VIEW SLIDESHOW: Staff Picks: The Best Things We Ate in February
Another month goes by, and though it was a short one, we filled it with many bites—some more delicious than others. For example, the bún chả that Carey ate in Vietnam, the Sri Lankan treats that Max and Erin found on Staten Island, and the roast goose leg Robyn feasted upon in Hong Kong. Check out all of February's best bites, and please share yours!
]]>VIEW SLIDESHOW: Staff Picks: Our Valentine's Day Dream Dinners at Home
Of all the date nights in the year, the Valentine's Day date night comes with especially big pressures. Where will you get a reservation? Will you even get a reservation? Do they even take reservations? Ah, geez. To avoid all the fuss, we're tempted to just stay in and make a lovely meal at home. You can own the table the whole night, and nobody will judge when you open a third bottle of wine. Here are some of our favorite recipes for Valentine's Day dinners at home.
]]>VIEW SLIDESHOW: Staff Picks: What's Your Achilles Heel in the Kitchen?
What's your weakness when it comes to preparing food? The one thing you can't seem to get right. The chink in your armor. For many of us at Serious Eats, eggs are at the root of this personal shortcoming. Whether poached eggs or deviled eggs, we seem to have our issues with eggs. For others, it's making rice without a rice cooker.
C'mon, you know you want to admit yours too—please share your own achilles heel(s) in the comments.
]]>VIEW SLIDESHOW: Staff Picks: Our Favorite Holiday Traditions
'Tis the season for latke parties, cookie decorating, and drinking mug upon mug of mulled wine. See what holiday traditions the SE staffers look forward to most this time of year.
]]>VIEW SLIDESHOW: Staff Picks: Our Favorite Fall Recipes
Fall is in full swing here at Serious Eats. The chill in the air and crunchy leaves under our boots has us merrily reaching for squash, brussel sprouts, cans of pumpkin puree, and more. See all of our favorite recipes this time of year, and please share yours!
VIEW SLIDESHOW: Staff Picks: Our Favorite Quick Dinner Recipes
Some days you just don't want to think too hard about dinner, but you also don't feel like ordering take-out. These are the recipes we've turned to time and again, and they still always hit the spot. Chickpeas and arugula with pasta shells, a 15-minute tomato soup, frozen dumplings (hah) and more in the slideshow.
How about you—what are your go-to dinners in a snap? (Most of these average around 30 minutes.)
Related: 43 Quick Breakfast Recipes We Love >>
VIEW SLIDESHOW: The Best Things We Ate in August
As we wrap up this month, a fun question to ask is: what was August's best bite? What bite are we still thinking about days later? There were quite a few memorable ones: duck larb, a perfect baguette loaf, apricot soup, and more.
]]>VIEW SLIDESHOW: Staff Picks: Our Favorite Go-To Sandwiches
Once again, Happy National Sandwich Month, y'all! There couldn't be a better time to ask: what sandwich do you reach for most? What are you usually craving between two slices of bread? Nine times out of ten what are you ordering off the sandwich menu? Tuna melts, Italian subs, egg sandwiches, and more answers from us. How about you—what's your go-to sando?
]]>VIEW SLIDESHOW: Staff Picks: Our Favorite Things to Grill
Got any plans for the Fourth? We've already given you 57 recipes for the juiciest burgers and hot dogs, as well as salads, guacamole, and more. (Oh, and you need drinks and desserts too?) With grilling on the mind, we asked all of the SE staffers to share their favorite things to throw on the grill.
VIEW SLIDESHOW: Staff Picks: Our Last Bites on Earth
To be honest, we kind of dread these questions. A single last bite? Are you kidding? As you'll see from our responses, some of us interpreted this as last meal, composed of several bites (ahem, Ed!). It's not really a fair question, and can really depend on what day you ask us, but if we had to choose one final bite on this earth... Rocky Road ice cream, pizza, fresh-baked cookies, and more of our picks. How about you?
]]>VIEW SLIDESHOW: Staff Picks: Our Favorite Condiments for Burgers and Hot Dogs
We find ourselves talking about burgers and dogs quite a bit around here, but we can't overlook the condiments on top. That's why we have a whole column devoted to making condiments: dressings, relishes, and squirtable sauces. Some of us are into mustards, others like to mix up a Sriracha mayo. Here are our favorites on the condiment tray; how about you?
