Simple Cooking

This recipe embraces the incredible natural sweetness of sweet potatoes but gives it a spicy edge.

Sub in whatever you have on hand in Dana Cowin's mix-and-match chili recipe

I used to shy away from making pot roasts for my family because choosing the right cut of beef among all the various cuts seemed overwhelming. Take it from me, picking up a relatively inexpensive chuck roast (like the one I use here) provides a moist, juicy, and tender roast every time.

Sweet and a bit salty, with a hint of spice: this is completely divine on hot buttered toast at any time of the day.

While this easy curry is super satisfying served over rice or with naan, we wrapped it in some leftover crepes for a convincing dosa-like experience.

Pickled eggs, vibrantly colored and flavored with assorted vegetables and spices, are an upgrade to standard hard-boiled Easter eggs and make for a delicious holiday appetizer.

The simple joy of vibrant beans cooked in fragrant broth with a splash of cream.

Smoked pork hocks don’t just add meatiness and body; they release smoky, salty notes as they cook, seasoning the beans in the process.

Why drink O.J. with your yogurt when you can mix it in?

If you can’t find yuzu kosho, combine 1 1/2 tsp. lemon juice, 1/2 tsp. orange juice, and a pinch each of finely chopped serrano and kosher salt.

Everyone loves lemon bars, and now even your gluten-free friends can enjoy them too.

These flavor-packed meatballs are delicious whether poached, grilled, or baked.

If you crave the sweet maple candies sold at tourist shops, you need not wait until your next vacation to enjoy them. Maple syrup producers’ associations are eager to share these treats, and how to make them at home, to spread the gospel of pure maple syrup. This recipe is from the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers Association/Vermont Maple Promotion Board; the Massachusetts Maple Producers Association has produced a helpful video about making maple cream and maple candy. If you haven’t tried these maple candies, be forewarned: They’re like no other treat you’ve ever experienced.

Everyone's favorite bake sale treat goes gluten-free—with ingredients you already have in your pantry.

This fast one-pot dinner is rich enough to comfort, but light enough that it won’t weigh you down.

This is such a sweet little dessert. As you know, I’m not one for sweet treats but this is a little pop of yumminess—perfect for dinner parties, and it won’t leave your guests rolling around on the floor with indigestion.

This dish is one of my favorites for the grill. If a fish comes whole from the store, leave the head and tail on when you cook it, to help retain moisture. The fish is done when the inside of the stomach is dry.

This is probably the most famous lentil dish coming out of India—yellow lentils tempered with spices and the usual holy trinity of garlic, ginger and chile. It has always been a favorite of mine and it would grace our family dinner table at least once a week when I was growing up. There are lots of different recipes for flavoring the oil (tadka), so play around with your spice pantry and see what you come up with. If you don’t have half of these spices, then don’t worry; just add a tablespoon of your favorite spice paste and it will taste just as delicious.

This hearty burrito comes together in just 22 minutes, but it's still full of flavor.

We went on a quest for the ultimate chocolate chip cookie: here it is.