Wondering what to make for your lemon-loving Valentine? Look no further. These Shaker Lemon Tartlets from Martha’s American Food are a real treat for anyone who loves a sweet & tart lemon dessert. They look beautiful enough to be sold in a bakery, but are easy enough to make in a home kitchen. The lemon slices on top make these tartlets really picture-perfect. Pucker up!

Martha’s American Food takes readers through a culinary America, and she provides recipes from the highlights of each region. When I stumbled upon this simple recipe for Tamale Pie (from the Southwest), a dish I have always wanted to make, I knew immediately what to cook for my friends for dinner on Friday.

Wedding season is gearing up, and last weekend I traveled to upstate New York to attend not one, but two bridal showers! As an added bonus, my parents gave me free rein in their kitchen on Sunday night (and even did the dishes – best parents ever). I wanted to try a recipe that I wouldn’t necessarily be able to do justice at home in my tiny Brooklyn kitchen, and Martha Stewart’s Tequila Grilled Shrimp, from the Southwest section of her new book, Martha’s American Food (Clarkson Potter, April 2012) seemed like a perfect choice.

In her newest cookbook, Martha’s American Food (Clarkson Potter, April 2012), Martha Stewart celebrates America and its diversity of food with 200 recipes that represent the very best of the country’s flavors. Today, we bring you her recipe for Skillet Cornbread from the Southwest.