Simple Cooking

While the ingredients for this sweet, salty, and savory salad can all be prepped ahead, the greens should be tossed through just before serving so they stay bright and crisp.

For fall gatherings—everything from back-to-school to Thanksgiving—this colorful wreath makes an elegant centerpiece. The leaves are created by painting melted candy wafers on maple leaves, letting it harden, then peeling off the leaf to reveal a stunning edible replica.

For a super summery dinner, top supremely crunchy cutlets with a shaved zucchini salad studded with mint, cashews, and ricotta salata.

Poaching peaches in ginger beer infuses them with sweet, spicy flavor. Layer the fruit with ice cream and top with more ginger beer for a fun spin on a classic float.

The simplest, easiest, kid-approved peanut sauce for dipping or drizzling.

Store-bought granola makes an instant crisp topping in this lickety-split version of the classic summer dessert.

This crab rangoon recipe from Jet Tila’s 101 Asian Dishes You Need to Cook Before You Die offers a simple method for making the crispy, creamy snack at home. You can freeze them for up to two weeks and then fry directly from frozen—a good trick to use if you're hosting a cocktail party and want to prep in advance.

This condiment, called nam pla prik, is found on virtually every home and restaurant table in Thailand.

Pan-searing dates turns them into an irresistible, warm treat with a crisp, caramelized exterior and a soft, sweet interior. Paired with cold vanilla ice cream and topped with olive oil, mint, and flaky sea salt, the fruit becomes a sophisticated dessert with a fun mix of sweet and savory.

Filled with black beans, avocado, and raw corn marinated in bright lime juice along with jalapeño, cilantro, and toasted nuts and seeds, these hearty tacos make an easy-to-cook, easy-to-eat weeknight dinner.

These refreshing pops blend two kinds of coconut for an extra rich and creamy flavor. Lime zest lends a lovely floral note.

Serve this one-pot baked chicken dish with steamed rice and broccoli.

This simple, healthy dish is a showstopper—it's a big colorful stack of summer flavors.

The savory quality of the herbed sweet-sour plums, plus this incredibly creamy tahini and lemon dressing, is unthinkably tasty.

This garden wrap is stuffed to the brim with fresh, seasonal vegetables and herbs.

You'll love the crunch of the polenta, the richness of the Parmesan, and the touch of spice from the ground red peppers.

Make it as a whole loaf or turn it into rolls; any way you bake it, it’s a winner, and you can use this method to create all sorts of variations.

I use my favorite no-churn ice-cream recipe in these ice-cream sandwiches which makes them really quick and easy. You could use your own favorite ice-cream; just defrost it slightly so you can spread it between the brownie layers easily.

This is my ultimate cheesecake: sweet cream cheese, salty peanut butter and tart sour cherries all mingle together to create one perfectly balanced flavor sensation. It is set with gelatin, which means it takes a little longer to make, but the beautiful smooth texture makes it worth the wait.

Pineapple cups make a fun presentation for this frosty summer cocktail, but if you're short on time, just use regular cocktail glasses instead.