Mushroom-Stuffed Chicken with White Wine Sauce

Whether for a dinner party or a weeknight meal, this elegant, convenient dish can be prepared ahead of time.

Mulled Hard Pear Cider

All ciders are not created equal: This one uses pear instead of the more traditional apple, for a simple change that adds a lot of flavor.

Celery Root and Squash Gratin with Walnut-Thyme Streusel

Ring in fall with this seasonal gratin.

Cinnamon-Sugar Pumpkin Seeds

Sweet, but not too sweet.

Drunken Affogato (Ice Cream Shots)

Ice cream float shots: the best of both worlds.

Leftover Chinese Takeout Rice Pudding

Lowbrow but good chow.

Eggplant and Hummus Pita Crisps

Flavorful and crispy.

Classic Cobb Salad

The original composed salad that originated at the Brown Derby in Los Angeles in the Hollywood heyday of the 1930s.

Guacamole

Once you’ve made this version, you’ll never buy it from the store again.

Basic Pizza Sauce

A thick and intensely tomatoey sauce that freezes beautifully.

Herbed Peas and Carrots

This classic side dish is so easy, there’s no reason not to make it yourself. And done right, it’s got loads more flavor than the prepackaged version from the store.

Toasted Millet Salad

Bird seed never tasted so good.

Kid-Friendly Fried Rice

Lighter than the real thing but still plenty tasty.

Salted Caramel Frosting

Slightly bitter caramel whipped into a sweet buttercream with a touch of salt.

Mussels with Fennel, Lemon, and Belgian Ale

Slightly bitter Belgian ale combines nicely with the brininess of mussels.