Cooking

Cooking

Autumn's pear crop is always a showstopper. Initially, it's their voluptuous contours that captivate. The long, slender necks and arched stems of Bosc pears, the round, silhouette of Comice. The gentle curves of the bell-shaped Bartlett. In the marketplace most often, they are as hard as boulders. They feel more like baseballs than fruit. Not a whisper of sublime sweetness. Not a whiffet of sensuous aroma. They are picked mature but before ripened, then kept in controlled-atmosphere storage.

Every dinner party, even those with the most robust menus, requires a little something for people to snack on when they arrive. Thanksgiving, the Olympics of dinner parties, is no different. If you're like me and find it hard to convince yourself to squeeze anything more complicated than a cheese plate onto an already lengthy to-do list, then you'll appreciate this breezy galette. It's basically a cheese plate in pastry form.

we noticed we'd buy a bunch of groceries, only for them to sit in our fridge and spoil (but not because we didn't want to eat them - we just literally forgot they were there). You see, we're both neurodivergent and tend to struggle with object permanence. Essentially, if something is out of sight, it's out of mind. So we started printing out a physical menu and hanging it in our kitchen - as if we were dining at our very own private restaurant each week.

It's an ingredient that's both delicious and nutritious, packing in an array of essential vitamins and minerals, and it's thought to possess anti-inflammatory properties, too. Coconut milk also serves as an excellent dairy-free substitute for traditional milk or cream. And, as canned foods go, it has to be one of the most versatile, since it fits seamlessly into a wide variety of sweet and savory recipes.

Deeply browned mushrooms napped in a quick Parmesan cream sauce (a.k.a. béchamel) add extra savory depth. You don't need canned green beans either. Fresh green beans retain more flavor and a more satisfying al dente texture. We'll concede on one prepared food item, though: make DIY crispy shallots if you must, but there is a reason French's Crispy Fried Onions are so iconic-nothing beats them. Best of all, this elevated green bean casserole is easy enough to make on a busy Thanksgiving morning.

I've spent the last decade honing this recipe with my husband Alex: interviewing pizzeria chefs, traveling to Italy to taste authentic Neapolitan pizza, and making countless pizzas in our kitchen. This master dough recipe makes the perfect chewy texture, crispy golden brown crust, and complex flavor. You don't even need special equipment: just your bare hands and a passion for pizza!

The heat and radiation emitted from a microwave can cause wood to crack or warp, leaving the bowl permanently damaged. Even in low temperatures, wood can absorb the smells and flavors of the food being heated. Perhaps more problematic is that any varnish or adhesive used to coat the wood may release fumes and possibly melt into your food. It's not likely that a microwaved wooden bowl will catch fire, but you can't rule it out if you're cooking at high temperatures for extended periods.

While everyone has their preferences for chocolate treats - from fudgy brownies to molten lava cake - Food Network star and Iron Chef Alex Guarnaschelli's favorite is beyond decadent, and we're here for it. In an interview posted on X (via Food Network), Guarnaschelli revealed that devil's food cake is her favorite chocolate dessert - one that she likes to enjoy "with chocolate frosting that tastes chocolatey beyond ... and a big mound of unsweetened whipped cream."

Ooh, that's a tricky one because sugar does a lot. It helps with structure. It helps with moisture. It helps with tenderness. People add applesauce or any kind of fruit puree or something. You could throw that in there. It's going to affect the texture though. It's not going to be as good. Yeah, you can develop too much gluten and that's going to make for a tough cake.

Dollar Tree strikes again; its budget-friendly pricing has a knack for enticing cooks to question their go-to tools. When it comes to mixing bowls, though, there could be a fresh debate on the horizon. Metal kitchenware is a classic choice for domestic and professional kitchens alike. Yet Dollar Tree has released Plastic Mixing Bowls with Handles, and their convenience might just leave you reconsidering your loyalties.

Enjoyed by millions of us on the daily, toasted bread makes the perfect base for a satisfying breakfast or lunch, providing a versatile canvas for customizing with whichever toppings take your fancy. Reaching for your favorite spread is of course a great way to jazz up your slices (peanut butter, Nutella, and jam all deserve a mention), but a variety of canned foods can also help you turn toast into an even heartier meal, while maintaining the same convenient approach.

Cast-iron pans might be your most prized culinary possessions. They're sturdy, long-lasting, and are often passed down for generations. But to keep them in pristine condition, you'll need to take care of them properly. So, what happens when you have a bit of rust on the bottom? Enter the affordable household item you likely have hidden in your cabinets: aluminum foil.

"What are you doing for Thanksgiving?" I have been asking myself this question since late summer as I sort through my work calendar, restaurant openings, and vacation schedules. My family asks too, and my friends remind me of their standing invites. I'm still not quite sure as I write this letter. I have been traveling the last few Thanksgivings-usually for work-and have had to send kind wishes through group chats and swoon over turkey and dressing and dishes of macaroni and cheese on FaceTime.

It's the same meal all week, and it looks a bit drab most of the time. Well, meal prep doesn't have to be boring, monotonous, or flavorless. Meal preparation is simply the act of compiling various foods to create multiple meals; it doesn't automatically equate to counting your macros or considering fitness, which is what we often see. Meal prep can help you reduce decision fatigue, as well as save some precious dollars and time.

This recipe riffs on the same flavors I loved as a kid, except now I'm in my 30s and can crack into the finished dip well before guests arrive because now I am the boss. Oil-packed, sun-dried tomatoes provide such a distinctive sweet and earthy flavor, which goes very well with spicy Calabrian chile pasta and salty, creamy feta. Did I mention the whole thing takes just 5 minutes?

