Lori Widmeyer

There's a simple way to extend the ephemeral apricot season, and it has everything to do with these easy peasy preserves.

All the scintillating, fall-off-the-bone magnificence of smoked ribs. None of the standing outside in the snow or sleet to tend your grill or smoker.

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

The tempered sweetness of this spectacular strawberry ice cream relies on in-season strawberries rather than obscene amounts of sugar for flavor.

If ever there was an unabashedly, unapologetically girlie burger, this is it. Still, we’ve seen guys polish them off without complaint.

A nifty little ooh- and aah-inducing riff on the classic croque madame that's perfect to assemble ahead of time for big batch brunches.

These richly spiced, slowly roasted spuds will zap as much life into you as your morning caffeine fix.

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.

Fancy schmancy mac and cheese canapés? Why not? Plop these lovelies on a silver platter alongside flutes of Champagne or tuck them into a lunch box.

This ridiculously juicy, superlatively sweet stack will have you hankering for a Bambi burger long after deer season ends.

Need to bring something to a backyard bash when all you want is mad crazy gratitude and an empty dish to take home? This blueberry crumble with a crumbly oatmeal cookie topping is your answer.

Now you can indulge your craving for roast potatoes when it's sweltering outside without heating up the entire kitchen. You're welcome.

Whether you've sad-looking plum tomatoes or stunning heirlooms, their tomato-y essence is concentrated in this ingenious, all-sins-forgiven tart with Cheddar and basil.

Crisp at the edges. Chewy within. Peanutty through and through. A classic perfected. Pass the milk, please.

Call some friends, set a pot of water to boil, and chill some beer. There's mudbugs to be had.

Words sort of elude us when we attempt to describe just how stunning and scrumptious we consider this dish. Just...wow.

A weeknight-friendly riff on slow-roasted pulled pork that juxtaposes tangy bbq sauce, succulent pork, and old-fashioned slaw, all in a jiffy.

This sweet and spicy little number wooed us from our very first spoonful, banishing bottled barbecue sauce forever from our pantries.

This irresistible scoop of the milkiest chocolate ice cream is like having a bar of fine Swiss chocolate on a spoon.

Sometimes it’s nice to just let your spoon sink into something that tastes pure as the driven snow. Indulgently rich, sigh-inducingly creamy, vanilla-enhanced snow.