An American classic, this indispensable spice blend brings a taste of the Eastern Shore to anything, anywhere, anytime.
Brenda Carleton, Recipe Tester
A list of all the recipes Brenda Carleton has tested.
Sticky Pecan Bites
These one-bite indulgences, mini-sticky rolls of sorts, are the fastest way we can think to get a caramel-y, buttery, nutty sticky bun fix. Are you in?
Watermelon Sorbet
No ice cream maker required. Just watermelon, citrus, sweetness, mint, and a little time in the deep freeze. Vodka optional. Then all you do is scoop it up and plop it in a pretty bowl.
Steak Chimichurri
Chimichurri-induced happiness can be yours with this foolproof, fuss-free, Argentine-approved answer to what’s for dinner.
Roasted Radishes
Roasting these rotund little root veggies turns them docile as anything dug out of the ground can be. Consider them to be dirt candy.
Green Beans with Bacon and Shallots
Green beans and mushrooms are a classic recipe combination. Adding bacon to the mix creates an unbeatable trio of flavors. A terrific side dish or salad.
Hazelnut and Fresh Herb Popovers
Fresh popovers, flavored with ground hazelnuts and zesty herbs, are a Thanksgiving must. These popovers are easy because the batter is made ahead then baked right before dinner.
Sea Salt-Rosemary Sweet Potato Chips
Unlike humdrum store-bought chips, these have some semblance of sophistication, not to mention healthfulness. And yes, it’s still hard to stop at just one.
Soft Polenta with Forest Mushrooms
Creamy, cheesy, irresistible polenta, similar to American grits, is cooked slowly until impossibly soft and then is topped with all types of sautéed mushrooms.
Gnocchi with Sausage and Smoked Mozzarella
Potato gnocchi is tossed with sausage, tomato, peas, and smoked mozzarella for a hearty dish. The gnocchi is simple to make and can be frozen.
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.
Zucchini with Ricotta, Mint, and Basil
Another suggestion for all that zucchini stashed everywhere–layer golden zucchini with salty, melty cheese. It’ll make you thankful for the bounty.
Zucchini Fritters with Dill
Traditional in Turkey, these zucchini fritters, made with feta and dill, put to use the late-summer abundance of zucchini.
Jerk Chicken
Authentic grilled jerk chicken from Helen Willinsky that’s pretty much exactly like what you’d experience in the Caribbean.
Grilled Radicchio Salad with Gorgonzola and Balsamic Vinaigrette
No wallflower, this outstanding salad teams sweet grilled radicchio with boldly pungent Gorgonzola and a familiar tangy balsamic vinaigrette.
Caprese Salad
Basil, tomato, and mozzarella–green, red, and white–are all this summer salad needs to shine. Oh, a drizzle of olive oil and a a squeeze of lemon help.
Miso Cod
This five-ingredient fix, a restaurant classic as well as a simple weeknight dinner, will have you practicing your acceptance speech for the best dinner ever.
Thai-Style Sliced-Beef Lettuce Wraps
Steak marinated in a soy-ginger sauce is grilled, and wrapped with lettuce and peppers, before being wholly devoured. They’re about as cool and fresh as you can get.
Grilled Pork Loin
No more helplessly watching as the chops you toss on the grill toughen into leathery dryness. This flawless technique cooks the pork loin whole and slices it AFTER grilling.
Traditional Molletes
An insanely satiating comfort food fix that’s as quick and easy as it is inexpensive. Refried beans and cheese atop toast with pico de gallo. Wish we’d known about this a loooong time ago.