MAKES 2 6-inch meatzas My perfect Friday night? Pizza and a movie on the couch. Some might argue it’s the cheese that makes a pizza, but I disagree. I think it’s the friendly wedge shape of the slices—and that they’re meant to be eaten with our hands. Then there’s the…
SERVES 3 to 4 Ridiculously fast and easy to make, these shrimp are packed with a one-two punch of garlic and ginger, followed by a touch of lime that tingles the tongue. The natural sweetness of the shrimp complements the citrus, and the touch of char from the grill…
SERVES 6 to 8 In sixth-grade English, our class read a story about a Native American tribe in the Southwest. I’ve forgotten all but one fascinating detail of that story: The family ate meat cooked with chocolate. Thanks to my dad’s rule that we must at least try…
SERVES 6 to 8 Morocco has long been on my list of must-visit countries. Twisting alleys, markets crowded with vendors, scampering trained monkeys… I need to see it all. The country sits in the northwestern corner of Africa, and the influence of Arab and Moorish…
SERVES 6 to 12 art The grill is not always kind to our lean, reliable friend, the skinless, boneless breast. But this recipe unlocks the secrets of juicy, flavorful meat with minimal work. Infused with zing from a relatively quick brining and coated in a fragrant…
SERVES 2 When we made Waldorf Salad in sixth grade, I declined to eat it. To my 8-year-old mind, the original Waldorf salad, created at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, sounded both gross (apples and mayo?!) and romantic (a glittery hotel in Manhattan!). But now, I…
SERVES 6 to 10 Stews are lovely because, while they simmer, I forget that I’m the one who made them. When it’s time to sit down and eat, I feel as if someone else cooked for me. What a treat! In this flavorful stew, the cinnamon and herbs create a mellow, earthy gravy…
SERVES 2 Sometimes you just want a pile of something spicy, creamy, and comfortable, like Pad Thai. But the original dish uses rice noodles (fail), soy sauce (fail), peanuts (fail), and sugar (fail) to create the delicate Thai balance of sour, sweet, and salty. This…
MAKES 2 to 4 I was never happy when I found a sandwich in my packed lunch. But I always loved salads, especially with a major dose of creamy Italian dressing. When I was in grade school, my mom would put my lunchtime salad in a Tupperware, then pour just the right…
SERVES 4 to 6 I’m a sucker for anything leopard print and any recipe that includes coconut, which sort of explains how this recipe came to be. Sri Lanka is home to the distinctively-spotted Sri Lankan leopard, as well as a traditional dish called “sambol,” a paste…
MAKES ½ cup I’ve yet to encounter a vegetable or grilled meat that wasn’t improved by a little drizzle of olive oil and herbs. These two sauces come from opposite sides of the planet but share one lovely characteristic: they make already good food even better. And…
MAKES 1/3 cup When I was a small-town kid, my parents would sometimes take my brother and me to a Chinese restaurant in the next town over. There were lush potted palms and a koi pond with a bridge in the middle of the restaurant. The big round table (“our table”) had…