Sasha Pravdic, Recipe Tester

A list of all the recipes Sasha Pravdic has tested.

Sasha Pravdic

Sasha’s boundless enthusiasm for cooking and eating are probably her two most defining features. She is not sure if that is good or bad! As a child, Sasha loved watching her mom cook. One of her most cherished childhood memories is of her mother making Dobos Torta for “company”. She would pour the hot caramel over the top, warning Sasha not to touch. Later after it hardened, she would pass the flame of a lit match over a terrifyingly large knife back and forth to heat it and quickly cut through the hardened caramel to make outlines of slices. It was so exciting and honestly seemed like pure magic- just thinking about it makes Sasha catch her breath. That feeling of creating magic in the kitchen has always stayed with her.

Sasha started saving recipes and cooking in earnest while she was in high school and has never lost her love of all things kitchen and cooking related. She has no formal training, just a willingness to try lots of recipes and the persistence to repeat, tweak and practice a recipe until she gets it right. In a fast moving world, she loves the unhurried pace of a meal well-prepared and enjoyed. Her “job” as a tester could not be more perfect!

Sasha’s has so many favorites from Leite’s that she doesn’t know where to begin. But begin she will and here are a few: Goat Cheese, Roasted Beet and Walnut Tart, No-Knead Everything Bagel Bread, Caldo Verde, Baked Fontina with Garlic and Thyme, Strawberry Rhubarb Jam, Roasted Tomato-Basil Tart with Cheddar, and Everything Bagel Chicken Cutlets.

A metal skillet filled with sausage pappardelle with grated Parmesan on top.

Jamie Oliver’s Sausage Pappardelle

This easy one-pot pasta meal from Jamie Oliver features fresh pasta and sausage smothered in a luxurious tomato sauce. Our testers are calling it a “quick, elegant, comforting meal.”

Eight egg bites stacked on a round white scalloped platter, surrounded by brown eggs.

Egg Bites

These egg bites are the breakfast solution we’ve all been waiting for. They’re easy to make, healthy, portable, and incredibly tasty.

A partially cut loaf of tomato focaccia on a sheet of parchment on a wooden cutting board with a knife on the side.

Spicy Tomato Focaccia

Folks are raving about this masala focaccia that tops tender, fluffy focaccia bread with a spicy tomato, onion, and chile topping. See for yourself.

Several sesame-coated halloumi fries; some on a wire rack and some on a plate, with a dish and spoon of hot honey dipping sauce on the side.

Sesame Halloumi Fries

Move over, mozza sticks. These spiced halloumi fries with Aleppo hot honey dipping sauce is our new favorite cheesy finger food.

A rectangular baking dish filled with roast chicken, lemon slices, and garlic cloves.

Honey Glazed Chicken with Garlic Confit

This simple, yet elegant roast chicken dinner features chicken pieces that are glazed with honey and vinegar, then slowly roasted in garlic confit until tender and golden. Do we have your attention?

A whole zucchini, peach, and burrata pizza, topped with arugula, on a piece of parchment on a wooden surface.

Zucchini, Peach, and Burrata Pizza

If you’ve run out of ideas on how to use up all that garden zucchini, look no further than this easy homemade pizza that’s topped with arugula pesto, shaved zucchini, fresh peaches, and creamy burrata cheese.

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.

An Indian spiced chicken burger, with chutney and red onions on top and a bowl of chutney on the side.

Indian Spiced Chicken Burgers

Think chicken burgers are boring? These juicy ground chicken burgers, which are filled with spices, tomatoes, onions, and chiles, will prove you wrong.

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.

Three easy marinated chicken skewers on a blue plate and a fourth one on top of a piece of flatbread.

Easy Marinated Chicken Skewers

These chicken skewers are a cinch to throw together. Whip up an easy marinade, let the chicken thighs soak up all that flavor, then grill or broil to tender perfection. Voila. Dinner.

A scoop of easy strawberry icebox cake on a white plate with sliced strawberries and a glass baking dish with the rest of the cake beside it.

Easy Strawberry Icebox Cake

When we described this classic strawberry icebox cake as easy, we weren’t kidding. A quick strawberry puree is layered with whipped cream and vanilla wafers and you’re done. Easiest dessert ever.

A colorful serving platter filled with coleslaw with cilantro with wooden serving utensils on the side.

Creamy Coleslaw with Cilantro

Skip the store-bought slaw. This easy-peasy creamy coleslaw that combines crunchy cabbage, onion, carrot, and cilantro with a creamy citrus dressing comes together in just 20 minutes.

A highball filled with a long margarita, ice, a lime wedge, and a dish of chili salt for rimming on the side

Long Margarita

A variation on our favorite Mexican cocktail, this long margarita includes tequila, Cointreau, and lime soda.

A platter of Mediterranean nachos topped with yogurt, hummus, cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, feta, and chickpeas on a wooden platter

Mediterranean Nachos

We bet you never thought you’d hear the words healthy and nachos in the same sentence. But these Greek-style nachos, topped with yogurt, hummus, and veggies are exactly that.

Hands grabbing pieces of skillet pepperoni pizza with two glasses on the side and a bowl of parmesan and pepper flakes

Skillet Pepperoni Pizza

There’s no need for takeout when you can make this deep dish skillet pizza that’s laden with blistered tomatoes, pepperoni, and mozzarella.