Make fresh sesame noodles with chicken
Much like a Chinese finger trap that lures by appearing to be a toy, sesame noodles are not what they seem. You may think of them as merely a humble bowl of cold noodles, but don’t be fooled — just one bite of this recipe and you’ll be hooked on these toothsome noodles with shreds of tender chicken, all tossed with a fresh sesame sauce. The real problem is, good versions of this... READ MORE
Biscuits with the flavor of sweet potatoes
It was only a matter of time before sweet potato-loving Southern cooks combined the fluffy texture and pleasant tang of biscuits with the earthy sweetness of this popular tuber. To add the flavor of sweet potatoes to biscuits without weighing down the dough, we microwaved them to eliminate their moisture while concentrating their flavor. After mashing the flesh, we stirred in cider... READ MORE
Make overnight oatmeal with grandkids
If you think oatmeal only comes in a packet, think again. They know about oatmeal in Ireland and Scotland, where whole-grain, steel-cut oats are popular. Yes, these slightly chewy oats take longer to cook than old-fashioned rolled oats (and way longer than instant oats in a packet), but the results are so much better. To shorten the usual half-hour cooking time, start the process at... READ MORE
Bright, crunchy Chinese chicken salad
With its juicy oranges, tender chicken and a crunchy topping, Chinese chicken salad offers an enticing variety of tastes and textures. But many versions seem to have lost their way, weighted down with gloppy sauces, lackluster chicken, sugary canned orange segments and watery greens. We saw the potential to recast this salad in a healthier role by incorporating wholesome ingredients.... READ MORE
Use Indian flatbread for quick pizza crust
Use Indian flatbread for quick pizza crust Naan is an Indian flatbread with a chewy texture and a puffed, slightly charred crust. Brushing a baking sheet with olive oil and then baking the naan on the lowest rack in a 400 F oven gives it a crispy texture — just like pizza crust. This recipe can be doubled. Pizza in a flash Servings: 1-2 Start to finish: 40 minutes (Active... READ MORE
Monkey bread is fun to make with kids
Monkey bread is a knotty-looking loaf of sweet bread made from balls of dough coated with cinnamon, sugar and melted butter. It’s traditionally served warm so that the sticky baked pieces can be pulled apart. The name “monkey’’ refers to how you eat this sweet treat — with your hands. Your grandchildren may also have as much fun making the bread as eating it. Monkey... READ MORE
Roasted salmon with a honey-lime glaze
Pairing perfectly roasted salmon with a spiced-up honey-lime glaze required a cooking technique all its own. Slashing the skin encouraged it to render and crisp quickly, but we also needed to give the flesh a strong, flavorful crust that would stand up to (as well as hold on to) a thick coating of glaze. Applying a rub of cornstarch and brown sugar to the flesh and searing it in a hot ... READ MORE
Two warm, filling soups good for cold days
Soup season is back. These two soups, lentil and minestrone, are satisfying — and vegetarian. Small red lentils are one of our favorite legumes. They do not hold their shape when cooked, but break down into a creamy, thick puree, perfect for a hearty, satisfying soup. Lentils are popular in quick-cooking soups because of their short cooking time and the fact that they don’t... READ MORE
Easy, make-ahead bean and corn salad
This is one of those salads that just saves the day over and over again. Here are the reasons I love this salad: It’s fast, it’s really easy, it’s inexpensive, it’s crowd-pleasing, it’s vegetarian, it’s substantial, it’s colorful, it’s protein-filled, it’s a meal in itself, it looks great on a buffet, it’s super portable, it’s season-less, it’s make-ahead, it’s... READ MORE
Fresh corn shines in salmon corn chowder
Certain foods just need to be made and eaten at least once a summer. Corn chowder (or chowdah, as my in-laws would say) is one. And if you are in a place where the ears of fresh sweet corn are piled high at the market (often for pennies an ear), then you must make it more than once. There are lots of ways to go — simple, seafood, creamy, chunky. This recipe is loaded with nuggets of ... READ MORE
