Elsa M. Jacobson, Recipe Tester

When life hands you an abundance of herbal loveliness, pull out your ice cube tray, add some olive oil, and save the loveliness for another day.

• Quick Glance
• 5 M
• 6 H
• 0

Four ingredients and one simple technique that will leave everyone asking—maybe even demanding—you for more. A keeper of a side dish.

• Quick Glance
• 10 M
• 55 M
• 2

Buttery, cake-y, crisp at the edges, and with a slight lilt of lemon, this cookie launched a thousand memories—and a literary masterpiece—for Marcel Proust.

• 20 M
• 1 H
• 2

“Comes together in no time.” “Immensely delicious.” “A keeper.” That’s what folks are saying about this ridiculously easy yet elegant appetizer (or, who are we kidding, simple summer supper).

• 5 M
• 25 M
• 8

Why spend half your paycheck on pricey infused waters when you can make them at home? It’s easy, inexpensive, and lovely.

• Quick Glance
• 5 M
• 8 H, 5 M
• 2

All the comfort of classic mac and cheese plus a little kick. Actually, a lot of kick. Although we’ve heard not complaints.

• Quick Glance
• 30 M
• 1 H
• 0

Cookie dough is oft a means to an end, an interim state of existence, a fleeting moment sacrificed to the creation of cookies. No more. Grab your spoons.

• 10 M
• 10 M
• 26

This indescribably must-have-more-of-this sauce boasts the complex sweetness of maple syrup and the smoky spice of chipotle peppers. Slather it at will.

• Quick Glance
• 5 M
• 40 M
• 4

If you’re going to splurge on brownies, you may as well, you know, SPLURGE on brownies. But not in terms of effort or expense. Just taste. These brownies handle it splendidly.

• Quick Glance
• 10 M
• 45 M
• 4

Store-bought potato chips, cheese, and black pepper. Our only question is: Why didn’t we think of this sooner? Genius.

• Quick Glance
• 5 M
• 15 M
• 0

We know what you’re thinking. “I better not try the Earl Grey syrup because my kids may turn up their nose at it.” Make it anyways.

• Quick Glance
• 25 M
• 30 M
• 0

A savvy, sophisticated, eat-your-veggies strategy that works its stealthy charms on kids and adults alike. You’re welcome.

• 10 M
• 25 M
• 16

This simple yet spectacular riff on coffee cake—there’s actually coffee in the cake—is rich and robust and rousing in that way only espresso can be.

• 15 M
• 1 H, 15 M
• 37

This weeknight friendly, company worthy, simple but not terribly subtle pasta concoction has us swooning.

• 20 M
• 30 M
• 2