Easy

To crush candies easily, minus any peppermint shrapnel, place them in a resealable plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin, meat mallet, or the back of a large spoon.

Honey cake emerges from its hibernation around the High Holidays in the fall, when honey and other sweet foods are eaten to usher in a sweet new year. But as much as this is an early fall cake for the holidays, its warming spices make it a perfect winter cake that works both for dessert and in the morning with a cup of coffee.

It only takes 22 minutes to make this classic savory noodle dish at home.

The Cubano’s cuter cousin, the Media Noche was sold as a late-night snack in Havana’s cafés. Calling for the same blend of sweet-cured ham, Swiss cheese, and pickles, it works best with juicier cuts of pork—though what really sets it apart is the egg-rich Pan de Media Noche.

A habit-forming graham cracker crumble takes peaches and cream to another dimension.

Mussels steam in the same saucepan as chili-and-fennel-spiced tomato sauce in this effortless supper.

One in ten Padróns or shishitos is actually spicy. Pepper roulette!

Need cookies in a flash? These butterscotch "buttons" come together fast and don't require an oven, which means you can have a treat any time you want it.

Turn store-bought ice cream sandwiches and chocolate-peppermint whipped cream into a towering, show-stopping dessert for your Labor Day cookout.

Spiced with cinnamon, ginger, and cloves, this cozy drink is a festive jumpstart to the quickly-approaching holiday season.

On a cold winter day, this hearty soup is practically a meal in itself.

You can swap the condensed milk for regular milk, but the simple syrup is essential for the finished texture.

Progression of a tomato sandwich: On buttered bread with salt; on bread with mayo and cheddar; seasoned and grilled with cheddar and mayo. They’re all pretty perfect, but we’ll take the advanced version, thanks.

There’s no law that says watermelon salads must incorporate feta. This renegade combination is at once sweet, tart, and savory—the kind of dish that’s as comfortable at the breakfast table as it is at a potluck.

Our homage to lahmacun, the Middle Eastern flatbread.

When shopping for this salad at the market, pick heavy, aromatic cantaloupes with stem ends that yield slightly when pressed.

This meltingly tender pork shoulder is the ultimate make-ahead summer dinner party main. A fresh chimichurri-style basil sauce balances the rich pork with bright zesty flavors.

This couscous salad is just right for a late summer barbecue.

Granita is a light dessert, one you could enjoy any day of the week. The hibiscus flowers make it extra special and elevate the simple ice to dinner-party status. The trick to the granita's texture is to stir, or mash, it several times during freezing. This prevents it from freezing in a solid block.

Any side dish or salad that includes corn is pretty, but fava beans and striking-looking breakfast radishes—with their elongated shape, rosy red color, and creamy-looking root ends—make this dish more appealing and appetizing than most. Like most chefs, I love favas, but if you can’t find them or think they are too much trouble, replace them with lima beans.