David Leite

No mere mash, this creamy potato purée owes its uber velvetiness to truly indecent amounts of butter and cream. And we mean that in the best possible way.

This all-butter, no-fuss pastry crust comes together with ease and flakiness thanks to a little well-worded hand-holding that caters to pastry-making virgins.

Time to change into your baggiest sweatpants—the ones with the no-longer-elastic waistband. (We can't be the only ones who keep those around, can we?!)

Ooooh baby! Broccoli blanketed with a creamy rich white sauce that takes its oomph from blue cheese and its hint of heat from cayenne.

Simply stunning. Stunningly simple. These fancy pants pears are perfect after being poached in a cinnamon-infused syrup and drizzled with a coffee-infused caramel sauce.

The spirits summoned for this ghostly glow-in-the-dark Jello hail from a bottle, not the supernatural. (It's just a gin and tonic under a black light. Who knew?!)

These beauties aren't unlike classic sugar cookies in terms of ease and appeal. They're just a little richer and a lot less expected.

In Paris, David finds pastries, passion, and peace. Think of it as an emotional travelogue with dining recommendations.

What do we adore most about roast chicken? The fix-it-and-forget-about-it-ness of it. That and the countless ways to fancy it up. Here's one of our fuss-free favorites.

"Beautiful." "Filled with flavors." "A tad spicy." "Simple." "Perfect!" That's just a taste of what our testers are saying about this soup. Sort of makes you want some, doesn't it?

Words escape us as to just how incomparable this made-from-scratch grape jam is compared to store-bought. That smile certainly says it all.

Comfort finds us in unexpected ways. Thank goodness for that. And thank goodness for this not-too-sweet, subtly apple-y, kid-friendly quick bread.

Only subtly spicy, these pork chops take on an air of intrigue with their warming and evocative aroma and taste. Certain to spark conversation, if not seconds.

Some things never go out of style. Witness this throwback to the 50s recipe for drumsticks rolled in crumbs of any sort. Potato chips. Wasabi peas. Rice crackers.

Enchiladas that are offer something to please everyone, whether vegetarians or carnivores, including a simple yet spectacular green chile sauce.

Happy World Vegetarian Day! Here's a soupy, stewy, smoky chili with stealth veggie goodness galore. Healthful never tasted so darn good.

A sweet something that evokes the memory of travels to Greece. Or the bulk bins of '70s-era health-food stores. Whichever experience it calls to mind for you, these will take you back.

These uncannily crisp, seemingly shortbreadish cookies from San Francisco's Miette are--and we mean this--unlike any you've ever encountered.

A gentle and genteel sipper, this libation draws on gin, cucumber, club soda, mint, and the lilt of lemon as a solution to lazy, languid summer nights.

Shrimp and longnecks. There's little else a summer shindig requires, except perhaps these eminently easy dips.