Shannon Parrish, Recipe Tester

If you can master this über basic recipe, you can grill a steak waaaaay better than any of your friends. Promise.

• 30 M
• 1 H, 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

A simple, clean break from tradition, this margarita eschews cloying Cointreau in lieu of a splash of sweet agave.

• 10 M
• 10 M
• 18

“Spectacular.” “Sinful.” “Easy.” “Airy.” “Buttery.” “Lofty.” “Perfect.” That’s what folks are saying about these little lovelies.

• 25 M
• 45 M
• 60

These oatmeal cookies are like the baking version of those Choose Your Own Adventure books, which means your cookies end up exactly the way you like them.

• 30 M
• 1 H
• 35

Birthday bashes. Cocktail parties. Thanksgiving dinner. Tuesday nights. These are but some occasions we’ve watched these disappear.

• Quick Glance
• 30 M
• 2 H, 30 M
• 0

Yeah, yeah, we know. You don’t need a recipe for mashed Yukon Golds with butter, milk, and salt. Or so you think. Try this and get back to us.

• 20 M
• 45 M
• 4

We suspect you’ve been looking for a lovely, elegant, knock-their-socks-off vegetarian dish that just happens to be fancy schmancy enough for Thanksgiving, yes? Look no further.

• 2 H
• 3 H
• 10

This slightly sweet, subtly tangy, entirely apple-y vinaigrette recipe is going to come in far more handy than you can ever imagine.

• 5 M
• 5 M
• 6

More tart than sweet is what you’ll find this perfectly puckery little limeade to be. And that’s exactly the way it was always intended to be.

• Quick Glance
• 10 M
• 10 M
• 6

Bread. Cheese. Egg. Hot sauce. Five bucks says you’ve got the makings for this easy and oozy sandwich waiting in your kitchen.

• Quick Glance
• 10 M
• 10 M
• 12

Okay. We have a confession. This baklava is not the classic Greek ideal. Not at all. But that doesn’t seem to be stopping it from disappearing.

• 45 M
• 2 H, 30 M
• 8

This lovely homemade muesli number, with nary any cardboard-like, dusty-tasting grains or too many raisins, will upend your notion of morning cereal.

• Quick Glance
• 10 M
• 10 M
• 18

All’Amatriciana—go on, roll that “r” like they do in Italy—means a spicy pasta sauce of tomatoes and pancetta or bacon. Prego.

• Quick Glance
• 35 M
• 1 H
• 2