When I was a kid, on the days peas were being served for dinner, my siblings and I would jockey for a particular seat at the dining room table. This spot had a secret drawer in the table. (Well maybe not so secret, but good enough to not catch the notice of our unsuspecting parents.) The trick was to take a spoonful of peas, cover your mouth as if you were wiping something away, extricate the peas from your mouth into your hand, slyly open the drawer, and place the peas in the drawer....

Most lemon cookies also tend to be crispy and crumbly. I have nothing against those cookies, but I want a cookie that I can really sink my teeth into. These soft and chewy lemon cookies are certainly that. Lemon Lovers Only! It seems like my friends are evenly split between chocolate lovers and lemon lovers when it comes to dessert. On one side are those folks who crave dark, rich, earthy, dense chocolate....

It’s one of my favorite dips, and perfect with pita bread or veggies. This version is a slight departure from the traditional tzatziki. In this one we are swapping out the cucumbers for leafy green Swiss chard. It’s a great way to put leafy greens to work (could use beet greens or spinach as well), and it tastes great! (Can’t stop eating great) I’ve also added some fresh chopped mint, lemon juice and lemon zest....

To help figure out what the top nonstick pans are, we decided to put a few of our picks to the test. We took them into our kitchens to make eggs over easy, whip up batches of pancakes, warm up leftovers, and then clean it all up. We then reported back on whether dripped cheese burned into the surface or if stewed tomatoes stained the ceramic enamel during the at-home testing....

So where should you begin in your quest for the ultimate fridge? There are plenty of options on the market. Here are the best French door refrigerators. What We Don’t Love: Some users report issues with ice maker, limited warranty This is a 22-cubic-foot French door fridge with everything, including Wi-Fi and the Samsung Family Hub application, which organizes the smart contents into food management, entertainment, family connection, and Smart Home compatibility....

Types of Ground Beef There are two types of ground meat: meat labeled “hamburger” can have beef fat added to it; meat labeled “ground beef” cannot. Up to 30% fat is allowed for both hamburger and ground beef. Ground beef is labeled by lean-to-fat ratio: 80/20 = ground beef that contains 80% lean meat and 20% fat85/15 = ground beef that contains 85% lean meat and 15% fat90/10 = ground beef that contains 90% lean meat and 10% fat...

And yes, I pick and choose my whiskey glasses depending on whether I want to really investigate the smell and taste of a new-to-me bottle of bourbon, or if I just want to casually sip and relax. Whiskey glasses are actually a pretty personal thing. LC May, grandson of Clyde May, the original bootlegger, and brand ambassador to Clyde May’s Alabama Whiskey prefers Glencairn whiskey glasses for at-home tasting or special occasions....

The man at the gas station whistled, “You got far off track,” and used a nubby finger to point me to the right exit. In the car, I turned up Alison Krauss and wailed deeply, dramatically. I’d had breakups before, but this was no breakup. It was a fissure I’d seen coming that felt nonetheless like a great and endless fall. I was convinced that we would not break up, and that was the real tragedy....

In looking back at what you all loved the most in June, it seems you were working through your supply of tuna and rice with new spins on the classics (I’m looking at you, tuna salad and vibrant turmeric rice!) And I think it’s safe to say we were all overjoyed to see strawberries and cherries in the markets –and you celebrated by roasting those gorgeous red berries into a saucy treat....

There are many benefits to making your own burritos and they always turn out better than a store-bought frozen burrito which tends to be skimpy on the fillings. I load this won up with cilantro-lime rice, peppers, corn, black beans, salsa, and little cheese to pull the whole thing together. Assemble, wrap in foil and freeze. Dinner is waiting and ready when you are! Making them at home allows you to customize the filling and stuff them full to your heart’s content!...

