Brenda Carleton, Recipe Tester

An American classic, this indispensable spice blend brings a taste of the Eastern Shore to anything, anywhere, anytime.

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?

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.

Chimichurri-induced happiness can be yours with this foolproof, fuss-free, Argentine-approved answer to what’s for dinner.

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 and mushrooms are a classic recipe combination. Adding bacon to the mix creates an unbeatable trio of flavors. A terrific side dish or salad.

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.

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.

Creamy, cheesy, irresistible polenta, similar to American grits, is cooked slowly until impossibly soft and then is topped with all types of sautéed mushrooms.

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.

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.

Another suggestion for all that zucchini stashed everywhere–layer golden zucchini with salty, melty cheese. It’ll make you thankful for the bounty.

Traditional in Turkey, these zucchini fritters, made with feta and dill, put to use the late-summer abundance of zucchini.

Authentic grilled jerk chicken from Helen Willinsky that’s pretty much exactly like what you’d experience in the Caribbean.

No wallflower, this outstanding salad teams sweet grilled radicchio with boldly pungent Gorgonzola and a familiar tangy balsamic vinaigrette.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.