5 Ingredients or Fewer

MAKING CHICKEN STOCK is one of the easiest things in the world; toss the ingredients in a pot and let it simmer while you do something else. After trying dozens of recipes, I settled on this one, which makes a pot of stock and a poached chicken for dinner or lunch the next day. Crunchy Chicken and Rice Salad (page 53), The Big Omelet (page 210), Chicken Salad with Corn and Cilantro (page 51), and Chicken-Avocado Salad (page 49) are delicious ways to enjoy the poached chicken. Browning the vegetables increases the flavor of the stock and lends a nice golden color. Adding wine enriches the flavor while deglazing the pan.

THIS IS TRUE HOT CHOCOLATE——as opposed to cocoa—made by melting chocolate into hot milk. It doesn’t take any longer than hot cocoa to prepare but is a richer and creamier concoction. Top each mug with a dollop of whipped cream, marshmallows, or ground cinnamon, or dunk your favorite cookie into it.

A far cry from anything in a bottle, this intensely flavored syrup tastes great over waffles, pancakes, and even ice cream. You can use one type of berry or a combination of berries.

FRUIT SALADS ARE BEST when based on what’s in season. While the fruit may change, I always use a delicious vanilla syrup that works wonders with any combination. Below is a list of what fruits you’ll find in season that pair well in this salad.

Using the oven to toast nuts is best. You get more uniformly toasted nuts than in a skillet on the stove, and there’s less chance of burning them (if you set a timer, that is). Let toasted nuts cool completely before using them in a recipe or storing in an airtight container.

The secret to a flaky crust is keeping the dough cold and rolling it between two sheets of plastic wrap. Do not roll the dough on a floured surface because that only incorporates more flour, pressing it into the butter and reducing the flakiness of the crust.

This short pie crust dough is lighter and crispier than the Flaky Pie Crust Dough (page 194).

Besides serving this with the apple crisps, we use it as a sauce for cheesecake (see page 201). This basic caramel sauce also tastes great over ice cream.

THE KEY TO THESE SWEET AND CHUNKY apricot bars is using the highest-quality apricot preserves possible. Look for the word preserves on the label rather than jam or jelly; preserves have more fruit chunks. (Artificial colors are sometimes added to apricot jams, jelly, and preserves, so check the list of ingredients on the label.) These are a great dessert for a picnic or a bake sale because they’re easy to transport and stay fresh for days.

THE MUCH-MALIGNED BRUSSELS SPROUT can be the hit of the dinner table with just a few added ingredients. A sprinkling of garlic bread crumbs on top gives a nice crunch.

THIS IS A TRIPLE-ORANGE VEGETABLE DISH: bright orange carrots, paprika, and orange juice come together to create a vibrant side dish.

LET’S FACE IT: STEAMED BROCCOLI IS BORING, but pan-roasting broccoli in a dab of butter produces a vegetable even a kid would eat. To spice it up, I often throw in a mashed garlic clove and 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes.

IF YOU’VE GOT THE GRILL ON, nothing is easier than grilling sweet onions and fennel. Tossed with a balsamic dressing, the rich, caramelized flavors make a great side dish for meat, including Grilled New York Steak with Balsamic-Mushroom Ragout (page 136).

WASHINGTON STATE CORN appears in markets in July and doesn’t stop until September. Fresh, sweet corn is truly the taste of summer and takes only a few minutes to prepare. Vegetables are so plentiful in the summertime we always end up with bins of beans and corn, and after weeks of eating corn on the cob I came up with this simple way to celebrate the summer bounty.

SO MANY FLAVORFUL CUTS OF PORK ARE AVAILABLE in grocery stores these days that it’s worth looking beyond pork tenderloin and pork chops. Pork blade steaks are long, thin, bone-in steaks cut from the pork shoulder; they’re an unusual cut, but available in most meat departments. Because the steaks can be tough, we created a marinade with a high acid content that breaks down the fibers in the pork, tenderizing the meat. Pork and chutney have a natural affinity, and we particularly like the sweet-hot flavor of Pasta & Co Roasted Tomato Chutney, but feel free to substitute your favorite brand.

While it’s great for chicken, this stuffing is also delicious on toast and as a sandwich spread.

THIS RECIPE IS AKIN TO A HOMEMADE ROTISSERIE CHICKEN without the hassle. Use the lime marinade below as a base recipe; feel free to add more fresh herbs, other citrus fruit, shallots, or ginger.