SERVES 4 to 8 Jane Eyre is my favorite book, and I’m a sucker for any fog-shrouded British mystery. I can’t get enough of the accents, the Queen’s English, the tweed and wellies, the moody weather, and the fervent belief that a steaming cup of tea is a cure-all….
SERVES 1 to 2 Confession: My favorite kind of sushi is the California roll. I know it doesn’t have the elegance of sashimi, but here’s the thing: it’s got the flavor and texture mélange (mélange!) of cool, sweet seafood with creamy avocado, salty coconut aminos, and…
SERVES 2 Machacado and eggs is a Mexican dish made from shredded, dried beef (called carne seca), eggs, diced onion, and tomato, with a touch of jalapeño. This style of dried beef originated near Monterrey, Mexico. As the legend goes, a woman named Tia Lencha was the…
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…