Chef's Notes Plus

Cranberry Sauce Without a Recipe

If there is anything on your Thanksgiving checklist that isn’t worth stressing over, cranberry sauce should be it. We know that lots of people don’t make their own cranberry sauce, and maybe you prefer the nostalgia of can-berry! Even some of us who work night and day for weeks to […]

Sauces, Dressings, and Condiments

Greek-Style Feta Sauce

Makes 1 1/2 cups Ingredients 1 cup feta cheese 1/4 cup minced dill 1/4 cup lemon juice, fresh 1 teaspoon kosher salt 3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil Directions Combine the feta, dill, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and olive oil in a bowl. Store in the […]

Sauces, Dressings, and Condiments

Harissa

Makes about 1 1/2 cups Ingredients 1 1/4 lb fresh red chiles, preferably Fresnos 1 small red dried hot chile 1 oz sun-dried tomatoes (about 1/3 cup) 1 garlic clove, crushed to a paste with a pinch of salt 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander 1/4 teaspoon ground […]

Sauces, Dressings, and Condiments

Hollandaise Sauce

Makes 1 1/2 cups sauce Ingredients 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar or cider vinegar 1/2 teaspoon cracked black peppercorns 3 tablespoons water, plus more as needed 3 egg yolks, lightly beaten 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and kept warm 1/2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, plus more as needed […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Home School: Easy Tomato Sauce

Reasons Why You Might Want to Make Tomato Sauce This Week: It’s delicious, and pasta is a pretty efficient comfort food. It’s also versatile and good for more than pasta (read: pizza, stirred into broth to make a soup, smeared on bread, etc.) It’s easy. It’s endlessly customizable, meaning you […]

Desserts

Hot Fudge Sauce

Makes about 2 cups Ingredients 6 oz unsweetened chocolate, melted 1/2 cup cocoa powder 2/3 cup water 1 cup sugar 1/2 cup light corn syrup 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt 2 teaspoons vanilla extract Directions Combine the melted chocolate, cocoa powder, and water in a […]

Chef's Notes Plus

How to Make a Pan Sauce with No Recipe

Just like you, we’re not making fully formed extravagant dinners every night of the week. Sometimes a basic pan-cooked protein + side is as good as it gets, like a sautéed chicken breast or seared pork chop. But just like the foundations of French cooking tell us, nothing makes a […]

Sauces, Dressings, and Condiments

Italian-Style Sauce

Makes 1 cup Use this sauce for dipping, as a marinade, or as the base for a salad dressing. Stir it into soup for a punch of herb flavor, or serve it along side grilled or roasted vegetables or meat. Ingredients 2 cups roughly chopped flat-leaf parsley 1/4 cup extra-virgin […]

Sauces, Dressings, and Condiments

Jack Black Barbecue Sauce

Makes 2 1/2 cups sauce The name “Jack Black” refers to the Jack Daniels whiskey in the recipe and the deep color of the sauce. When it has finished cooking, the sauce may look burnt, but it isn’t; the color is supposed to be very dark, and the sauce will […]