Buttermilk

Buttermilk adds the tang, while bacon lends crunch to this dish.

Tender biscuits that are rich and flavorful.

"My boyfriend and I were vacationing in Boulder, Colorado, when we discovered Dot’s Diner, a cozy place that serves wonderful breakfasts," writes Kimberly McClain of Harris, Iowa. "The biscuit that came with my meal was baked to perfection. I would drive all the way to Colorado just to go to Dot’s again." This classic recipe produces biscuits with a lovely light texture.

Hearty breakfast fare from Rick & Ann's in Berkeley, California.

Drizzling sweet pickle juice over the warm potatoes is the secret to this delicious salad.

Although fresh dark sweet cherries are available in June, we believe they're best eaten out of hand. This cobbler makes great use of frozen cherries. Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 1 1/4 hr

"There's a terrific place called Grand Central Cafe and Bakery in Portland, Oregon. I tried their Jammers, which are luscious buttermilk biscuits filled with jam," says Lori Stiffler of Butte, Montana. These home-style biscuits look like giant thumbprint cookies. Freezing the dry ingredients contributes to the biscuits' flakiness.

For variety, sprinkle berries, nuts or chocolate chips over the pancakes before turning them over on the griddle.

With a texture somewhere between ice cream and sorbet, this dessert has a slightly tangy flavor all its own.

Serve these pancakes immediately, since they do not keep well in a warm oven.

Buttermilk makes the cake tender, and cream cheese adds great texture to the frosting.

"The crisp little pieces of turkey skin called 'cracklings' were another annual Thanksgiving treat of mine. They reminded me of bacon, and I could never get enough. My buttermilk corn bread—which is sweet and savory, moist inside and crunchy outside—puts some real bacon into the feast." Start preparing this one day ahead.

Even the ranch dressing gets a Cajun kick in this lively main-course salad.

The salty anchovies complement the briny sweetness of the crabmeat. Buttermilk lightens the dressing and makes this version of the classic Caesar especially delicious.