VIEW SLIDESHOW: Staff Picks: Our Father's Day Meals
What are we feeding Dad on his big day this Sunday? It depends on who you ask at SEHQ. Tea and scones for Carrie's Anglophile dad, the ultimate burger for Maggie's dad, Ad Hoc fried chicken for Ed, and more of our Father's Day meals.
[Photo: Sara Remington]
We can't help but get excited as we start to see fresh fruit in our local farmers' markets. Rhubarb...strawberries...and soon, more! We'll happily serve summer's abundance in a fruit salad, but if you're looking to craft something a bit more ambitious, you'll want some recipes for inspiration. These 5 cookbooks are treasure troves of fruit-filled desserts, from classic pies and tarts to more unusual options.
"This entire book is filled with lovely desserts, but I especially love the chapter dedicated to fruit. The recipes really respect the flavor of the fruit—they're not too muddled by sugar or other ingredients. The rustic plum tart is just what you want in a summer sweet: simple, delicious, and easy to tailor to whatever fruit is most ripe. The lemon bars are nice and tart and even the dried fruit and nut cake has depth of flavor and real fruitiness. Plus she got me to bust out my ice cream machine, which is no easy feat."—Carrie Vasios, Sweets Editor
Buy it on Amazon, around $23 »
"If you love the idea of keeping it seasonal when it comes to dessert, but get stumped beyond your basic strawberry shortcake or blueberry pie, Seasonal Fruit Desserts by Deborah Madison is for you. The recipes are reverent to what fruit tastes best at any given time of year, and the simple recipes let the seasonal stars shine. Some standout recipes? Hazelnut-stuffed peaches, winter squash cake with dates, and strawberries in red wine syrup. A perfect companion to the CSA or just to challenge your seasonal repertoire."— Jessie Oleson, Cakespy Columnist
Buy it on Amazon, around $16 »
"This is one of my all-time favorite cookbooks for pastry, which is remarkable, since the author is a savory chef by trade. The book stresses simplicity in its recipes, and is arranged as a series of three-course meals to cook by seasonal availability, which is really the best possible philosophy when it comes to cooking fruit-based desserts. Goin draws heavily from the wisdom of her pastry chef pals for the recipes, which gives them nice background stories in addition to being deliciously legit."— Lauren Weisenthal, Sweet Technique and Pie Columnist
Buy it on Amazon, around $24 »
"Lemon: it's for more than just meringue pie and bar cookies on a shortbread crust. If you love tart and sweet desserts, Luscious Lemon Desserts by Lori Longbotham is pretty much a vital volume. Challenge your taste buds with a lemon curd and strawberry tart, or pucker up and dig in to some lemon ricotta gelato. This book is a wonderful mix of classics and outside-of-the-box lemon concoctions, and contains plenty of simple and easy recipes as well as recipes for more complicated, showstopping desserts."— Jessie Oleson, Cakespy Columnist
Buy it on Amazon, around $13 »
"Plum Gorgeous is the summer baking book for me. It's a celebration of the fruits of the orchard with recipes both sweet and savory. But it's author Romney Steele's sweets that have me stocking up on stone fruits and berries all season long, and happily baking away in the kitchen The book's namesake dessert, a Plum Gorgeous Almond Tart is perfect with almond cream and little plum halves nested into a buttery, golden crust. And Honey-Lime Peaches with Creme Fraiche Clouds is just as dreamy as it sounds, tasting pretty much like the most gorgeous summer day on a plate." — Caroline Russock, Sweet Technique and Pie Columnist
Buy it on Amazon, around $16 »
Do you have a favorite cookbook for dessert inspiration? When you have piles of peaches and plums, where do you turn?
Italian Cookbooks We Love
Barbecue and Grilling Books We Love
Cookbooks with Great Veggie Dishes We Love
Mexican Cookbooks We Love
[Photo: Joshua Bousel]
It's easy enough to throw some steaks on the grill, but if you're really into grilling, you just bought your first smoker, or you're a longtime barbecue obsessive, it's worth looking around for some inspiration beyond the basics, and some tips for upping your barbecue game. Here are a few books we love to get you through grilling season.
