Simple Cooking

When I was a kid growing up in the Midwest, my friends and I would always pick up big packages of bratwurst to grill while watching sporting events. I wanted to re-create the sausage of my youth, and I think these bratwurst come pretty close. This is a simple, classic sausage; serve it on a crunchy roll with mustard and sauerkraut.

We call this one a picnic dinner since everything can be eaten with your hands. It's easy to pack up and take to the park if you want, but it also works great on the family table.

Packed with cherry tomatoes and tender broccolini, this one-pan dinner has a nice buttery sauce. Serve it with some crusty bread for mopping.

Serve all the toppings for this exceptionally fast flatbread dinner in separate bowls so each family member can build their dinner plate just like they like it.

A combination of pistachios and chickpeas adds filling protein and rich flavor in this update on the classic summer tart.

The sweet, fresh flavor of these orange cupcakes, studded with tart cranberries (fresh and frozen work equally well), makes for a vibrant holiday dessert as worthy of Thanksgiving as any pie.

An easy herbed butter infuses fish and vegetables with rich flavor in this family-friendly dinner.

You don't have to fire up the grill to enjoy a taste of barbecue. This pork chop dinner makes use of the broiler to get those smoky, charred flavors on the table anytime you want them.

A tangy cilantro-lime yogurt dipping sauce and a pretty carrot- and mango-ribbon slaw add a refreshing twist to this crowd-pleasing dinner.

Roasting the chicken and making the peanut sauce ahead of time gets dinner on the table even faster.

Embrace the start of autumn with cozy, Indian-inspired sweet potatoes loaded with curry-spiced chickpeas, mushrooms, and spinach.

A little meat-mallet action transforms this tough cut of beef into a quick-grilling all-star.

The best part? The Caesar-ish Dressing, which is egg- and-dairy-free, but still creamy and flavorful enough to make you think you’re eating a salad with a Caesar dressing.

This recipe harnesses the goodness of schmaltz while adding great flavor to the vegetables. Plus, it cooks quite quickly compared to roasting a whole chicken.

Baste grilled steaks with a sweet and spicy chile-ginger sauce, then pile into tortillas with kimchi, cilantro, and mayo for a fusion dinner everyone will love.

Free of refined sugar, these muffins are sweetened naturally with dates, and get a protein boost from both chia seeds and almond flour.

Turn pantry staples and an apple into a warm, autumnal dessert for one. This festive little dessert is an easy way to treat yourself—no special occasion necessary.

An alternative to working with lye is to dip pretzels in a simmering baked baking soda solution, which will give you a result that is close to the dark, burnished crust that lye imparts. If you prefer to avoid working with lye, or just don’t have time to source it, use this method.