Vegetarian
Buttermilk Rye Crepes
Yes, you could serve these crepes before they've been caramelized in sugar, but why deprive yourself?
Peanut and Scallion Relish
A favorite, try this versatile crunchy peanut mixture with braised-chicken-thigh lettuce wraps.
Spicy Kimchi Tofu Stew
This fiery Korean stew is my weekend detox. It's spicy, clean, and capable of reversing any damage the previous night may have caused.
Calabrian Chile Oil
This versatile oil is a great way to bring heat to just about any dish.
Spicy Honey-Glazed Parsnips
Some parsnips can have a woody core, which you'll want to cut away before cooking.
Cabbage and Asian Pear Slaw
This hits all the notes of a great slaw: creamy, tangy, and crunchy.
Classic Moonpies
Moonpies are traditionally thrown from Mardi Gras floats in New Orleans, and Mobile, Alabama, but with this easy recipe you can make your own chocolate-dipped graham cracker and marshmallow treats to enjoy at home—no parade or crowds required.
For more on moonpies and Mardi Gras, see Make Your Own Moonpies.
Flaky Bread
An unfloured surface provides some traction, so it's easy to roll the dough very thin.
Freekeh Salad with Chicken and Kale
If you can't find freekeh, use another whole grain, like spelt or rye berries.
Taco Rice
Why have plain white rice when you can have taco rice instead? Taco rice slices, it dices, it juliennes... okay, maybe not, but it does have many different uses. Eat it as a side dish, stuff it into a burrito, use it as a base for a bean-and-rice bowl, or use it as a base for a casserole, like in my Southwest Veggie & Rice Casserole . Taco rice doesn't take much more time than cooking regular white rice, but has so much more to brag about.
Easy Pad Thai
I'm probably not supposed to play favorites, but this recipe is definitely my favorite. Pad thai is the epitome of simple ingredients creating dazzling flavor. It's fresh, light, exotic, and faster than any takeout (unless, of course, you happen to live above a restaurant that delivers). Fresh lime is key to creating the unique flavor, but one lime should be enough for a single or even double batch of this noodle dish. Fish sauce, which you can find in the Asian section of most major grocery stores or at Asian markets, gives this pasta a more authentic flavor, but if you can't find any, skip it; this dish will still rock your world.
Southwest Veggie and Rice Casserole
I could eat a simple bowl of rice, black beans, salsa, and cheddar cheese any day, but this recipe takes that concept to the next level. Taco Rice gives this casserole an ultra-flavorful base to build upon and a mélange of vegetables provides more texture and flavor than you can shake a maraca at. A little cheddar cheese thrown on top is like icing on the cake to this yummy Southwest casserole. So come on, get your veggie on!
Pasta All'uovo (Egg Dough)
As important as it is to develop feel and instinct when making dough, there is a metric formula for making pasta all'uovo. For every 100 grams of flour, use 1 (50- to 55-gram) egg, which corresponds to 1 USDA medium egg.
Tagliatelle (Flat Egg Noodles)
The best tagliatelle made in Bologna, as by Oretta's mentor, the legendary Sister Attilia, are transparent. In southern Italy, the sfoglia is a bit thicker, but the pasta is just as good.
Pasta Acqua e Farina (Flour-and-Water Dough)
Whole-wheat flour may be used if desired.
Carbonara (Guanciale, Egg, and Pecorino Romano)
Use the best, freshest eggs you can find, and don't even think of making this dish with eggs from stressed-out battery chickens. You can taste the difference. If you can find real guanciale, so much the better. Once the eggs have been added to the pasta, do not let the pan touch the heat directly or you will wind up with scrambled eggs.
Spiced Pear Hand Pies
Tami Hardeman, blogger (Running with Tweezers) and creator of these delightful desserts, says of her recipe, "I have to be honest - it's really all about the compote filling that gets folded up into these little pockets. It's chock full of the Indian-inspired spices that I crave with baked fruit: ginger, cardamom, cinnamon. The recipe makes more of this fruit filling than you'll need - save the rest of it in a mason jar for stuffed french toast, some melted brie on toast or stirred into yogurt."