Vegan

This traditional and incendiary Thai condiment has incited quite the following. Here's how to save yourself a trip to your local Asian market.

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?

Kin to caramel corn, this kettle popcorn made with a touch of sugar is much more subtle in its salty sweet allure. Try to stop at just one handful.

The slope and size of a wok lend popcorn kernels ample room to do their thing as they dance in hot oil and burst into fluffy perfection. (Sorta sheepish this didn't occur to us sooner.)

Some consider this Catalan classic to be the great Spanish acquisition considering how it's so very versatile (and vegetarian).

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.

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.

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

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

Jim Lahey's no-knead small baguettes are an easy-to-make bread. No knead, no fuss, these baguettes are baked on a baking sheet for a crispy, brittle crust.

This potato salad captures the spirit of summer, with its fresh basil, just-picked tomatoes and corn and freshly dug red potatoes.

We're not kidding about these being perfect French fries. We're also not going to lie to you. Perfection takes time. We swear it's worth the wait.

A bittersweet something for when you want something that's impressive and sophisticated (and did we mention vegan and gluten-free?).

When we think of brittle, we tend to think of a wallflower-like candy. This snappy little number proves that we couldn't be more wrong.

This rice pilaf with cherries and pistachios is a perfect side dish for poultry. The pistachios add a bit of crunch and the cherries add sweetness.

Focaccia gets drizzled with an intense herb oil of basil, parsley, oregano, rosemary, garlic and thyme, then loaded with slices of potato, onions, and rosemary.

Summer tomatoes are turned into a sweet jelly that's a Portuguese classic. Use it as you would any jelly as well as with cheese plates.

Perhaps the most iconic and indispensable ingredient in Moroccan cooking. And perhaps the easiest thing to make ever.