The Hungry Mouse

I remember versions of this from summer picnics when I was a little mouse. It's one of the first things I love to make when the winter weather starts to break. This salad is a cool and classic combination of sour cream and dill. To prepare it, you soak the cuke slices in a little seasoned rice vinegar and kosher salt...

OK, so this is cheating. Well, sort of. This may not be real barbecue, but it is one of my favorite ways to make chicken legs: Indoors. In the oven. Seared, then smothered in hot, spicy sauce and slow baked. Let's face it: Nothing can replace good, outdoor barbecue. But, sometimes you just don't feel like firing up the grill. (Or, sometimes...

I have no excuses for this one. It's all chocolate, sugar, heavy cream, butter, and eggs. Grab a spoon and put on your fat pants. Move over, Jello. That's all I have to say. Warm pudding When it's warm, it's really thick but has a more traditional pudding consistency. When it's chilled, however...oh, oh, oh!...it almost approximates soft fudge. Or thick chocolate...

C'mon. Let's do some magic tricks in the kitchen. We'll start by making a feast that's fit for a king�for practically pennies. All you need is a sharp knife, a few hours, and a roomful of friends to feed. This pork shoulder is butterflied, rubbed with olive oil, garlic, and herbs, then slow roasted�a method that transforms this relatively cheap,...

Sometimes I bake things, then need to immediately give them away so I don't gobble down the whole pan. You know how that goes? This cornbread is like that. It's sweet, light, and soft�with just the right amount of bite from stone-ground cornmeal. And since it's made with low-fat buttermilk and olive oil (instead of milk and butter), it's slightly...

So recently, I found myself with a bunch of spare egg whites. (Stay tuned to find out what happened to the yolks sometime later this week...) I was starving when this happened. I whipped them together quickly with a handful of stuff I had in the fridge, and...voila! A super light omelet that was packed with flavor. This would also...

I don't know what got me on a candy kick, but I have sweets on the brain lately. This fudge is chocolate-y, creamy�and entirely too easy to eat. If you have friends in far-flung places, wrap it up tightly and send a little love. It ships really well. Creamy Chocolate Fudge, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap then wax paper Creamy Chocolate Fudge:...

I've said it before: I love hot food. This rice is a fabulously spicy side that's packed with flavor. Turn it into a more substantial meal by tossing in some sauteed shrimp or leftover roast chicken or pork. This rice gets a triple kick of heat from cayenne, chipotle, and Aleppo chili flakes�and a potent dose of bright flavor from...

These ribs get a ton of deep, pepper-y flavor from freshly cracked black pepper—and a fair amount of heat from ground chipotle chili. They also get a double dose of smoke from a generous amount of ground chipotle and smoked paprika. Smokey Black Pepper Beef Ribs 4 lbs. beef back ribs (about 8 ribs) 2 Tbls. freshly cracked black pepper 1 Tbls. kosher salt 1...

If butter were a vegetable, it'd be an avocado. (It's no wonder I love these little green guys so much.) This sandwich is one of my guilty pleasures. It's a great, no-hassle lunch or dinner in a pinch. I mean, let's face it: Sometimes, you just don't feel like cooking. This is hardly even a recipe. Mash up a ripe...