These white chocolate and raspberry blondies, flecked with pink peppercorn and swirls of raspberry jam, are a perfect marriage of super-sweet and ever-so-savory. They’re fruity, peppery, and perfect for spicing up your Valentine’s Day!

Makes 16

food52.com

INGREDIENTS
2 teaspoons pink peppercorns
3/4 cup unsalted butter
1 cup light brown sugar
2 eggs
1 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
3 tablespoons seedless raspberry jam

INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat an oven to 350˚F. Line an 8×8 square baking pan with a sheet of parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang. (This will help with removing the baked blondies.)

Put the pink peppercorns into a mortar in pestle and grind until coarsely ground. If you don’t have a mortar and pestle, place the pink peppercorns into a zip top bag and smash with a heavy skillet. Set aside.

In a large sauce pot, melt the butter. Once melted, remove from the heat, add the brown sugar and whisk to combine. Continue whisking and add in the eggs one at a time. Mix until smooth. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the flour, salt, and pink peppercorn. Stir in the white chocolate chips, then pour the batter into the prepared pan.

Using a spoon, dollop the jam over top of the batter. Using a butter knife or wooden skewer, swirl the raspberry jam. Place into the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until edges or golden brown and the blondies have risen slightly. Let cool.

Once cool, using the excess parchment hanging over the edges, lift the blondies from the pan in once big piece. Trim off the golden edges from the blondies and then cut into 16 squares.

From Giada’s Holiday recipes on Food Network, but can be used any time.

Serves 6

foodnetwork.com

INGREDIENTS
Kosher salt
1 pound fusilli con buco pasta, such as Rustichella d’Abruzzo or Setaro
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 clove garlic, smashed
2 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmesan, plus more for serving
1 cup mascarpone, at room temperature
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest (from 1 large lemon)
1 1/2 cups frozen peas, thawed
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon pink peppercorns, ground

INSTRUCTIONS
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until just short of al dente, 10 or 11 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat a large straight-sided skillet over medium heat. Add the butter and olive oil to the hot skillet. When the butter is melted, add the garlic; cook, stirring often, until soft and fragrant. Add 1/2 cup of the pasta water, then reduce the heat to low.

When the pasta is ready, lift it out of the water and add it directly to the sauce; reserve the pasta water. Sprinkle the Parmesan over the pasta and stir to combine. Return the heat to medium, add the mascarpone, lemon zest and 3/4 teaspoon salt and toss well. Continue cooking until the pasta is al dente, another minute or two, adding pasta water as needed to thin the sauce.

Add the peas and lemon juice; toss well to combine. Add more pasta water as needed to reach the desired sauce consistency (you will most likely use about 1 1/2 cups pasta water in all).

Sprinkle with the pink pepper and additional Parmesan, if desired.