Skirt Steak with Crispy Garlic Potatoes

Posted by Kellee Miller

These days, most of us pass by the steaks at the meat counter, and head straight to the chicken breasts—for health and wallet reasons. But every so often I need a chicken break, and a steak dinner is just the thing to spice up my weeknight meals. It feels indulgent, especially with the typical steakhouse side of crispy garlicky potatoes.

Skirt steak is a favorite of mine. I love its marbled look (and taste) and I can always find it in my grocery store’s meat section.

Once it’s ready to be cut, I slice it against the grain and arrange it artfully on the plate alongside the potatoes; a green salad rounds out the plate. Presentation is key to a meal like this: If I’m having steak, I want to make the dinner feel special. It helps me remember to slow down, savor each bite, and relax a bit.

What do you cook on weeknights that lend your evening a feeling of indulgence?

New Year's Cocktails

Posted by Adina Steiman

Something about the popping of a cork, the fizz and foam of sparkling wine, and the clink of glasses still spells great New Year's wishes. But there's no need to spend lots of money on a fancy Champagne -- any good sparkling wine can be just as satisfying (check out the New York Times for great suggestions).

Even better, use a great sparkling wine in a cocktail to add even more cheer (and halve the expense)! Here are our favorite sparkling cocktails:

Pear and Cranberry Bellini
Ginger Sparkler
Kir Royales

Wishing you and yours a very happy and healthy New Year!

Cozy Winter Vacation Dinners

Posted by Joseph Erdos

Who wants to leave the house when it's cold and blustery outside? All you want to do is cozy up with a hot, comforting dish. All of the recipes here feature both seasonal vegetables and staple ingredients from your cupboards, pantry, or freezer. Whenever you serve one of these meals for supper, you'll get the entire family -- including the snow-covered kids -- together at the table in no time.

This 30-minute Vegetarian Black-Bean Chili is hearty and pleasing for the meat eaters too. The recipe calls for zucchini, but choose a seasonal vegetable like squash. Top it with cheese, sour cream, or broken tortilla chips, and your family will feel like it's a fiesta. Everyone has cans of tuna in the cupboard to make this Mediterranean Tuna Noodle Casserole. Adding a can of artichoke hearts and some grated Parmesan gives this dish its Mediterranean flavor.

Chicken with Cranberry Sauce

Posted by Adina Steiman

Turkey isn't the only kind of poultry that works fabulously with cranberries -- here, juicy roasted chicken breast gets the holiday treatment, too. And the good news is, it's ready to eat much faster than turkey is! While the chicken is roasting, why not make some buttermilk mashed potatoes on the stove and toss together a quick green salad? A festive dinner in a flash!

How do you like to use cranberries in your cooking?

Vegetable Lasagna

Posted by Alison Sickelka

This comforting classic is sure to please any crowd. From potlucks to low-key family gatherings, lasagna is always a favorite, and this meatless version will satisfy both vegetarians and the meat eaters at your table. Make enough for two casseroles and freeze one for later. It will keep for two months. Just add 10 minutes to the cook time.

PREP: 25 minutes
TOTAL: 1 hour 20 minutes

GET THE RECIPE:
Vegetable Lasagna

Holiday Breakfast and Brunch Ideas

Posted by Joseph Erdos

Instead of a bowl of cereal, impress your loved ones with something decadent, like these Easy Eggs Florentine. They're much easier than Eggs Benedict, but just as delicious. Or whip up a simple omelet. We show you how to master it so you'll make it again and again.

For sides, these home fries are a comfort food that everyone loves. We've made them healthier by roasting them in the oven with just a small amount of oil. For the pork lover in all of us, how about oven-baked Brown-Sugar Glazed Bacon? Brown sugar lends a nice sweetness to the crisp thickly sliced bacon -- it's amazingly flavorful!

Instead of cooking up morning meals a la carte, try breakfast or brunch in a big batch to feed a crowd. This Canadian-Bacon Strata can be prepared the night before and baked fresh in the morning, and Canadian bacon is a lean and flavorful alternative to regular bacon. This Apple-and-Cheddar Frittata, made with egg whites, is light but not short on flavor. For a traditional brunch-time favorite, there's always a quiche, like this one made with goat cheese and a hash-brown crust  -- it's a nice twist on the classic.

