Slow Down and Savor the Flavor

Downshift from gulping down fast-food meals and enjoy a nurturing dinner with loved ones instead. You'll be amazed at how much pleasure you get from making recipes from scratch. So pull a friend into the kitchen and start cooking! For inspiration, these tender, top-rated rolls are a great place to start. Recipe: Pennsylvania Dutch Tea Rolls

Make life-long friends by inviting your neighbors over for a homey meal. In this recipe, a chuck roast bakes for more than 4 hours, until the meat emerges succulent and fork-tender. Recipe: Mom's Signature Roast Beef

Smearing herbed butter beneath its skin is what makes this chicken so fragrant and flavorful. It's a picture-perfect dish to enjoy during a leisurely Sunday supper. Recipe: Classic Roast Chicken with Gravy

Made from kitchen staples, these pancakes aren't much fussier to whip up than those made from a mix, but you'll get far more satisfaction from their homemade taste. Enlist the kids to help on a weekend morning and let them customize their shortstacks with fruit or chocolate chips. Recipe: Basic Buttermilk Pancakes

Why settle for bottled dressing when this do-it-yourself vinaigrette is so easy? With such a simple salad–nothing more than greens, tomatoes, and creamy goat cheese–be sure to use the best ingredients you can find. Recipe: Greens with Maple-Balsamic Dressing

Nothing smells better than the yeasty aroma of a slow-risen pizza crust. Plus, the deeply savory combination of fennel and olives can't be found on delivery pies or in the freezer section of your supermarket. Recipe: Pizza with Caramelized Fennel, Onion, and Olives

Although making and frosting a cake from scratch can seem intimidating, this foolproof recipe actually takes less work than baking a batch of cookies. The batter cooks in only 22 minutes, and you frost the cake right in the pan. Recipe: Texas Sheet Cake