What is Tamarind? Tamarind is a tree indigenous to Africa that produces chocolate-brown pod-like fruits with a sticky, sweet, and sour pulp inside. Populations across Asia, Africa, and South and Central America extensively use tamarind in cooking. Types: Tamarind paste concentrate and tamarind paste puree Often found in: Tamarind chutney, agua de tamarindo, tamarind sugar candy, Pad Thai, and various curries Substitutes: Pomegranate molasses or a combination of lime juice and brown sugar Typical dishes that use tamarind include tamarind chutney, agua de tamarindo, tamarind sugar candy, Pad Thai, and various curries....

But if you don’t have a thermometer handy, can’t you just look for juice that runs clear? Let’s talk about how to know when chicken is cooked and debunk a few myths while we’re at it. How to Check the Temperature of Cooked Chicken You know what’s not a myth? Checking the internal temperature of chicken. Period. Here’s how to do it properly. Use an instant-read digital thermometer. Check out our favorite digital thermometers here: Editors’ Picks: Instant-Read Digital Thermometers Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the meat (click here for photos) and make sure the probe isn’t touching any bones, which can throw off the temperature....

Yes, I’m taking about flour. Today we consider availability, consistency, and specialty for a list of flour brands we rely on and buy again and again! Our Favorite All-Purpose Flours Overall we love King Arthur Baking Company, Bob’s Red Mill, and Gold Medal for all-purpose flour. King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour $6.99 for three 3-pound bags from King Arthur Baking Company Formerly known as King Arthur Flour, King Arthur Baking Company updated their new name and logo last summer to better represent the company’s commitment to all kinds of baking....

Excerpted with permission from Boards and Spreads. Copyright © 2022 by Yasmin Fahr. Photographs copyright © 2022 by Julia Gartland. Published by Clarkson Potter/Publishers, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

For someone who was always the designated present wrapper in the family, this is what I fantasize about, but without a fancy room to keep everything in, the kitchen table remains my trusty stand-in. A solid drink in hand makes wrapping a pile of presents even more enjoyable. If you’ve got a night of wrapping presents ahead of you, take a look at our recommendations for tasty cocktails and zero-proof beverages....

We plan to celebrate the end of 2021 and usher in 2022 with more pizazz! For that, we’ll need an assortment of festive yet easy recipes that everyone, including the kids, can enjoy. I’m going to set out easy finger foods, fun dips and platters, and fizzy family-friendly drinks. For dessert, I’ll make a variety of cookies and candies for us all to munch on throughout the evening, so we can ring in the new year with full hearts and bellies....

This means the meal tastes just as good warmed up as it did hot off the stove. I also like to make balanced healthy meals that are tasty enough to keep the complaining at bay. I find that pastas, casseroles, rice bowls, skillet dinners, and sandwiches work best for prepping now for eating later. They also need minimal sides, if any. The variety of flavors and textures are satisfying, leaving just enough room for a (healthy-ish) dessert....

Because of this, I’ve learned to adapt and use substitutes! Luckily, there are a lot of great ones. Here are the very best, including one that’s dairy-free. What Is Buttermilk? Traditionally, buttermilk was the liquid left behind after churning butter. Nowadays, however, buttermilk is made by adding bacterial cultures to low-fat or whole milk to produce a fermented milk product that’s slightly thick, with yogurt-like tartness. Buttermilk is most commonly used in baking....

Here are the tips you need to know to make perfect cookies every time. 1. All Ingredients Should Be at the Right Temperature (Usually Room) A mindset that completely changed my baking is when I started to think of temperature as another ingredient. Temperature is crucial in any baking recipe, and it certainly holds for cookies as well. Good cookie recipes not only specify oven temperature but also what temperature the ingredients should be before mixing....

Do you get similar pangs? There are still plenty of summery nights left, so make the most of them as you transition to the altered schedules of school or whatever changes life may hold for you! These are light, carefree recipes to enjoy while mentally adjusting to the eve of autumn. New to Meal Planning? Start here! 10 Things to Know If You’re a First-Time Meal Planner Looking for Last Week’s Meal Plan?...