These Japanese Milk Bread Rolls are made with a classic enriched white bread recipe. They’re soft and slightly sweet and perfect for serving with soups and stews, at Thanksgiving dinner, or as a sandwich bread. Read on for all the tips and tricks for making Japanese milk bread. Or grab your bread flour, hit that…
The Oaxaca Old Fashioned is a variation on a classic Old Fashioned with a split base of tequila and mezcal. It’s rumored that the cocktail was created as a way to introduce the smoky flavors of mezcal to the American palate. Read on to learn all the tips and tricks for making this Old Fashioned…
This Green Tea Saketini is a Green Tea Cocktail inspired by a vodka martini with tea-infused sake in place of dry vermouth. It’s a sophisticated, tea-flavored cocktail completely unlike the Green Tea Shot made with whiskey and peach schnapps. So read on for tips and tricks for making a tea cocktail. Or just grab your…
Did you ever think, “I wonder if I can turn Nutella into a Nutella sauce or a Nutella cake filling or a Nutella truffle?” Well, you can, and it’s easy, with a chocolate hazelnut ganache made from Nutella and cream. So read on for all the variations and tips and tricks how to make ganache…
Want to learn how to blanch hazelnuts to peel them in the absolutely easiest way possible? Hazelnuts are an amazing nut, whether in your Thanksgiving stuffing or a homemade chocolate hazelnut spread. But removing hazelnut skins is a horrible kitchen task. So read on to learn all the tips and tricks for this amazing kitchen…
These Nutella Thumbprint Cookies are made with a shiny Nutella ganache dolloped into a chocolate almond cookie base. They’re the thumbprint cookie for you if you love the nutty chocolate taste of Nutella. Read on to learn all the detailed tips and tricks for making this recipe. Or just grab your jar of Nutella, hit…
Do you love meatloaf and want to learn about how to make meatloaf and the Best Meatloaf Pans? Maybe you’ve got grandma’s recipe but don’t yet have the best pan for meatloaf. Crafting the perfect meatloaf involves not only the best meatloaf recipe with the right meat and spice combinations and the perfect homemade BBQ…
The challenge of a list entitled Essential Bar Tools for Cocktails at Home is that everyone is different. While my favorite cocktail is a dry martini, you might hate gin and want only to make creamy espresso martinis. The goal of this list of bartending equipment is to cover you, whether you’re just starting out,…
“Ooooh, they’re butterscotch. You have to try these!” she exclaimed, grabbing a second and third cookie to give to friends. The cookies this tester loved were my Double Butterscotch Chocolate Chip Cookies. With all brown sugar and butterscotch chips, they’re perfectly sweet and chewy and just slightly crisp around the edges. Read on to learn…
This Black Pepper Focaccia is adapted from a Focaccia Pugliese recipe made with potato and flavored strongly with ground black pepper. It’s the perfect snack with your favorite cheese, dipped into an Italian-inspired canned tuna dip, or sliced in half and used as sandwich bread. Read on to learn all the tips and tricks I…
This Red Kidney Bean Hummus is a red kidney bean dip made in classic hummus style with tahini, garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil. It’s perfect as a dip or with Middle Eastern meals, and it’s even easier to make than classic hummus because there’s no peeling chickpeas. Read on to learn all the detailed…
This Non-Alcoholic Espresso Martini Mocktail is made with espresso, simple syrup, heavy cream, and chocolate bitters. It’s a sophisticated coffee mocktail you can make during dry January, your pregnancy, or really anytime. Read on for all the tips and tricks for making this espresso mocktail recipe. Or just grab your cocktail shaker, hit that Jump…
These Glazed Honey Buns are the love child of a glazed cinnamon roll and a yeasted donut. But there’s more. If you split them in half and grill them in butter, you’ll have the most amazing, indulgent treat. Read on for all the detailed tips and tricks for making your favorite grilled glazed honey buns….
