Simple Cooking

Baked Brie and Camembert, rescued from the ordinary, are even better with an herby garlicky mess slathered over them before hitting the oven.

A thick stack of these flourless pancakes is a dream breakfast, especially when piled high with caramelized bananas, some extra maple syrup and a big dollop of crunchy almond butter.

Burning sage, a common practice for ritual cleansing, is also a simple way to coax out the herb's essential oil, which gives this gin and pear juice cocktail a pleasantly smoky, herbaceous finish.

On family travels, hikes, or days when you’re on the go, recipes like this always make for happy and satiated people, especially kids. This delicious snack is one of the best garnishes for any kind of salad or roasted vegetables.

Pumpkin mousse, whipped cream, and pretty pomegranate syrup give this elegant spin on pumpkin pie a jewel-like presentation that's both stunning and delicious.

Get your greens and your comfort food all at once with this decadent, crispy-crusted casserole.

Bourbon-honey syrup and fragrant orange zest add rich flavor to this alternative to the usual Thanksgiving dessert.

Coarse-flake sea salt meets sweet, buttery, crowd-pleasing cookies.

Use this sauce as a dip for hush puppies, toss with cabbage for a quick slaw, or use it as a sandwich spread.

Millet flour and rice flour are bolstered by tapioca starch, cornstarch, potato starch, and guar gum in this gluten-free all-purpose flour substitute.

This simple dressing is wonderful as is, especially on a simple green salad, but it also makes a fantastic starting point for more elaborate dressings.

Use this basic recipe to make Pappardelle with Slow-Cooked Brisket.

With the curry paste prepped ahead, this flavorful Thai-inspired curry comes together in just about 20 minutes.

It's not Oktoberfest without a soft pretzel—and once you've made a traditional German-style one from scratch, you'll never settle for those beer hall imposters again.

This spring-themed dish works perfectly as an entrée or as a side dish.

I developed this low-maintenance recipe in my restaurant days, when I needed a big batch of whipped cream to last through the night in a steamy kitchen. The trick is a bit of extra sugar, which helps the cream whip into a stable foam that can be held for up to eight hours.

Homemade sweetened condensed milk traditionally requires ultra-low heat and up to 6 hours of constant stirring, but with a splash of heavy cream added to prevent scorching, I can crank up the heat and be done in 45 minutes. The result is thicker, creamier, and more luscious than anything from a can, with a rich dairy flavor and subtle notes of caramel. If you like chai tea, be sure to try the cinnamon-spiced variation.

If you can fold a napkin, you can make an old-fashioned pie crust—no food processor, no pastry knife, no vodka. Most important: no cracking or tearing. The dough is supple, smooth, and strong, so it’s easy to handle and shape. It also freezes incredibly well, which is why I always make two. Besides, who doesn’t want more pie? Especially one with a crust this tender, flaky, and crisp.

This particular kadi sauce is based on the Gujarati (Western India) version of a yogurt-based sauce thickened with gram flour (besan). In that region the sauce is sweet and sour.

Use this Indian-spiced tomato sauce in Gujarti Eggplant and Sweet Potato “Lasagna.”