Fluffy, delicious, and making plenty of room to add your choice of wholesome toppings, baked potatoes are an excellent side dish that can be prepared a number of different ways. Between the oven, microwave, air fryer, and more, there are many ways to bake a potato - and even more ways to spruce them up with your favorite ingredients. Chili is a winter staple that's sure to provide even more delicious and nutritious value to bulk up your baked potatoes in the cooler months.

In 1999, Bourdain wrote an essay in The New Yorker titled "Don't Eat Before Reading This," which gave readers a whole list of things to avoid ordering at a restaurant - including seafood on a Monday, weekend brunch, bargain sushi, and the complementary bread baskets. A year later, he published his first book, "Kitchen Confidential," which expanded on the same theme, giving readers an uncensored view of New York's restaurant kitchens.

In an interview with Tasting Table, Guarnaschelli shares that she takes cooked quinoa and browns it in a pan with some butter or olive oil. Once you have that toasted goodness, you can fold it into your pancake batter for a hearty bite or sprinkle it on top of your stack for a delightfully nutty crunch. "It adds protein. It's healthy, it's a grain, it's fiber," she says. "You should be able to eat at least three more pancakes."

When autumn rolls in, seasonal-centric foodies start looking for ways to put their annual jar of farmstand apple butter to good use (and a slice of toast only gets you so far). Luckily, apple butter happens to go well with ham - especially hot ham sandwiches with cheese. This elevated, meaty take on a classic grilled cheese pairs tender pork with robust, sweet-spiced apple butter for a sandwich that's well-balanced, playful, and unexpected.

That base is jammed full of chopped pecans, but the real secret ingredient is a dollop of sour cream. The tart dairy works twofold: first, helping to prevent crystallization, and second, keeping the pie from becoming overly sweet. A bigger dollop of sour cream goes into the whipped topping, giving it noticeable tang. This is another point of flavor balance, but it also stabilizes it, so that it doesn't weep or dissolve on your Thanksgiving buffet.

Pressing toasted pecans on top of the cake batter before baking ensures they stay crunchy for a satisfying texture and gives the cake a built-in wow factor. You'll finish by brushing a generous slosh of bourbon caramel over the still-warm cake, letting it drip down the sides and soak into the crumb, ensuring every bite is rich with flavor and wonderfully moist.

If it isn't broken, don't fix it-unless you have the opportunity to transform classic candied sweet potatoes into vibrant candied purple sweet potatos. These beauties live up to everything we love about a set-it-and-forget-it situation. The syrup that glazes them comes together in a single bowl with a splash of floral bourbon and a medley of warm spices (no stovetop cooking needed).

Pancakes are the ultimate breakfast (or lunch ... or dinner) of champions. They're so simple to prepare that even an amateur home cook can perfect them, and they are still tasty enough to satisfy the snobbiest of palates. But if you have ever wanted your homemade pancakes to taste like they came from a cozy, corner-side café rather than your own kitchen, there is one small step that makes a massive difference: roasting fruit before incorporating it.

Diwali is often called the festival of lights, a celebration of good over evil. It's the most widely marked festival in India and feels a bit like Christmas does in the west. It's synonymous with fireworks, bright colours, endless parties and tables creaking under the sheer weight of food and desserts. No Diwali is complete without boxes of sweets (mithai) and dried fruit exchanged between friends

The Gala Pie, according to the description Chris sent is a " rectangular pork pie made with a rich hot water crust pastry. And that's not all, you must have the classic line of eggs going through the middle." A thing about me is that I am in a phase of not eating eggs. I have been in this phase for almost five years. Don't worry about it! It could end at any time!

If I'm going to the effort of making jacket potatoes (and by effort I mean putting them in the oven for an hour), I will almost always pop in a few extra spuds to make gnocchi for a later meal. The difference between shop-bought and homemade gnocchi is vast, especially the vac-packed, long-life kind, which are dense and can be heavy. Freshly made gnocchi, with fluffy baked potatoes, however, are light as air, pillowy and silky. If that sounds intimidating, let me reassure you that this recipe is really forgiving, and much easier than making fresh sheet pasta. I love them served simply, as here, with a slightly nutty sage butter and lots of parmesan. The simple sauce lets those gnocchi sing.

Flavor, moistness, and texture make the difference between a good muffin and a great muffin. These gorgeous offerings from New York's By the Way Bakery have all three, as well as gluten-free, dairy-free status, which makes them perfect for school parties, work functions, and anytime indulgence for all. Makes 12 3 tablespoons tapioca flour 1/3 cup white rice flour 3 tablespoons brown rice flour ¼ cup sorghum flour ¼ cup potato starch 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 3/8 teaspoon xanthan gum 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon cardamom 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

If you've never eaten a tiny, personal coffee cake, it can be a wonderful surprise - especially when the tasty treat tucks inside your favorite coffee mug. It's the perfect portable breakfast, afternoon snack, or dessert, and it's all yours. Rather than making an entire cake, you whip up just the right amount for the moment, using minimal ingredients and taking only three to five minutes in a microwave, depending on the type of cake.

For the pie/filling: - Your favorite pie crust recipe (or store-bought pie crust) - 4 cups Concord, Thomcord, Kyoho, or other seeded grape variety (you can use seedless grapes if necessary, with one small adjustment to the recipe outlined below) - 1 cup sugar - ⅓ cup all-purpose flour - ¼ teaspoon salt - 1 tablespoon lemon juice - 2 tablespoons melted butter

There are many discontinued foods at Starbucks that are sorely missed, with customers lamenting the loss of treats like the Morning Bun, Chocolate Hazelnut Croissant, Almond Croissant, and S'mores Frappuccino. Unfortunately, many of them are seasonal Starbucks items that we will never see again - and the Holiday Turkey & Stuffing Panini is one treat that has customers begging the chain to bring it back.