Simple Cooking

These muffins are a clone of "The Famous Jordan Marsh Blueberry Muffins"—which were indeed famous up until the mid-1990s, when Jordan's, one of Boston's two iconic department stores (Filene's being the other) was absorbed by Macy's and effectively disappeared. These overstuffed muffins, with their signature sugary crown, were served in the Jordan Marsh dining room on the top floor of the store, where dedicated shoppers went to rest and compare purchases while sipping tea and enjoying a muffin—blueberry, of course.

Aromatic spices and tangy yogurt give great flavor to this quick riff on the Indian classic.

Skip the dried-out grocery store slaw packets. Instead, grate broccoli stems and toss with chopped florets and an Asian-inspired dressing for a great combo of textures and bold, beautiful flavor.

Let the flavors of perfect summer tomatoes shine on this simple-is-best toast.

This sweet and spicy Vietnamese-inspired pasta salad features chicken—use leftovers or grab a rotisserie chicken at the store. Make it for dinner tonight, or pack it up for lunches—it’ll be just as good tomorrow.

This play on the classic whiskey smash incorporates spicy, dark rum and the pride of July farmers' markets everywhere: fresh cherries.

How do you make lemon bars even better? Turn them pink. Add bright color and tangy flavor with a splash of fresh raspberry purée.

When we added Earl Grey ice cream to our trucks' offerings in 2009, New Yorkers went mad for it. Not surprisingly—black tea, combined with bergamot oil, cuts through the summer heat about as well as anything. We use a high-quality loose tea from our favorite tea brand, Rishi, which uses pure Italian bergamot citrus oil (and not bergamot flavoring), to make the most intensely fragrant Earl Grey tea ice cream.

This antioxidant-and fiber-packed salad is a perfect side for your summer dinner and spring brunches. With the fragrant addition of caraway seeds and curry powder, you'll be in anti-inflammatory (and flavor) heaven.

This delicious omega-3, brain-boosting salmon burger is the tastiest way to have it all. Made from simple canned salmon (nothing fancy!), this is a budget-friendly way to enjoy all of the nutritional benefits salmon has to offer. The Creamy Chive Sauce is like a more-delicious version of tartar sauce—and pairs perfectly with any type of fish.

These vegan brownies took at least thirty rounds of serious test-kitchen madness (not kidding!). When we finally said, okay, okay, moist and crumbly and chocolatey and delicious, we gave in. I used flaxseed meal and warm water to create a binder that replaces the need for egg. These egg-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, guilt-free brownies are some of the best you will ever taste! They will crumble a bit more than regular brownies, so beware of crumbs!