My two favorite breakfast items are pancakes and French toast. These fluffy Banana-Buttermilk Pancakes hit just the right spot. The buttermilk makes them airy and the bananas caramelize a little bit in the frying pan -- adding more flavor. And this French toast is cut extra thick so it can be stuffed with a mixture of apricot jam and cream cheese. It's the ultimate breakfast indulgence.

For something to go with the mid-morning cup of coffee or tea, we have moist, jeweled Cranberry Scones. For something a bit more special, there's Lemon-Ginger Bundt Cake. Just make a batter in minutes using an electric mixer, and bake. These treats will start off your day in a truly merry way!

What's your favorite breakfast/brunch dish to serve guests?

Our Warmest Yuletide Sippers

Posted by Adina Steiman

Even if you don't have a fireside to cozy up to this winter, you can still warm up right down to your toes with one of these warm drinks.

Spice-infused mulled wine is a perfect complement to eggnog -- or a welcome alternative. Chocolate fans will never turn down a classic hot chocolate, but for a Christmas twist, you can also offer peppermint hot chocolate! And for a drink that's as comforting as a warm slice of apple pie, serve steaming mugfuls of mulled cider.

What warm drinks do you like to sip during the holidays?

Christmas Side Dish Roundup

Posted by Joseph Erdos

When you're invited to a Christmas party, don't just go empty handed. Help out the harried holiday host by bringing along a side dish. She'll be extra thankful that you did -- and the other guests will praise your cooking too. Here are some great side dish ideas that are simple, flavorful, and seasonal. They can be made the day before and warmed up in your host's oven.

Some of the best winter vegetables are from the cabbage family -- my personal favorite is Brussels sprouts. This recipe for Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Apples is simply the best -- and it can be made in minutes. All you do is boil halved Brussels sprouts, saute bacon and apples, and then just add the sprouts to the pan and it's ready to enjoy.

Red Cabbage with Apple is another dish made using bacon as a base -- you really can't go wrong with bacon! The cabbage cooks slowly with apple, vinegar, and water until tender. It all turns a beautiful purple color. Serve it with turkey, ham, or duck -- it makes a nice accompaniment with practically any meat.

Potatoes Anna might be one of the easiest and most comforting side dishes you will ever make. It's a casserole of many layers of thinly sliced potatoes brushed with butter and seasoned with salt and pepper. After baking for slightly less than an hour, invert it onto a plate, and the result is a crispy wreath of potatoes.

Instead of carrots prepared the usual way of steaming or boiling, this Puffed Carrot Casserole reinvents the root vegetable into a spoon bread. Butter and brown sugar make this savory side sweet. Your host will be impressed -- and you'll probably be asked for the recipe.

Earthy flavor is the feature of this dish of Glazed Squash. The only ingredients you need are salt, pepper, brown sugar, and oil. It's a dish that is easy to toss together on a baking sheet and pop in the oven -- and it's baked in just 25 minutes.

What side dish will you be bringing to a holiday party?

Cookie Countdown: Chewy Molasses Spice Cookies

Posted by Adina Steiman

Nothing says Christmas better than a house filled with the scent of just-baked spice cookies. And if you're looking for that perfect recipe, you've come to the right place. These treats have a delicate, sweet chewiness from a touch of molasses, a crisp, crackly exterior from a sugar coating, and the perfect balance of cinnamon and nutmeg.

What are your favorite sweet spices for baking?

Soy-Glazed Beef with Green Beans

Posted by Adina Steiman

Wrapping presents last minute? Still cleaning and readying your house for soon-to-be-arriving guests? These tasks, though, don’t mean you should neglect dinner: In fact, you need a meal with lots of protein to keep your energy level high. And time is factor.

That’s why this dish is perfect. Skirt steak gets a quick sear. The green beans are steamed briefly. And then both are tossed with a sauce made from pantry staples. It’s all on the table in 30 minutes.

Plus, the first bite of tender, juicy steak will make you forget—at least for a bit—the rest of the tasks at hand. That is my favorite kind of dinner.

This dish might even become a staple in your dinner-in-a-hurry recipe file. What strategies do you put to use on nights like these?