"I can't say enough about Peace, Love, and Barbecue by the father-daughter team of Mike and Amy Mills of 17th Street Bar and Grill. Although many years old now, it came out just as I decided to buy my first smoker, and quickly became my bible in learning the ropes in creating excellent barbecue. A mixture of recipes from a man simply known as "The Legend," and stories of the pitmasters who helped shape our nation of barbecue, this is a must read for cookers or barbecue fans alike. The table of proper temperatures for barbecue meats in the back is worth its weight in gold alone."—Joshua Bousel, Grilling Columnist
Buy it on Amazon, around $16 »
"This book, Wicked Good Barbecue: Fearless Recipes from Two Damn Yankees Who Have Won the Biggest, Baddest BBQ Competition in the World hit the shelves this winter, just when I decided to take up competition barbecue. Written by Andy Husbands and Chris Hart of the immensely successful IQue barbecue team, this is the first barbecue book that I've seen that doesn't hold back the secrets of what it takes to make award-winning 'cue. The recipes go in depth, showing all the steps, timing, and temperatures needed to churn out meats that have the deep flavor profiles and strong presentation that win competitions.
But that's just the beginning—this book goes way deeper, branching out into the territory of pig ear terrine, duck pastrami, and other unique recipes. I also have to give a shout out to my buddy Ken Goodman for the photography, which makes this book as mouthwatering as it is informative."—Joshua Bousel, Grilling Columnist
Buy it on Amazon, around $14 »
"Chris Schlesinger's East Coast Grill is a Cambridge institution, and Doc Willoughby's got the technical know-how to write a first-rate, real science-based cooking manual. Combine Chris' restaurant flair and Doc's brains, and you've got a grilling guide to reckon with."—J. Kenji Lopez-Alt, Chief Creative Officer
Buy it on Amazon, around $13 »
"Francis Mallmann's Seven Fires takes the primal love of fire to a whole new level. The Argentine chef has penned a unique volume devoted to the art and craft of cooking over a wood fire. The flavors that come along with charring are Mallman's passion. Mallman's seven fires are made up of the following cooking methods:
Through wood-fired grilling Mallman explores the diverse cuisine of Argentina which has been influenced by both Europe and Native South America. Don't worry if you're not about to go and break out the welding gear and dig a fire pit in your back yard—Mallman offers smaller scale options for all of the recipes in this book."—Caroline Russock, Cook the Book
Buy it on Amazon, around $20 »
"Driving from one side of the country to the other, our heroes—a Louisiana writer and a Memphis-raised, New York-based photographer—explore the roots, manifestations and impact of barbecue as part of American culture. One chapter focuses on the visceral narration of
pit-smoked barbacoa. Another reaches deeply into formative years on the south side of Chicago. Another documents Juneteenth, a reverent and raucous relic of an independence day for black America. The complete collection of tales is simmering long form: vibrant in its respect for regional character, tactful in its blend of observation
and rumination, and honest in its conclusions about the journey. Smokestack Lightning is a book that cannot be recreated or grafted, and as a piece of storytelling it stands head and shoulders
above its peers in the "barbecue" section."—James Boo, Barbecue columnist
Buy it on Amazon, around $20 »
"Documenting its subject from pre-Republic times to the present day, Barbecue: The History of an American Institution draws on ten years of food research to highlight intersecting narratives in the history of the United States. It's an accessible foray into culinary evolution with a journalist's sense of style—in his scholarly approach to smoked meats, Moss replaces the repetitive talking points of
television, magazines and lesser books with an engrossing set of stories. If you've ever wanted to know why American barbecue matters, this book is nothing short of essential."—James Boo, Barbecue columnist
Buy it on Amazon, around $25 »
We've shared our favorites, now tell us yours. What books do you turn to for grilling and barbecue inspiration?
]]>VIEW SLIDESHOW: Staff Picks: Our Favorite Spring Produce
We've been on a spring produce high lately, eating our asparagus with just about every meal and freaking out (and mocking other people for freaking out) over ramps. (RAMPS!) Here are our picks for favorite spring produce. Quite a few pea fans in the room.
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