For this delightfully retro party snack, we turn to a veritable icon in the food world: James Beard. Originating in his 1972 book American Cookery, this rendition leans slightly closer to key seasonings in shrimp cocktail, featuring celery seed and Worcestershire sauce for that characteristic flavor. Guests will delight in the novelty of a dish called shrimp butter, and then be sold on the sheer deliciousness of it. A little shrimp goes a long way here, and best of all, the effort is minimal AND it all comes together in one bowl!...

The beauty of this dish is how easy it is to make. You only need one pot (yay!), and you build the flavors by layering each ingredient then letting it simmer. Don’t let the ease of this meal fool you. It’s great for a busy weeknight, but also presents well for a formal dinner. Your guests will feel transported to New Orleans and be thoroughly impressed with your cooking skills!...

What is Sloe? Sloe, pronounced “slow,” is a type of fruit found in England—it grows in abundance in thorny hedges. It’s slightly larger than a blueberry and belongs to the same family as plums. The flavor is plum-like, but they are very sour and bitter. When combined with sugar in the same manner as rhubarb, they can transform into delicious jams, syrups, and liqueurs, like sloe gin. Most, but not all, sloe gin brands hail from England....

The Flexibility of a Slow Cooker I love my slow cooker—it frees my hands (and oven) for hours, and the cook time is always forgiving. Fill it with ingredients, put the lid on, and let it do its thing. It doesn’t get much easier than that! Most slow cookers have three settings: high, low, and warm. I start most slow cooker recipes on high and reduce to low if I want to draw out the cook time....

Like the proverbial groundhog, who failing to see his shadow, retreats into the comfort of his burrow, in the chilly, foggy dampness of what is Sacramento winter, I stick my head out the door, only to make a quick retreat back into the house, wanting nothing more than to make a big pot of this hearty soup. Made with dried “split” peas, and cooked up with flavorful, smoky ham hocks, split pea soup is warm, satisfying, and great for leftovers....

You never know if biting into one is going to yield that wonderful flavor and kick that is the basis for so much of Southwestern food. Or if that one little bite will pack such a fiery punch that you’ll be running around the room mouth agape and tears in your eyes, begging for something to cool it all down. Dairy Is the Antidote to Jalapeño Heat If you find that the pepper you’ve bitten into is just too hot for your tongue, cool it off with sour cream, milk, or cream cheese....

I love how tart apples and dried cranberries amplify the hint of sweetness in the squash. Wild rice is so pretty and has an earthy flavor and chewy texture. Combine all of those tasty bits with ground turkey, celery, and herbs and it adds up to supper in one nice package. I’ll take it! Tips for Preparing Acorn Squash Acorn squash is one of fall and winter’s treasures, so take advantage, and use it in as many ways as possible during chilly weather....

Basic Ingredients for Veggie Tacos I’ve made these for lunch for the last three days straight with summer squash, green chiles, tomatoes, and jalapeños from our garden. You can improvise with the vegetables, a little fresh corn would work great added in, or some cooked beans as well. We have fresh chiles, so I included them, you could always just add some salsa or jalapeño pickles to taste. Two Tips for Great Tacos The key to the overall taste is the addition at the end of cotija cheese, a Mexican cheese that is salty and crumbly, much like Greek feta....

You only have to plant it once. (Assuming you don’t pull it up thinking it’s a weed when it surprises you by coming up the second year. Yes, that would be me.) I planted a young tarragon plant in a corner of our garden several years ago, and although it dies back every winter, each spring it reemerges even more robust than the year before. Tarragon is a lovely herb to pair with chicken or fish, and is terrific in omelettes....

There are many models available and picking one can seem like a chore. There are a lot of aspects to consider in your decision. Not all chest freezers can handle extreme external temperatures, like those found in an uninsulated garage in the middle of the summer. There are also different built-in organizational systems so all your smaller frozen goods have a chance to resurface before the dreaded freezer burn sets in....