This Cherry Vinaigrette is a standard olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette made with the addition of reduced fresh or frozen cherries, honey, garlic, and a bit of Dijon mustard. It’s the perfect salad dressing for my arugula spinach salad with goat cheese and strawberries or my rainbow salad bowl. Read on for all the detailed…
The Tequila Gimlet is made with tequila, fresh lime juice, and agave in a cocktail ratio that is classic for the sour family of cocktails. It’s a balanced sipper that’s perfect alongside chips and guacamole or your favorite spicy meal. Read on to learn all about why this tequila recipe is a gimlet and not…
This quick Canned Tuna Dip is inspired by a classic Italian tonnato sauce recipe, traditionally made with canned tuna, lemon, capers, and olive oil plus the anchovies and mayonnaise omitted here. But this lighter version tuna spread takes just 5 minutes and is just as delicious whether you serve it at a Superbowl party or…
These Oreo Cheesecake Brownies are made with four layers of Oreo cookie crust, dark cocoa brownie batter, a creamy cheesecake layer, and crushed Oreo cookies. They’re the black tie, red-carpet-ready version of Oreos, if Oreo cookies had dreams of Hollywood glamor. Read on to learn all about baking with your favorite cookie and the tips…
This Biscoff Speculoos Tiramisu is a tiramisu variation with Lotus Biscoff cookies or other speculoos cookies, Biscoff cookie butter, mascarpone, and a spiked coffee syrup. It’s an impressive Biscoff dessert but easy to make with no baking or special equipment required, making it perfect for company or a holiday get-together. Read on to learn everything…
Elevate your Lemon Bars with Graham Cracker Crust instead of the traditional shortbread. Just mix graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and butter to make a bottom crust, top the graham cracker cookie crust with lemon curd, and bake until firm. Read on for all the detailed tips and tricks for making the lemon curd and the…
This Turkey Pot Pie with Puff Pastry recipe is a fabulous use of leftover Thanksgiving turkey, but you can also use it with leftover rotisserie chicken, pan-roasted chicken breasts, or Dutch oven pulled chicken. It’s easy to make if you buy puff pastry or have leftover rough puff pastry in the freezer. Read on to…
This Jalapeño Cranberry Sauce is a spicy variation on your classic cranberry sauce. With just four ingredients and 15 minutes of time, you can light up Thanksgiving dinner with this easy cranberry sauce. Read on to learn all about tips and tricks for this recipe. Or just grab your bag of cranberries, hit that Jump…
This Rocket and Pear Salad is made with rocket (aka arugula), crisp pears, crunchy toasted walnuts, and shaved Parmesan. It’s a simple salad you can put together in about 15 minutes. Read on to learn all the best pears for salads and tips and tricks for this arugula salad recipe. Or just grab your pear…
This Rough Puff Pastry recipe, sometimes called quick puff pastry or ruff puff pastry, should be your go-to any time you want buttery, flaky puff pastry without all the fuss. Make this easy laminated dough recipe for an easy fruit or vegetable tart or to top a turkey pot pie. Read on for all the…
This Feta Kale Salad with Cranberries and Pecans is an easy cool-weather salad that you can make in under 30 minutes and vary over and over. Serve your chopped kale salad with cranberries as a side salad for your Thanksgiving turkey or any roast meat, or add hard-boiled eggs or a can of beans, and…
This recipe makes a delicious and easy Cranberry Sauce from Dried Cranberries when you are craving cranberry sauce but can’t find fresh cranberries anywhere. Made in just 30 minutes, it’s the perfect accompaniment to turkey dinner or cast iron pan-roasted chicken breasts. Read on to learn all about cranberries and the key recipe tips and…
These Maple Balsamic Brussels Sprouts are an easy side dish you can make in 30 minutes. Serve them tonight with perfectly cooked pan-roasted chicken breasts and some homemade cranberry sauce, or make them part of your favorite grain bowls. Read on to learn all about Brussels sprouts, maple syrup, and balsamic vinegar. Or just grab…
What is Prosecco? Prosecco is, quite simply, the sparkling wine of Italy. Made in a specific region of northeastern Italy with a specific grape, there is nothing else quite like it. Read on to learn all about Prosecco, Italian wine regions, and Prosecco classifications. Or just jump on down to find my favorite Prosecco cocktails.
