Easy
Icebox Lemon Pie With Meringue
Mark our words: This is the easiest pie you’ll make all summer. The graham cracker crust gets filled with a simple mixture of sweetened condensed milk and lemon juice, and it gets topped with a golden-brown crown of meringue.
Frogmore Stew
This dish is the embodiment of a chowder-style Southern fish stew, packed with shrimp, scallops, potatoes, corn, and more.
Tea Cakes
You can personalize these tea cakes if you like, substituting a pinch of cinnamon, allspice, or mace for the nutmeg or sour cream for the buttermilk.
Strawberry-Rhubarb Crisp
The tender sweetness of summer-fresh strawberries paired with chunks of cherry-red rhubarb creates our favorite sweet-and-sour dessert.
White Russian
If vodka and cream and coffee are among your favorite things, this cocktail may be your jam.
Habanero BBQ Shrimp
Marinate shrimp in a sweet-spicy mixture of apricot preserves, lime, habanero, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger—then throw them on the grill for dinner in 15 minutes.
Apple and Kohlrabi Coleslaw
Since the crunchy apple and kohlrabi are so refreshing, it would make the perfect palate cleanser between heavier courses at dinner, but most often I eat it for a light lunch.
Trail Mix Cookies
Running out of Thanksgiving pie is the biggest drag of the holiday season. Console yourself by making these cookies with oats, chocolate chips, dried fruit, and nuts.
Whole Wheat–Oat Waffles
Mix the batter with a fork until it just barely comes together. A lumpy batter now means a light and tender waffle later.
Grilled Pork Shoulder Steaks With Herb Salad
The key to these juicy steaks is to flip them often, so the fat renders evenly without overcooking the meat. And don’t sleep on that herb salad—it adds freshness to the sticky-salty-sweet pork.
Crispy Turmeric-and-Pepper-Spiced Chicken Wings
Starting the wings in a cold oven allows the fat to render slowly so they get even crispier. Pour off the infused fat and save for stir-fries or cooking crispy eggs.
Charred Peppers With Lemon Ricotta and Cucumbers
The smoky charred peppers play well with the cool cucumbers and lemony ricotta. If you can’t find Italian frying peppers or just aren’t feeling them, grilled eggplant or zucchini would also pair well here.
Radishes With Crème Fraîche and Furikake
Furikake, the Japanese seasoning and condiment, comes in many store-bought styles. This streamlined homemade version has just five ingredients and is equally versatile on fish, steamed rice, or roasted vegetables.
Jalapeño Pepper Jelly
Serve this spicy pepper jelly with fresh cornbread muffins.
Kong Jaban
Cooked in dashi with soy sauce, sugar, and sesame oil, these sweet-and-savory black beans are often served as a side dish in Korean households as an accompaniment to spicy stews.
Lágrimas de la Virgen (Beet Cooler With Fruits)
The literal translation of the name of this drink is “the Virgin’s tears,” as the red color of the beets resembles tears of blood said to have been shed by the Virgin Mary. This beverage originated in the state of Guanajuato, maybe as long ago as the end of the sixteenth century. I found a few different variations, but this one seemed to be the most common, and it’s quite special. Although this beverage is customarily prepared during Lent for the festivities of Friday of Sorrows (the Friday before Good Friday), it’s a wonderful drink during fall, when beets and apples abound. This recipe makes a large batch to share at your next gathering.
Aguas Frescas (Mexican Fruit Coolers)
Aguas frescas, water-based fruit drinks, are a cool way to make your fresh fruit go further—especially in the summertime when you might have a larger watermelon than you know what to do with, or peaches that are starting to shrivel.
Rosemary Agrodolce
This versatile condiment brings a balanced mix of sweet, salty, acidic, and herbaceous flavors that complement virtually any pizza. If it’s not pizza night but you’ve got leftovers, drizzle this over roasted vegetables, cooked chicken, or a crispy-skinned piece of fish.
Soy and Ginger Steamed Fish
This method is endlessly adaptable: Swap the black bass for salmon; use spinach instead of cabbage. Don’t like mushrooms? Skip ’em!