Best Chocolate Pound Cake recipe.

Ingredients
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup butter, softened
3 cups white sugar
5 egg yolks
5 egg whites
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 1/4 cups milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10 inch tube pan.
Cream shortening and butter until light and fluffy, gradually adding sugar. Beat well at medium speed of an electric mixer. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating after each addition.
Sift flour, baking powder, salt, cocoa and cinnamon together. Add to creamed mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Mix just until blended after each addition. Stir in vanilla and almond extracts.
In a clean bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold carefully into cake batter, mixing only until no streaks remain. Pour batter into a greased and floured 10 inch tube pan.
Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes, remove from pan, and let cool completely on a wire rack.

Apple Coffee Cake recipe.

Ingredients
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups milk
1 (21 ounce) can apple pie filling
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons butter, melted
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon butter, softened
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons water

Directions
In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk. Pour half into a greased 13-in.x 9-in.x 2-in. baking dish. Combine pie filling and cinnamon; spoon over batter. Drop remaining batter over filling; spread gently.
Combine topping ingredients; sprinkle over batter. Bake at 350 degrees F for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Combine glaze ingredients; drizzle over warm or cooled coffee cake.

Authentic South Indian Biryani recipe.

Ingredients
2 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 pod cardamom
1 cinnamon stick
4 medium onions, chopped
3 tablespoons chopped fresh garlic
1/4 teaspoon chopped fresh ginger
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into cubes
chili powder to taste
1 1/2 medium tomatoes, chopped
16 ounces plain yogurt
3 tablespoons water
lemon juice, to taste
3 cups white rice
1 teaspoon butter
salt to taste
1 bunch fresh mint, chopped
1 bunch chopped cilantro

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
Heat oil in a large oven-proof pot over medium heat. Add cardamom, clove, and cinnamon stick. Stir in chopped onions, and fry until golden brown. Stir in garlic and ginger. Stir in chicken pieces, and fry about 3 minutes. Stir in chili powder, and cook several minutes. Stir in tomatoes, and cook about 5 minutes. Mix yogurt with 3 tablespoons water and lemon juice; stir into sauce.
Cover pot, and bake in a preheated oven until the sauce is somewhat thickened and concentrated, about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook rice in enough salted water to cover. Bring to a boil, and cook until it is half cooked, about 7 minutes. Drain rice, and stir into chicken and sauce. Stir in butter, season to taste with salt, cover pot, and bake 1 hour. Stir in mint and cilantro immediately before serving.

Aunt Zula's Christmas Cutouts recipe.

Ingredients
1 cup shortening
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
Cream sugar and shortening together. Add eggs and dry ingredients. Add the milk last.
No need to chill this dough, simply roll out to 1/4 inch thickness, cut out and bake 10-12 minutes.