Simple Cooking

Kids and grown-ups alike will love this upgrade on classic fish sticks. And with a cornmeal coating, they're naturally gluten-free. The creamy dipping sauce doubles as a dressing for the salad, so you don't have to mix up two different sauces to get dinner on the table.

If you don't feel like making aioli, use prepared mayonnaise and season it with mustard and garlic.

Caramelized strawberries and crunchy almonds dress up buttermilk pancakes with plenty of spring flair for Mother’s Day.

You'll find fresh rice noodles in well-stocked Asian markets (or search for them on amazon.com).

Equal parts fruit crumble and coffee cake, this not-too-sweet dessert starts out bright pink but bakes to a toasty golden brown.

"Compound butters are a terrific blank canvas," O'Connell says. "You can mix in all sorts of flavors—anchovies, capers, any herb or spice."

Both guanciale and Pecorino are quite salty; Leonardo Vignoli, the chef at Da Cesare al Casaletto, recommends undersalting the pasta water to give you more control.

Okay, fine, you've never heard of baobab—but that's about to change. (Remember when no one knew how to pronounce quinoa?) You'll find the powder from the tangy superfruit stocked at the health food store.

Rose water infuses this tender cake with an intoxicating aroma perfectly matched by sweet-tart spring rhubarb.

The dates act as both a sweetener and an emulsifier in this citrusy, mustardy vinaigrette.

Who says gremolata has to have parsley and lemon? No one who's tried this crunchy Thai influenced riff.

You don't need an ice-cream maker to serve cool, creamy scoops. All you need is a bowl to make semifreddo happen.

Boredom? Never. Try swapping in baby turnips for the radishes and kale or Swiss chard for the mustard greens in this effortless dish.

Whole, unpeeled, and roasted to surreal tenderness, shallots are shedding their "always the bridesmaid" status once and for all.

If you only have an 8 1/2x4 1/2" pan, there's no need to go out and get a new one. Simply hold back about 1 3/4 cups batter for later—it makes a mean waffle!

Quick-cooking squid is perfect for a weeknight dinner. Look for it at a reputable fish monger or in your grocer's freezer section.