Marinating steak in Coca-Cola is a pro grilling move practiced by experienced cooks, including Korean grill masters, who rely on the soda to give bulgogi and kalbi an extra pop, and my own Midwestern mom. Soda’s unique blend of high acidity and sugar both tenderizes the meat and speeds up caramelization on the grill for … Read more
This take on a classic Sri Lankan curry is particularly unique due to its use of black pepper, which has a slow-building heat that creeps up on you. Black pepper doesn’t contain capsaicin, the substance responsible for chiles’ spiciness; instead it possesses a compound called piperine that gives it a warming intensity. (Peppercorns tend to … Read more
These grilled chicken skewers are flavorful, spicy, and full of citrusy pep, all without having to juice a lemon. The secret ingredient? Sprite. I took a note from chicken inasal, a Filipino barbecued chicken dish, and marinated the chicken breasts in the lemon-lime soda along with fish sauce, garlic, and Thai chili sauce to tenderize … Read more
These cheesy vegetarian enchiladas offer all of the saucy goodness of the comfort food classic with minimal fuss. Chopped veggies, black beans, and aromatics all cook in one pot, then get mashed for a meaty texture before the enchilada filling is rolled into tortillas with a sprinkling of spicy pepper Jack cheese. But there’s no … Read more
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I think we can all agree that the world is a better place with creamy salads. Imagine a universe without egg salad sandwiches. How dreary. Egg salad may have its detractors (smelly! mushy!), but fans know the unique comfort of that first bite—smooth dressing, slightly bouncy egg whites, velvety yolks, and maybe a little crunch … Read more
Angel food cake with chocolate frosting is a dreamy dessert that requires a delicate touch. If you’re starting with store-bought cake, make sure it’s fresh and springs back when you (gently) touch it. Our go-to angel food cake recipe gets its ethereal texture from cream of tartar and finely milled cake flour, which forms less … Read more
What constitutes a picnic salad, exactly? It’s a simple dish built to be packed up into a reusable container, toted to the park, and shared. A picnic salad is no worse for being eaten in direct sunlight—though it also excels straight from the fridge, making it an ideal make-ahead work lunch option. It’s zippy and … Read more
I’m writing this review partly to help others who also think this cake needed tweaking and so I can remember what tweaks I made. I increased the lemon juice to half a cup (the juice of about 1.5-2 medium lemons), and reduced the water to 2 tbsps. Also, 2.5 tbsps of zest is about the … Read more
The sun is out, the birds are singing, and there’s a sweet scent in the air. Strawberry season is officially upon us, which means that these strawberry muffins should be at the top of your to-bake list, right along with the requisite strawberry shortcake. Showcasing spring’s finest jewels, these muffins are chock-full of strawberry flavor … Read more
This homemade raspberry jam recipe has no lemon juice, pectin, or other add-ins, just the berries and sugar. Adding pectin “necessitates more sugar,” says Eleanor Topp, author of The Complete Book of Year-Round Small-Batch Preserving. And using more sugar “dilutes the natural flavor of the fruit.” She also notes that while not adding pectin requires … Read more