Party Starters

This rich, savory soup is just the thing you need on a cool autumn night.

"The Maco started as a total accident—I was catering a party that had both mac and cheese and tuna tacos on the menu. When I ran out of tuna early into the party, I improvised with the remaining mac and cheese to create the Maco!" —Mary Giuliani

This hearty one-pot meal is the perfect dish for a crowd. Add a pan of cornbread and you've got a party!

You can freeze the tamales, uncooked or cooked, in resealable plastic bags. Either way, they can go straight from the freezer into the steamer. If you’re heating up just a few cooked tamales, place them in a bowl and cover with a wet paper towel, then microwave them until heated through, 1 to 2 minutes.

Latkes are a do-aheader’s dream. After they’re cooked, latkes keep well in the fridge for a day or two, or wrap them well and keep them in the freezer for up to two weeks. Reheat them in a single layer on a cookie sheet in a 350° oven until they're crisp again.

Lemonade gets a lift thanks to Thai basil, a variety of the herb that has a slightly spicy, licorice-ish flavor. Look for Thai basil at Asian markets or farmers’ markets. If you can’t find it, use regular basil.