Basic Polenta

The perfect base for so many dishes, Italian or otherwise. Sprinkle with cheese, top with sauce or meat, drizzle with honey or maple syrup, let it cool and fry it...shall we go on?

30 mins

Personal Pan Lasagna

This loosely defined "lasagna" is an easy little cheat of a recipe that relies on store-bought ravioli, jarred sauce, and shredded cheese. Shhhhhh.

1 hr

Roasted Applesauce

So long, store-bought applesauce. Tuck into your own fuss-free, artisanal applesauce that's a little sweet, a little spicy, and as smooth or as chunky as you please.

45 mins

Fork-Mashed Potatoes

These fork-mashed spuds are indulgence defined with their easy execution, deceptively rich taste, and lack of bowls and beaters to clean.

30 mins

Maple Leaf Cocktail

For this boozy cocktail, bourbon, maple syrup, and lemon juice are shaken and served with a cinnamon stick garnish. Autumn sipping, anyone?

5 mins

Figs and Burrata Cheese

This little moment of lusciousness takes nothing to toss together. Just tear the figs, rip the cheese, and drizzle with oil. Badda bing.

35 mins

Creamy Stone-Ground Cheese Grits

This Southern staple amps up stone-ground grits with ample white Cheddar. We think we've found home in these cheese grits.

1 hr 25 mins

Apple Sorbet with Ginger

Pretty in pink is this lovely sorbet, thanks to the inclusion of the entire apple, blush red peel included, as well as a little Geürztraminer for sweet sophistication.

4 hrs 45 mins

Rosemary Lemon Drop

This classy little number shamelessly flaunts its herbal notes, making it as suave and cosmopolitan as far more complicated, not to mention classic, cocktails.

5 mins

Tomato Sorbet

Heirloom tomatoes go on ice for this simple yet elegant sorbet. Use yellow, red, orange, or purple fruit, but my all means, make this sorbet.

1 hr 40 mins

Spaghetti with Raw Tomatoes

Summer at its simplest, not to mention its most splendid. Five minutes of effort yield a meal that rivals round-trip tickets to Italy.

50 mins

Sgroppino ~ Lemon Chill

This Italian sipper swirls together vodka, Prosecco, and lemon sorbet to ridiculously satiating, giggle-inducing effect.

5 mins

Watermelon Limeade

Taken neat, on the rocks, or with a stealth shot of tequila, we think you'll find no fault with this drink that's designed for the dog days of summer.

1 hr 10 mins

Octopus with Paprika

Octopus with paprika, aka pulpo a la Gallega, is pretty much ubiquitous at bars and restaurants in Spain. There's a reason for that.

45 mins

Parmesan-Crusted Chicken

When it's half past when you'd wanted to eat and you're too exhausted to think, turn to this kid-friendly, adult-approved fix.

30 mins

Cheddar Cheese Sauce

So satiatingly superlative, this cheese sauce is going to whisper seductively to you to ladle it onto everything. And we do mean everything.

15 mins

Chocolate Ganache

Want proof that just four everyday ingredients can turn into something spectacular? Look no further than this chocolate magic.

45 mins

Homemade Pasta Dough

Pasta made fresh according to Italian tradition is unspeakably more supple, satisfying, and gratifying than the dried-out store-bought stuff and will make your mouth water. Here's how to make it at home.

1 hr 30 mins