23 Delicious Ways To Carb-Load While You Watch The Olympics

All that athleticism really works up an appetite.

1. Al Forno's Penne with Tomato, Cream & Five Cheeses

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5 cheeses, count 'em.

Serves 4

2 cups heavy cream

1 cup chopped canned tomatoes in heavy puree

1/2 cup freshly grated pecorino Romano cheese, (1 1/2 ounces)

1/2 cup coarsely shredded (1 1/2 ounces) Fontina cheese

1/4 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese, (1 1/2 ounces)

2 tablespoons ricotta cheese

1/4 pound thinly sliced mozzarella cheese

3/4 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more for pasta water

6 fresh basil leaves, coarsely chopped

1 pound penne rigate or conchiglie rigate

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, sliced thinly

1. Heat oven to 500 degrees F.

2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

3. In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients except the pasta and butter. Stir well to combine.

4. Drop the pasta into the boiling water and parboil for 4 minutes. Drain in a colander and add to the ingredients in the mixing bowl, tossing to combine.

5. Divide the pasta mixture among six to eight shallow ceramic gratin dishes (1 1/2 to 2 cups in capacity) or place in a shallow (1-inch) layer in larger baking dishes. Dot with the butter, and bake until bubbly and brown on top, 7 to 10 minutes.

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2. Savory Gruyère Stuffed French Toast

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Savory, oozey, gooey. Get the recipe on Food52.

3. Hand-Formed Parmesan Tater Tots

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Crispy exterior, Parmesan-y, garlicky interior. Napoleon would be jealous. Get the recipe on Food52.

4. Chai Spiced Monkey Bread

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For those times when a chai tea just isn't enough. Get the recipe on Food52.

5. Edward Giobbi's Spaghetti alla Foriana

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"Alla Foriana" means "insanely delicious" in Italian. Or something like that. Get the recipe on Food52.

6. Mom's Blueberry-Coconut Muffins

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Bring a little summer into the Winter Games. Get the recipe on Food52.

7. Potato, Mushroom & Caramelized Onion Pierogi

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Carbs, all wrapped up in carbs. Get the recipe on Food52.

8. Mashed Potato Cakes with Broccoli and Cheese

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Panko-crusted, with broccoli and gooey cheese. These count as a vegetable, right? Get the recipe on Food52.

9. Meyer Lemon Focaccia

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A gorgeous, tart, salty, sweet, and addictive flatbread. Get the recipe on Food52.

10. Grandma DiLaura's Italian Ricotta Gnocchi

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All these tender little carb pillows need is a little bit of butter. Get the recipe on Food52.

11. Chocolate-Mashed Potato Cake with Ganache

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Have your cake and eat (extra) carbs too. Get the recipe on Food52.

12. Fruit-Laden, Whole-Grain Pancakes

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The breakfast of champions. Get the recipe on Food52.

13. Nigella Lawson's Linguine with Lemon, Garlic, and Thyme Mushrooms

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Easy and elegant, with bright, fresh flavors. Get the recipe on Food52.

14. Cheese Biscuits

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Impossibly tender biscuits with cheddar cheese woven throughout. Get the recipe on Food52.

15. Applesauce Carrot Bread with Pecan Streusel

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Ridiculously moist, warmly spiced, and plenty sweet. C'mon cake, you can't fool us -- there's no way this is bread. Get the recipe on Food52.

16. Goat Cheese Pasta with Caramelized Onions and Roasted Butternut Squash

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Everything we like -- creamy goat cheese, tender roasted squash, and sweet caramelized onions -- all in one bowl. Get the recipe on Food52.

17. Southwestern Spiced Sweet Potato Fries with Chili-Cilantro Sour Cream

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These fancy fries come with their own, superior version of fancy sauce. Get the recipe on Food52.

18. Anthony Myint's French Toast Crunch

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Finally, the answer to the age-old question of what happens when you cross creme brûlée, French toast, and tres leches cake. Get the recipe on Food52.

19. Scalloped Potatoes with Caramelized Onions

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Tender, creamy potatoes, gooey Gruyere cheese, and sweet caramelized onions. Get the recipe on Food52.

20. Orange Scented Olive Oil Sticky Buns

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These are delicate, tangy, fragrant, and sweet -- the nicest buns around. Get the recipe on Food52.

21. Kimchi Fried Rice

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Warm and spicy, this is comfort food at it's best. Get the recipe on Food52.

22. Party Pretzel Bites

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Yea, sure, you could serve these at a party... But you could also eat them all yourself. Get the recipe at Food52.

23. Brown Butter Waffle Cake with Sorghum Meringue Buttercream

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Why load when you could overload? Get the recipe on Food52.

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