Sharp cheddar béchamel with bay leaf and mustard, blasted at 425°F under a toasted Parmesan-panko crust.

Gooey-centered banana bread with sour cream, cake flour, and chopped dark chocolate.

Bakery-style chocolate chunk cookies built on deep brown butter for a tender, ripply center. Dark chocolate chunks, milk chocolate shards, and flaky salt across the tops.

Fluffy classic buttercream that pipes cleanly. Frosts about 12 cupcakes.

Tender, evenly-domed vanilla cupcakes from a reverse-creamed batter. Sour cream, milk powder, and a touch of oil give a rich crumb that's still bakery-light.

Smoky chicken thighs marinated in achiote, chipotle adobo, fresh citrus, and garlic. Mandarin and lime brighten the paste, rice bran oil carries the achiote into the meat, and a finishing salt dust seasons the char straight off the grill.