are quick and easy (25 minutes) to make and keep well in the freezer. Golden brown on the outside, sweet and soft on the inside, these whole grain buns are the perfect base for a classic beef or bean burger, portabello mushroom or grilled chicken breast. top with LTO and your favorite condiments. The dough is quite versatile and can also be shaped into a loaf, hot dog buns, or a filled with custard or cream for a decadent Maritozzi pastry.

Like many of the world’s most scrumptious food inventions, this iconic sub, born in the city of brotherly love, inspires passion and debate. From its humble origins in the 1930s as “frizzled beef and onions” at Pat and Harry Olivieri’s hotdog cart, the Philly Cheesesteak was a winner. It was such a hit that by 1940, the brothers had made enough money…

Challah is an ancient bread with sacred origins in the Jewish culture. Enriched with honey or sugar, and often topped with sesame or poppy seeds, this style of bread has become popular worldwide, inside and outside the Jewish community. Whether you’re serving challah with a sprinkling of salt as part of the Sabbath, or whipping up some french toast over the weekend, there are endless ways to prepare it. It makes fantastic sandwiches or little toast points with fancy toppings for a brunch – a great bread to experiment with! You can even add raisins or chocolate and spices for an excellent babka.