Creamy Mashed Parsnips & Potatoes

See? I eat vegetables. (Sorry, couldn't resist!) This is one of my favorite takes on mashed potatoes. It's rich, buttery, and gets a delightfully mellow sweetness from the parsnips. Soft bits of onion add a...

The Best Way to Roast a Duck (Hello, Crispy Skin!)

Intimidated by roasting a whole duck? Don't be. This post will teach you the best way to roast a duck, and guide you along with step-by-step photos. Editor's Note (Updated November 2021): Since 2009, this...

Buttermilk Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

This has to be one of my favorite cakes. It's remarkably tender and spicy—and covered in gloriously tangy cream-cheese and butter frosting. And the best part? It's ridiculously easy to make. Combine the dry ingredients,...

Oreo & Irish-Cream Milkshake

OK, I have no excuses for this one. It's evil—and oh-so-delicious. It's rich. It's creamy. It's packed with crushed Oreo cookies and laced with booze. It's one part dessert and one part cocktail. (And kind...

Rustic, Family-Style Pork with Red Sauce

This is a fabulous way to feed a crowd on a budget. Pork shoulder is a tough cut of meat, so it's generally on the cheaper side. (In fact, this is the same cut of...

Pomegranate-Orange Sorbet

When I was just a little mouse, my mom occasionally got me a pomegranate as a treat. It was fun to open, got you properly sticky and covered with ruby-colored juice, and glistened with...

One Potato, Two Potato, Part 2: Duck Fat Hash Browns

What's the best thing about making duck for dinner? The leftover duck fat. At least, so says The Mouse. What's even better? Using that fat to fry potatoes. Mmmm, mmm, mmm. Right now, I'm not...

Rib of the Week: Short Ribs Braised in Red Wine

This is my take on classic boeuf Bourguignon, a traditional French dish of beef braised in Burgundy wine, then garnished with mushrooms and small white onions. (Wine not your thing? Try my Guinness-Braised Short Ribs...

Basic Cooking: The Secret to Perfectly Cooked Hard-Boiled Eggs

Hard-boiled eggs? How about *hardly* boiled eggs? Now that's more accurate. (And that's also the secret to perfectly cooking them.) I make hard-boiled eggs the way my mother does. And she uses the same basic...

One Potato, Two Potato, Part 1: Cognac-Laced Potato Cream Soup

The humble potato is so versatile—and filling—that I'm not sure why I don't use it more often. This soup sounds fancy, but you can whip it up in no time flat—with stuff you probably already...