Quick and Easy

[Editor's Note: Lemon curd is one of those tangy, wonderful treats that I love to eat, but have never tried to make. It's a great ingredient to use in other baked goods, but is also lovely drizzled on toast, or, well, just eaten with a spoon, if you're decadently-inclined. This recipe makes homemade lemon curd sound just easy enough that I am now dying to try it myself! --Genie]  Read more

[Editor's Note: Here's a great way to take a traditional appetizer and make it more convenient for your guests, while making it prettier along the way, too! I love the idea of these small cups of dip, which both provide excellent portion control and give everyone a better view of the layers that make this distinctive appetizer what it is. --Genie] Individual Seven-Layer Dips  Read more

[Editor's Note: It's National Pick Strawberries Day today, and those lovely berries are at the peak of the season. If you find yourself with an abundance of them, try making this beverage, which can be served as a non-alcoholic spring treat, or, with the addition of gin, tequila or vodka, kicked up a notch and served as an adult option. Either way, you'll make the most of all those strawberries you picked...or just picked up at your local farmers market. --Genie]  Read more

[Editor's Note: Many people feel strongly about eggplant—I happen to be one of the people who feels strongly in favor of it. This recipe highlights it well, but uses cumin and smoked paprika for a slightly Middle Eastern, smoky edge to the dish. Plus, I love adding dishes to my repertoire that can be on the table quickly on busy weeknights, and this definitely qualifies! --Genie]  Read more

As summer approaches, it's great to have some new ideas in your back pocket for non-alcoholic coolers to serve to guests. This set of flavored lemonades is a terrific start—each one is fresh and flavorful, and they can be made with a base of either lemonade mixed up from concentrate, or the homemade variety.  Read more

[Editor's Note: One of my favorite quick-dinner options has always been tacos. There are so many variations to try, and they're all fairly speedy from refrigerator to table. I love this option, which is packed with healthy vegetables—and even some fruit! The ranchero sauce that goes with it sounds fantastic enough that it might be worth doubling that part of the recipe, just to make quick and delicious work of dinner another night that same week. --Genie]  Read more

[Editor's Note: Mussels are a sustainable seafood choice, and easy and economical to cook. This recipe for them features pesto and chorizo, flavors which I wouldn't ordinarily pair...and that I wouldn't have thought to add to mussels! But when I gave it a minute, the thought of this dish made my mouth absolutely water. Give it a try—it's a spicy, pungent twist on a classic! --Genie]  Read more

For most of the time I've lived in California, I've lived in apartments with no balcony or outdoor patio space. That means I'm unable to do one of my favorite warm- (and, on occasion, cold-) weather activities: Grilling. I particularly love hamburgers just off the grill, and frying them up in a pan on my stove never works the same way for me. And, though I know there are millions of people out there who love their electric countertop grills, my limited experiences with those have left me totally unhappy with the burger results. But roast burgers in the oven? That never occurred to me before I saw this post from Adam Roberts at Amateur Gourmet. This method looks pretty genius to me, and in honor of National Hamburger Week (which is this week!), I'm going to have to give this a try.  Read more

[Editor's Note: Today's Quicker Dinners idea is not just speedy, it's also healthy for a whole range of eaters. It's gluten-free and vegan, and also features fresh spring flavors. It's perfect for those warm, late-spring nights when you need something light to put on the table quickly. --Genie]  Read more