From James's kitchen
Tested, annotated, and worth returning to. Browse dependable recipes for everyday cooking, relaxed weekends, and occasions worth sharing.
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49After a long winter, where even Southern California has had its share of cold temperatures, it’s nice to transition to brighter, fresher, springtime recipes. Pavlova is a perfect example - light, airy, elegant – it’s a whimsical dessert that combines crisp…
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50A modern twist on a comfort food classic. The incredibly delicious pureed cauliflower mash is rich, creamy, pairs perfectly with the flavorful sauce and ground turkey. Another winning recipe from America’s Test Kitchen’s Super Foods magazine
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51Pancakes are traditionally an indulgent weekend option, but often are made with simple carbs that leave you feeling hungry in no time. I’ve tried a few multi-grain “healthy” recipes, but the pancakes were typically heavy and dense. I found this recipe in an…
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52As with most recipes from Cook’s Illustrated, these are fool proof pancakes that are super easy to prepare. I sometimes cut the recipe in half for just two people, or you can refrigerate leftover better in a sealed container, and make a few more the next da…
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53Delicious muffin recipe from Cook’s Country magazine that is perfect to make around the holidays. Ground ginger and crystallized ginger pack these moist and tender muffins with great flavor. I substituted Saco Buttermilk powder and water for the buttermilk…
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54The natural sweet flavor of butternut squash combines perfectly with the rich creamy risotto. This recipe from Cook’s Illustrated uses the squash's seeds and fibers to help deepen the earthy squash flavor. Makes a great fall dish, and the balsamic drizzle i…
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55This recipe for "New York-Style Crumb Cake" from Cook's Illustrated reminded me of my years in NYC where you could find big squares of thick crumb coffee cake in nearly every corner deli. It's also reminiscent of Drake's Coffee Cakes - a primarily east coas…
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56This is a great alternative to the traditional pineapple version, and a perfect recipe to try during peak peach season. I found this recipe in Cook’s Country magazine (Aug/Sep 2016) and they developed the cake recipe using a little toasted cornmeal which ad…
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57This is a great option when you need a dessert for a large group. Using store bought pie crust is a nice shortcut, and though I usually prefer homemade, this Cook’s Country version “doctors up” the dough with crushed animal crackers and melted butter, which…
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58Even if you don’t follow a gluten-free diet, this recipe is worth trying and is guaranteed to satisfy. Tender and moist, the muffins have a slightly tropical flavor thanks to coconut sugar and flour.
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59There are hundreds of recipes for chocolate chip cookies – thin, thick, crisp, chewy, with nuts and without – but this happens to be one of my favorites. Years ago my friend Scott took me to Kathleen’s Bake Shop in Southampton, now known as Tate’s , where I…
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60“Impossible Pie” was a recipe most often found on the back of Bisquick boxes. I don’t think I ever made one, but the idea intrigued me. I stumbled on a recipe in Cooks Country Magazine (February/March 2013 issue) which, as usual, they had improved greatly.…
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61This recipe from Cook's Illustrated Complete Vegetarian Cookbook is fast to throw together and makes a great summer menu side dish.
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62These are wonderful little cookies to serve with tea, or as an after dinner treat with a nice wine. I found the recipe in America’s Test Kitchen’s new Complete Cooking for Two Cookbook and thought they sounded easy and original. Use high quality olive oil h…
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63I love roasted vegetables, especially broccoli and cauliflower. The cauliflower caramelizes beautifully in this recipe and gets tremendous flavor from the ginger and curry.
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64For the best banana flavor, make sure to use very dark, very ripe bananas. This bread is super moist and is great toasted and spread with a little cream cheese or almond butter.
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65This is an incredibly easy pasta dish from America’s Test Kitchen that features the classic combination of spinach and ricotta, without the extra work of stuffing shells or ravioli. It makes a great lunch for 4 people, and while the ingredients are simple,…
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66Perfectly roasted chicken and creamy mashed potatoes may just be the epitome of comforting, home-cooked food. Spatchcock, or butterflied whole chicken is a popular method that splits, then flattens the chicken—yielding a roasted chicken in much less time. I…
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67If you're a fan of fudgy, dark chocolate brownies, then you’ll love these cookies. Extremely moist and incredibly rich, these cookies pack a wallop of flavor. The powdered sugar gives them a festive holiday look but they are great any time of the year.
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68Thanksgiving is nearly upon us, so it’s time to start mastering one of this holiday’s classic desserts. There are tons of pumpkin pie recipes, and in November all of the food shows and magazines are filled with both classic and innovative recipes. I’ve trie…
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69America’s Test Kitchen recently published a new cookbook called Naturally Sweet ( available here ) which features classic desserts and baked goods using recipes that rely only on natural, less-processed sweeteners like Sucanat (unrefined cane sugar), coconu…
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70Trifles are such an easy dessert to throw together and great to serve during the summer when berries are at their peak. This version has a few extra steps, but makes a festive presentation for the 4 th of July.
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71This is a bright colorful spring/summer salad that packs flavor and nutrition in every bite. Thanks to fresh veggies, citrus and quinoa, it’s loaded with vitamin C, vitamin A, fiber, folate, iron and lutein. Quinoa, with its high protein content, nutty flav…
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72This colorful tart has all the flavors of summer – ripe red tomatoes, bright green zucchini, and lots of aromatic basil atop a three cheese filling. And you don’t need the skills of Julia Child to make this recipe – a foolproof “press-in” tart crust from Co…
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