It’s on days like these that I like to plan the whole meal around the grill, keeping it simple as the family and I enjoy the evening outdoors. This avocado and marinated tomato dish is a favorite fallback of mine — it’s easy to fix and comes together quickly, perfect for a weeknight meal but also dramatic enough when planning for company.
Read moreWeekend project: Maple pecan cinnamon rolls
Looking for a delicious weekend project? You can never go wrong with a batch of freshly-baked cinnamon rolls. This variation uses a touch of maple syrup and toasted pecans; the nuts add a nice crunch to the rolls and the syrup gives them just a little more personality. For the rolls themselves, I use a buttery brioche dough I developed years ago — light and delicate in texture, but unabashedly rich.
Read moreMake this now: Weeknight chicken stew
You can never have too many good recipes for chicken. This chicken stew is one of my favorites. It’s a relatively simple recipe: Sear chicken thighs in a Dutch oven or pot until they’re nicely browned, then sauté a blend of onions, mushrooms and garlic. Add canned tomatoes and a few other flavorings, and finish the stew in the oven until the chicken is tender and the flavors are all happy together. Voila. Dinner is ready.
Read moreMake this now: Shrimp skewers with charmoula
Ever heard of charmoula? The spice blend — actually, it’s more of a paste — is a North African blend of fresh herbs and spices which works well as everything from a marinade to a dipping sauce. Use it as a quick flavoring for fish — it’s especially good with shrimp and shellfish — or as a finishing sauce for grilled meats or vegetables. I’ve even served it alongside grilled or toasted bread as a dipping sauce. Best of all? It’s simple to make, coming together in minutes.
Read moreMake this now: Slow cooker lamb tagine
Have I mentioned how much I love my slow cooker? Prep the ingredients, throw everything in the cooker, then set it and forget it. The slow cooker is the definition of convenience, particularly if you’re planning weeknight meal ideas, or tackling 20 different projects at the same time — or sometimes simply forgetful, like me, about watching a pot simmering away on the stove top. It’s perfect for long-cooked dishes: stews, chili, hearty soups. And it turns out a wonderful lamb tagine, with very little active work on your part.
Read moreUp your grilling game with tips from bestselling author Meathead Goldwyn
With grilling season just around the corner, I recently caught up with grilling and barbecue authority Meathead Goldwyn to discuss handy grilling tips ranging from prepping your grill for the season, to advice for beginning grillers, must-have gadgets, and common grilling mistakes to avoid.
Read moreMake this now: Weeknight herb-roasted spatchcocked chicken
Looking for a fun alternative to a traditional roast chicken? This herb-roasted spatchcocked chicken is one of my favorite go-to methods, both because it saves time (cooking a spatchcocked chicken takes much less time than a traditional roast chicken), and it browns all pieces evenly.
Read moreMake this now: Easy vegan berry bars with streusel topping, perfect for Meatless Monday
One of my favorite dishes this time of year is a super simple batch of berry bars — the recipe is easy to execute and uses only a handful of ingredients, and the bars come together in about an hour. Pack them in the kids’ lunches, bring them to a potluck or picnic, or grab one when you’re on the go. My favorite way to enjoy them? I’ll warm up a bar and top it with vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of maple syrup.
Read moreCooking for one? Renowned chef Anita Lo shares some tips, and a recipe
Cooking for one. As with a handful of other activities — eating out at restaurants, going to the theater, catching a new film — cooking for ourselves isn’t something most of us plan for, let alone celebrate. Still, we’ve all been there. Because everyone has to eat, right? In her excellent new cookbook, “Solo: A Modern Cookbook for a Party of One,” chef Anita Lo tackles the stigma and challenges when it comes to fending for ourselves in the kitchen.
Read moreRotisserie chicken to the rescue: 12 easy dinner ideas
We’ve all been there: After a long day, you wander into the supermarket not knowing what — or even how — you’ll put dinner on the table. And then, from out of nowhere, the scent of freshly-roasted chicken puts everything into focus. I can’t tell you how many times a supermarket rotisserie chicken has saved me on a busy weeknight. Of course, you can easily serve it on its own, alongside a simple vegetable or salad. But it also works well as a base, a canvas of sorts for whole host of dinner options. Here are 12 easy weeknight meal ideas you can use to put dinner on the table in an hour or less:
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