When thinking about your next meal prep container there is a lot to consider. Material is the first thing you’ll want to address. Meal prep containers made of plastic and glass all have a shelf life and you’ll want to keep that in mind when making your choice. Set variety is the second aspect to consider since having more than one works wonders for people who prep days in advance....

Of course, the options are overwhelming. What kind of material should you choose from glass, stainless steel, or plastic? And how big should your bottle be? This all depends on who and how you’ll be using it. After all, you might want something insulated for both hot and cold drinks, while your kids need a smaller size that won’t leak and can fit in their lunchbox. We’ve researched a variety of water bottles with different specifications to help narrow down the best ones in each category....

“If heat accuracy, response time, or wok-cooking is a priority, we typically recommend a gas cooktop," says Kerrie Kelly, CEO of Kerrie Kelly Design Lab. “If a home cook loves to simmer, cook pasta, or if easy cleanup is a must, an electric cooktop may be best.” “[I recommend] surrounding a cooking appliance with plenty of countertop prep space and a nearby sink," Kelly says. “Additionally, we ensure that appliance and cabinet doors and handles won’t collide and that an oven or cooktop isn’t located right next to a refrigerator, with the heat taxing and shortening the larger appliance’s lifespan....

There are many options for counter-depth refrigerators. When selecting the best counter-depth fridge for your kitchen, it’s essential to consider your space, capacity, doors, freezer arrangement, and style. For example, our top choice the Frigidaire Gallery 4-Door French Door has a central flexible door between above the freezer that can be adjusted to any temperature you like between 6 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit. To help you narrow down the choices, we’ve rounded up our best counter-depth refrigerators....

Muddlers are generally inexpensive, but because there are so many to choose from, we interviewed a slew of bartenders and mixology experts to learn their favorites. We then sent the top models to a home kitchen for our tester to assess how they performed on common cocktail ingredients. The winner ended up being the Winco Wooden Muddler Lacquered Walnut model. Here are the best muddlers, guesswork removed and broken into helpful categories for the discerning buyer....

I began scheming up a super fudgy, no-frills brownie that could be gluten free, egg free, and dairy free—and still leave us all reaching for more. Mission accomplished! Coconut Oil Instead of Butter First, I like using coconut oil when baking with chocolate because the flavors complement each other so well. But you could use any oil you’d like here: A neutral-flavored oil like canola or safflower oil would be just fine....

While it once seemed impossible to make great cookies without dairy (butter!) and eggs, expert vegan bakers have made it possible with the smart use of oils, non-dairy milks, and vegan products like chocolate and even sugar. Vegan chocolate chip cookies are so satisfying that, dare I say it, I prefer them to my non-vegan cookie recipe. They win on both texture and flavor and happen to be quicker and easier to make....

Meat eaters, take a break! And vegetarians, relish this version that will fill your tummies ever so agreeably. You will bask in the pleasure of a shared meal, because this recipe makes a lot. You’re going to have to fill the seats at your table with obliging and hungry friends or family. Doesn’t that sound like a brilliant idea? Easy Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie A shepherd’s pie is often a catch-all for leftovers, topped with mashed potatoes and baked in a casserole....

Great question, and thanks for writing in! Sometimes big changes can be overwhelming, but luckily baking all your favorite treats without eggs isn’t too tough once you get into the swing of it! There are a number of store bought egg substitutes that you could try. To be honest, I haven’t tried many of them, but I know friends who really like the one from Bob’s Red Mill. But even easier, I think, is a hack that you can do at home by making a “flax egg....

The tofu most commonly used for cooking comes in plastic packages in soft, medium-firm, firm, and extra firm textures. This kind of tofu—and a brief segue into silken—is the one I’m going to talk about here, as it’s the most accessible, approachable, and versatile of the bunch. What is Tofu Made Of? Tofu is a minimally-processed food. It’s made by combining water and dried mature white soybeans (not to be confused with tender, green edamame) to make fresh soy milk, at which point a coagulant is added to help the resulting strained liquid curdle and bind together into a solid form....