Ilda Costa-Sarnicki, Recipe Tester

A list of all the recipes Ilda Costa-Sarnicki has tested.

Ilda Costa-Sarnicki

Ilda Costa-Sarnicki subscribes to the Dalai Lama’s rule that suggests one should approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

Her first recollection of having a foodie gene was, when at 4 years of age, her mom sent her outside for some fresh air and she returned with a bunch of parsley asking if that was it.

Ilda discovered food as more than sustenance by watching the Food Network with her daughter and then going into the kitchen to replicate recipes seen on the shows. Thirty years later, the kitchen experiments continue. All things food and cooking are a passion enjoyed on days off from her work as a Neonatal Intensive Care nurse.

Over the years, Ilda has collected an arsenal of kitchen gadgets and has designed an ergonomic kitchen that maximizes efficiency and pleasure while minimizing stress and fatigue. She confesses she’s a hardcore foodist, and she does deep dives not only into cooking but also cheese making, charcuterie, food preservation, fermentation, and food gardening.

Recipe testing feeds into her motto of being continually inspired and of inspiring others to cook and be creative and confident in the kitchen.

A Dutch oven with braised chicken thighs and olives, and a single thigh and three olives on a white plate.

Braised Chicken Thighs

Transport yourself to the Mediterranean with this cozy meal of tender chicken thighs that are gently cooked with vermouth, lemon, olives, and prosciutto.

A bifana, a Portuguese pork sandwich on a white plate with a bottle of mustard in the background.

Bifanas ~ Portuguese Pork Sandwiches

In the pantheon of great Portuguese foods, there are few sandwiches that are more superlative than the bifana. Essentially pork, bread, and sauce, it’s comfort food at its simplest.

Two round hash brown waffles on white plates, topped with sour cream, bacon, and chives.

Crispy Hash Brown Waffles

Looking for a healthy breakfast idea that the whole family will love? These hash brown waffles, which can be made with potatoes or cauliflower, or a mixture of both check all of those boxes.

Spicy Honey Lime Chicken

This easy-peasy marinated grilled chicken with sweet and spicy honey lime sauce is going to be on regular rotation at our dinner tables. We’re betting it will be at yours, too.

A pink bowl filled with lemon garlic shrimp pasta with a fork resting inside.

Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta

This easy meal of tender bucatini pasta all tangled up with sautéed shrimp and a lemony garlic butter sauce is on the table in just 30 minutes. You’re welcome.

Two Parmesan-crusted grilled cheese with jalapeños on a white cutting board, one cut in half, with a knife lying beside them.

Parmesan-Crusted Grilled Cheese with Jalapeños

Why put cheese only inside your grilled cheese sandwich? This beauty is filled with Cheddar and coated with Parmesan, which means you get a creamy, melty interior, and a crispy exterior. Basically, a perfect grilled cheese.

A spicy bacon-wrapped grilled chicken breast on top of a bun and tomato slices with the top half of the bun and some arugula next to it.

Spicy Grilled Chicken Sandwich

This combination of marinated, bacon-wrapped, and grilled chicken tucked into a bun with mayo, tomato, and arugula just became our new favorite way to enjoy a BLT.

Two highball glasses filled with watermelon Moscow mule and topped with a mint sprig. A bowl of ice, watermelon and lime wedges on the side.

Watermelon Moscow Mule

If you’re a fan of the classic mule, made with vodka, ginger beer, and lime, then you’re gonna love the addition of fresh watermelon and mint to it.

Two glasses of peach iced tea with mint leaves and peach slices for garnish.

Peach Iced Tea with Mint

One taste and you’ll understand why this refreshing, lightly sweetened peach iced tea is our new go-to summer sipper.

Two short glasses of blueberry prosecco spritz on coasters with thyme sprigs for garnish.

Blueberry Prosecco Spritz

Want to know what we’re sipping all summer long? It’s this easy cocktail of fresh blueberries, lemon juice, simple syrup, sparkling wine, and soda.

A plate containing a halved air fryer Scotch egg, with a dollop of chutney on the side and in a bowl nearby.

Air Fryer Scotch Eggs

These Scotch eggs give you the irresistible combination of tender boiled egg, sausage, and crispy coating minus the mess of deep frying.

A white oval serving platter filled with carrot ribbon salad and garnished with cilantro leaves.

Carrot Ribbon Salad

We’re declaring this easy, healthy salad of carrots, cilantro, and toasted cumin vinaigrette your summer go-to salad.