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Channel New England with this rich and warming one-pot clam chowder. If fresh clams are unavailable (or you're running short on time), substitute two 10-ounce cans of baby clams and 6 cups of bottled clam juice. This is part of BA's Best, a collection of our essential recipes.

Spinach and feta arrive in tiny puff-pastry packages.

“Pistachios are buttery, piney, crunchy, and creamy—plus they go great with a cold beer,” says Nathan Allen of Knife & Fork in Spruce Pine, NC. The use of Angostura bitters here might be a surprise for those used to seeing it on cocktail menus exclusively, but its spicy, clove-cinnamon-y flavor is just as valuable as a flavor booster in this snack.

You can reheat this ooey-gooey queso fundido dip in a skillet, or keep it warm in a fondue pot. Save this recipe for your next taco night.

Adapted from The River Cafe Classic Italian Cookbook by Rose Gray, Ruth Rogers, and Michael Joseph. Copyright Rose Gray 2009.

Using this triple-threat sauce as a marinade, basting liquid, and finger-licking-good dip guarantees a depth of flavor that’s impossible to achieve with any single step.

Chicago chef Paul Kahan’s pairing of grilled toast, fresh cheese, and buttery smoked sablefish works with any smoked fish, from flaky whitefish, trout, or bluefish to thin slices of salmon. Try it alongside the rest of his summer cookout menu: Grilled Chicken Liver Pate and Blackberry Crostini, Roasted Beets with Hazelnut Vinaigrette and Burrata, Marinated Kale and Green Bean Salad, Dilly New Potato Salad with Summer Sausage, Grilled Lamb Skewers with Carrots, Feta, and Mint, and Country-Style R.…