Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Say Aloha to Summer with a Tiki Bash

There’s one weekend of summer left (what!?), which kind of begs for a party! If you’re throwing together a last-minute get-together, there is no better strategy than to make it a tiki party—and here’s why: Fun outfits. Tasty drinks. Delicious but low-effort food. Quality kitsch décor. Extraordinary music. OK, so […]

Grilling, Main Dishes

Spit-Roasted Garlic and Lime Chicken

Make 4 servings This recipe is very easy to prepare and bursting with flavor. If you do not have a rotisserie, you can roast the chicken in the oven in a roasting pan fitted with a roasting rack. Ingredients 1 teaspoon lime zest 3/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (about […]

Main Dishes, Salads

Summer Pasta Salad with Pecorino and Dill

Makes 6 to 8 servings You can call this pasta salad and enjoy it room temperature or chilled, or you can keep the components hot for a late-summer dinner. Try basil, mint, or a combination of the two as a substitute for the dill, if you like.

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Summertime Grilling for a Crowd

Grilling for a party always sounds fun, but inevitably, it ends up being stressful. Your chicken takes forever to cook, the burgers fall apart on the grill, or you over- (or under) cook those beautiful steaks you splurged on. This summer, go easy on yourself and plan a menu that […]

Main Dishes

Sweet and Sour Shrimp Lettuce Wraps

Makes 4 servings Lettuce wraps are a fun and easy meal to feed a crowd. Serve assembled wraps on platters, like we did here, or put out platters of lettuce leaves, cooked shrimp, and garnishes and let folks assemble their own. Make the sauce a few days ahead for minimal […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Turkey Burgers Without a Recipe

Turkey burgers have a reputation as the bland, virtuous cousin of the beef hamburger. And some can be, since ground turkey doesn’t bring much to the flavor table as an ingredient. But a turkey burger doesn’t have to be a boring substitute for something you would rather eat—it can be […]

Sandwiches

Vegetable Burgers

Makes 8 servings Ingredients 4 carrots, grated 2 celery stalks, grated 1 onion, grated 1/4 cup minced bell pepper (any color) 3/4 cup minced button or cremini mushrooms 8 scallions, minced 2 eggs, lightly beaten 1/2 cup chopped pecans 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 teaspoon […]

Allergen Friendly, Salads, Side Dishes

Watermelon and Cucumber Salad

Makes 4 servings To make perfect balls from the watermelon flesh, press a melon baller tool, also known as a Parisian scoop, into the watermelon and twist it to remove the ball of melon. If you do not have a melon baller, or just want to save time, cut the […]

Chef's Notes Plus

What I’m Cooking: Green Bean and Potato Salad

The main course is sort of the easy part. We can all grill chicken or roast a pork loin, but with limited ingredients, it can be the sides that throw us off. You can only eat boxed macaroni and cheese so many times, even during a global pandemic. Veggie sides […]