From James's kitchen
Tested, annotated, and worth returning to. Browse dependable recipes for everyday cooking, relaxed weekends, and occasions worth sharing.
453 recipes
73This 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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74Even 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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75There 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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76“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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77This 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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78These 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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79I 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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80For 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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81This 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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82This is a quick and easy version of Mexico’s signature sauce - Mole. Traditional mole often has 20 ingredients or more and it can take all day to prepare. This simplified recipe uses some of the classic ingredients - cocoa, chili powder and ground nut butte…
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83Perfectly 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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84If 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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85Thanksgiving 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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86America’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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87In California, it’s quite common to find a little “south-of-the-border” influence in many of our recipes, as is the case with this Mexican themed chopped salad. It is bursting with vibrant flavors and while perfect for lunch, it’s also hearty enough to serv…
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88Trifles 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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89This 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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90This 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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91This is a great recipe that certainly warrants spending a little extra on high quality beef (friends in NYC should head to Lobel’s ) and it’s perfect for a special occasion dinner at home. Rather than just sprinkle pepper over the steaks, the team at Cook’s…
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92This simple, fresh, colorful chopped salad can be found everywhere in Israel, from roadside falafel stands to high end restaurants, and is served for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The variations are endless but the base always includes finely chopped tomatoe…
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93Matzo (or matzoh or matzah) is the perfect crunchy, flaky base for a thin coating of buttery caramel, melted chocolate and a sprinkling of chopped nuts salt. It’s an addictive treat that’s perfect for Passover. Matzo is unleavened bread that first appeared…
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94You don’t have to be Irish to enjoy this hearty beef stew. Perfect to serve on St Patrick’s Day with some homemade biscuits, or better yet, thick slices of Soda Bread. This recipe from Cook’s Country uses Guinness Draught beer to enhance the beef flavors an…
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95Linzer cookies are based on the famous Linzertorte - a delicious tart made using a rich buttery dough with ground nuts, lemon zest, and cinnamon. It is one of the oldest known tart recipes, discovered in an Austrian abbey that dates back to 1653. The tart i…
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96My sister gave me a great cookbook from Cook’s Illustrated – The Best Skillet Recipes – which I’ve been working my way through. The recipes are always foolproof and are very easy to follow, and this one is no exception. Creamy ricotta and crisp salty prosci…
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