This Water Lily Cocktail variation is a beautiful drink with a floral sweetness more subtle than other crème de violette cocktails. While it has the same gin, orange liqueur, crème de violette, and lemon juice, the proportions of this Water Lily are more consistent with the sour cocktail family to give better balance. It’s the…
Apples are the quintessential fall fruit. Check out some of my sweet and savory apple recipes for breakfast, dinner, and everything in between. Here’s a brief overview of some key things to know about apples, the best apple varietals for different uses, and some helpful tools for all your apple-centric cooking and baking.
These Salted Caramel Espresso Brownies are made with a gooey caramel layer on top of a fudgy chocolate espresso brownie. They’re easy to put together in under an hour and will reward you with the best gooey brownies ever. Read on to learn how a failed attempt at Smitten Kitchen’s salted caramel brownies became a…
The Aperol Soda is a simple highball cocktail made with Aperol and soda water. It’s essentially an Aperol spritz without prosecco and the perfect low-calorie thirst-quencher for hot, hot days. Read more to learn all about Aperol and other Aperol cocktails, tips and tricks for making an Aperol and soda, and some suggestions for how…
This Purple Cabbage Slaw recipe makes a purple cabbage and carrot salad that will be your go-to mayo-free coleslaw for all your hot weather barbecues. It’s in its happy place piled high atop a pulled chicken or pulled pork sandwich or served alongside all the burgers and hot dogs you can eat. But if you’re…
These Apple Pie Baked Beans take baked beans to a whole new level. Yes, you read that right – this apple pie baked bean recipe is what happens when two classic American comfort foods get together and make a delicious baby. So say goodbye to blah canned baked beans, and say hello to the new…
Introducing Indoor S’mores, the classic combination of toasted marshmallows, melted chocolate, and graham crackers that you can enjoy in under 5 minutes in the cozy confines of your own home. Whether you microwave s’mores, use your kitchen blow torch for a single serving dessert, or just bake chocolate and marshmallow cookie bars, these ideas for…
The Passion Spritz is a slightly sweet, super refreshing, fizzy drink that’s reminiscent of a tangy Bellini. The passion fruit spritz is made using the classic spritz ratio of 3 ounces of Prosecco, 2 ounces of passion fruit liqueur, and 1 ounce of seltzer or club soda. Garnish your passion fruit spritz with mint leaves…
Mastering the art and science of making meatballs and meatloaf is a trick every busy cook should have up their sleeve. That’s because meatballs and meatloaf are fuss-free and guaranteed to satisfy everyone’s taste buds. Plus they work wonders for finicky eaters who cringe at the sight of traditional cuts of meat. So prepare to…
Add this Ooni Pizza Sauce Recipe atop my Ooni pizza dough recipe and you have an easy, flavorful tomato base for your favorite pizza recipes. This cooked pizza sauce is a saucy rebellion against pizza purists who insist that pizza sauce must be made with raw tomatoes. Now I respect pizza traditionalists and their international…
These Rainbow Sugar Cookies bring you a kaleidoscope of color in rainbow-shaped cookies that are soft and chewy with a touch of crispness at the edges. Whether you’re planning a school bake sale or gearing up for summer Pride celebrations, this rainbow sugar cookie recipe is your perfect ally. With just a bit of time,…
This Raw Carrot Salad with Honey Lime Vinaigrette will transform the humble carrot into your favorite side dish. Made from paper-thin but still crunchy slices of carrots coated in a light dressing, this side salad works with grilled favorites or with a light lunch. Even better, you can explore a world of taste possibilities by…
This delicious blackberry simple syrup recipe will elevate any homemade cocktail. With a few ingredients and a tiny bit of time, you can create a sweet and tangy syrup that adds a flavor burst to any drink. Whether you’re a seasoned mixologist or a cocktail newbie, this recipe is easy to follow and guarantees a…
