Today there will be hearty foods, but nothing heart-shaped; we are a day past that sometimes-pesky observance.

Our occasional questioner, T-Square, found a recipe for flan in the Wall Street Journal. This is not to say our correspondent is persuaded by recipe names like "easy" or "never fail," but this delicious experiment did not reach perfection. His question follows. Cookware

"The sticking point was the caramelized sugar that becomes a sauce on top, when the flan is chilled and turned out of the pan. Does anyone have a never-fail flan recipe?"

Come with us into one corner of the Lost-and Not-Yet-Found Department. Readers still need recipes for manicotti and butternut squash ravioli. And about Margherita pizza: the search is for Chattanooga's best restaurant version of this delight and also for a recipe for homemade Margherita pizza.

Diane Marrs opened her recipe keeper and pulled out another treasure, a speedy dish for Sunday dinner. She included instructions for making ahead and also how to complete the menu, so read on.

Easy Chicken and Biscuits Bake

2 tubes biscuit dough, 8 biscuits each

In a large pot over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Add the onion, and stir until softened, about 1 minute.

Whisk in the flour, stirring constantly to prevent the flour from browning, about 1 minute.

Whisk in the chicken broth, salt and pepper. Continue to whisk until no lumps remain.

Whisk in the heavy cream. Bring to a light simmer until the sauce has thickened slightly. Test for additional salt and pepper.

Add the mixed vegetables and shredded chicken, and stir until fully incorporated. Transfer to a 9- by 13-inch baking dish. Evenly top with 12 pieces of biscuit dough (you will have extra biscuits, which can be baked off separately).

Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, until the biscuits are golden and the gravy mixture is bubbling. Cool slightly before serving.

Prep time: 15 minutes. 

Nutrition per serving: 932 calories, 54 grams fat, 92 grams carbohydrate, 4 grams fiber, 19 grams sugar, 30 grams protein.

The recipe can be assembled (except the biscuits) the night before and placed in the refrigerator. Upon arriving home, remove casserole from the refrigerator. Heat oven. When oven is heated, arrange biscuits on top of casserole, place in oven and increase oven time to 30 minutes.

Serve with either of the following, which can be prepared the night before and placed in refrigerator:

› Fresh tossed green salad with balsamic vinaigrette dressing (or dressing of choice).

› Fresh mixed fruit bowl with grapes, strawberries, blueberries, pineapple chunks and cantaloupe chunks.

Dan Cobb's latest recipe, also easy and one-pot, wins the Best Name award.

1 can petite diced tomatoes with juice

1 pound kielbasa or smoked sausage, skinned and diced

Drain 1 can of beans; leave juice in the other.

Combine all except kielbasa in slow cooker, then put kielbasa on top.

Cook on low 6 to 8 hours.

Margaret McNeil consulted her considerable file because she is a cook who "love(s) crockpot cooking, but didn't realize how few recipes I had that didn't use beef or pork." Because of that, she's going to try more crockpot chicken recipes in 2023, and I am guessing we might be the sometimes beneficiary of her testing. In fact, she has already sent two from her current supply.

Crockpot Sweet and Sour Chicken

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into cubes

1 (8-ounce) can pineapple chunks in juice, drained (reserve juice)

1/2 teaspoon instant chicken bouillon granules

Place vegetables in the bottom of the crockpot; sprinkle with tapioca. Add chicken; add pineapple. Combine reserved pineapple juice and remaining ingredients; pour over chicken and pineapple. Do not stir. Cover and cook on low 8 to 10 hours. Makes 4 to 6 servings.

Crockpot Chicken a la King

1 (10 ¾-ounce) can cream of chicken soup, undiluted (see note)

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into cubes

1/2 cup chopped green pepper (I use frozen)

1 (10-ounce) package frozen peas, thawed

Combine the first four ingredients in a crockpot until smooth. Stir in the chicken, celery, green pepper and onion. Cover and cook on low for 7 1/2 hours. Stir in peas and pimentos. Cook 30 minutes longer until heated through. Serve over rice.

Note: If using 98% fat-free soup, add 1 teaspoon of salt to the mixture.

An anonymous reader hoped to research and find the Mount Vernon Resturant's sweet celery dressing. Didn't happen, but A.R. thinks this recipe from Cleverlysimple.com sounds about right.

Combine dry ingredients in a pint jar. Add vegetable oil and vinegar. Stir with a spoon, and then place the lid on tight. Shake until creamy. Refrigerate. Makes 32 servings.

Nutrition per 1 tablespoon serving: 78 calories, 4 grams carbohydrate, .04 gram protein, 7 grams fat (1 gram saturated fat, 4 grams polyunsaturated fat, 2 grams monounsaturated fat, .05 gram trans fat), 37 milligrams sodium, 4 milligrams potassium, .03 gram fiber, 4 grams sugar, 2 milligrams calcium, .04 milligram iron.

Thus prepared, your stockpots and crockpots and casseroles and salad bowls should be at the ready, and we will be ready for your company next week.

-- Margherita pizza (restaurant version or homemade)

Fare Exchange is a longtime meeting place for people who love to cook and love to eat. We welcome both your recipes and your requests. Be sure to include precise instructions for every recipe you send, and know we cannot test the recipes printed here.

• Mailing address: Jane Henegar, 913 Mount Olive Road, Lookout Mountain, GA 30750

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Crockpot Material from the Associated Press is Copyright © 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing. All rights reserved.