Desserts

Chocolate Peanut Butter Icebox Cake

Makes 8 servings This may be an icebox cake recipe, but the beauty of an icebox cake is that it requires no recipe. Simple layer your favorite cookie (graham crackers, chocolate chip, snickerdoodles!) with something creamy (pudding, whipped cream, dulce de leche!) and wait until tomorrow. Ingredients 2 cups heavy […]

Sauces, Dressings, and Condiments

Compound Butters

Lime Chili Butter, Scallion Butter, and Roasted Garlic Butter are three of our favorite compound butters, which can be used to top grilled meats and vegetables, as a toasted sandwich spread, or as an accompaniment on a brunch table. Create your own variations, adding spices, minced chiles, smoked salt, or […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Compound Butters for Easy Summer Dinners

As grilling season heats up, you may be looking for ways to add flavor to your grilled meats and veggies. Marinades offer endless options, but they require time, which is not always on our side. For a quick and simple addition to your grilling toolbox, consider compound butters. Prepared ahead […]

Pies and Tarts

Cookie Crumb Crust

Makes one 9-inch pie or tart pan This master crumb crust recipe can be made with a variety of cookies, including oatmeal, gingersnap, chocolate, and sugar cookies. Be sure to select crispy, dry cookies and avoid soft or filled ones. A crust prepared with them will not hold together and […]

Allergen Friendly, Free Recipes, Soups and Stews

Corn and Squash Soup

Makes 4 to 6 servings The basil is a nice bright flavor in this quick and easy broth, but you can use whatever herb you may have on hand. Substitute zucchini for the yellow squash, if necessary. We like to serve this with puréed roasted peppers or sun-dried tomatoes, if […]

Salads

Corn and Tomato Salad with Basil Vinaigrette

Makes 4 to 6 servings This salad is simple as summer, with the season’s biggest flavor powerhouse ingredients. Serve it as a side dish or as a main course topped with grilled shrimp or stewed  beans. We love it for lunch with a slice of crusty bread to soak up […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Creamy Corn, Hold the Cream

Corn: looks like a vegetable and tastes like dessert. Enjoying summer corn is probably the easiest thing you do all year. To date, we’ve never met a person who doesn’t like it. It can be eaten raw, but even if you cook it, it takes less than five minutes. It’s […]

Free Recipes, Side Dishes

Curried Cauliflower “Couscous”

Try adding an extra serving of vegetables to any meal with some curried cauliflower couscous. This makes a great make ahead side dish for meal prepping. Makes 4 servings 1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. 2. Break the cauliflower into florets, slicing the larger florets in half. Toss the cauliflower […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Dress Up Your Roasted Veggies for Thanksgiving

One of the best and easiest Thanksgiving side dishes is a platter of simple roasted vegetables. We’ve talked about the basics of roasting veggies, but let’s talk about how to dress them up for the holidays. For a typical weeknight dinner, you most likely roast your vegetables in olive oil […]

Pantry, Sauces, Dressings, and Condiments

Dry Taco Seasoning

Makes 1/4 cup Keep this taco seasoning on hand for whenever you want to spice up some ground meat or sautéed vegetables for a wrap. It is lower in sodium than most packaged taco seasonings. Epazote is an herb used in Mexican cooking. It is similar to oregano, so you […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Easy Jam for Your Farmers’ Market Finds (No Canning!)

Making jam can feel like an overwhelming project, mostly because of the labor-intensive canning process. But making jam doesn’t requirecanning and can actually be a really quick way to preserve fruits at their peak season! Depending on where you live, you are either knee-deep in strawberries or waiting expectantly for […]