When trying to come up with a good quiche to serve for a Mother’s Day brunch, I spied some smoked salmon in the fridge and here you have it - an appetizer morphed into a quiche! I’ve added fresh dill because, well, dill just tastes good with salmon. But feel free to use another favorite herb if dill’s not your thing. For the filling, I followed Michael Ruhlman’s basic ratio for quiche filling, which is essentially 1/2 cup of milk or cream for every large egg....

Rice noodles, drizzled with a miso ginger dressing, are chewy and satisfying. You’ll want to eat this on the porch all summer long or make the noodle bowl for lunches any time of year. What Steak to Buy I chose lean flank steak for this recipe. Normally, flank needs a marinade to make it flavorful, but I skipped it with this recipe to save a little time. There is plenty of flavor in the dressing added after the steak is cooked to justify skipping this step....

Mine is strawberry rhubarb, without a question. When it’s the season (usually mid- to late-spring), and both strawberries and rhubarb are available in the market, it’s the one pie that we must make. Video: How To Make Strawberry Rhubarb Pie What Is Rhubarb? Do you cook with rhubarb? It looks like pinkish red celery, or the stems of really fat Swiss chard. In the store, you’ll only find the stems, as the green leaves are poisonous....

What Is Texas Caviar? Texas caviar (also called “cowboy caviar”) is a cold black-eyed pea salad, with chiles, onions, and bell peppers that doubles as a dip for tortilla chips. This particular version of the recipe comes from my friend Lisa Fain, food blogger extraordinaire, and author of the Homesick Texan Cookbook. Now most of the food we make around here gets shared among many—parents, boyfriend, friends, brothers, neighbors. But this one?...

Personally, I love cookbooks because I can linger with them, like any great book—each headnote and recipe feels like a short story. Cookbooks not only feed our bellies, but also our hearts, brains, and souls. As sappy as that sounds, I’m sticking to my story. Lucky for us, a slew of new cookbooks are being released this fall—perfect for warming up our kitchens with fresh recipes. Here are 24 that our team of editors at Simply Recipes are most excited to cook from and linger with....

Cocktail shakers come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but the two main types you should familiarize yourself with are the cobbler shaker and Boston shaker. The cobbler shaker is the most popular option for home chefs and beginners. It comes with three pieces: shaking tin, built-in strainer, and cap. The Boston shaker is what you’re most likely to see professional mixologists using. It has two shaking tins, one larger than the other....

But which grill brush is the right one for you? There are metal bristle brushes, steam brushes, and even electric brushes that take some of the labor off the table. Some materials can be used on any grill surface, while others are too harsh for delicate grates. The grill brush that’s best for you depends on your personal needs. Of course, the best way to see if a grill brush is worthy of a hook on your grill is to put it through some tests....

For most, a spice grinder isn’t a kitchen necessity, but if you’re getting to the point where you think you need one, you’ll find your life far easier with it. When shopping for a spice grinder, it’s important to take inventory of what you’ll want to make. Are you planning on making chai weekly? Do you plan to make a small batch of garam masala once in a while? Are you dipping your toe into grinding your coffee beans fresh every morning and not ready to spring for a burr grinder?...

Since there are numerous Vitamix models, ranging from classic to high-tech designs, choosing the best Vitamix blender for your household is no easy feat. You have a lot of variables to consider, especially since it is so powerful. “The different speed settings on the [Vitamix] blender can help you make something as easy as an omelet by whipping the eggs at a low speed or something as fancy as a strawberry basil margarita!...

Here’s one more for your “make soon” list: a rustic tomato galette made with candy-sweet cherry tomatoes and a crispy, cheesy whole wheat crust. I love the combination of Parmesan and whole wheat in this crust, plus cornmeal for crunch. It’s cheesy and nutty at the same time, and it goes perfectly with the summer tomatoes. This tart crust also freezes well, so you might want to make a few extra batches of the dough to freeze for unexpected tomato events....

So the concept that a tortilla could also be a thick potato omelette, took some getting used to. But that is the difference between a Spanish tortilla and a Mexican tortilla. The Spanish version is made by frying thinly sliced potatoes in extra virgin olive oil, then layering those slices in a pan (preferably a cast iron frying pan), covering with beaten eggs, and cooking until set. It’s perfect for a weeknight meal, and only requires a few ingredients which you likely have in your pantry....

The coconut milk gives the dish an element of creaminess (don’t worry, it doesn’t have a strong coconut flavor). The mushrooms are meaty and full of umami. The garlic, thyme, and sage add complexity and bring the dish together. It’s both healthy and indulgent. This is the perfect comfort food for a cold winter day. It is easy to make and comes together in just 45 minutes, so it makes for a great weeknight dinner....

It makes a fantastic main course for any vegans or vegetarians at your holiday table – and the leftovers are perfect for a “Meatless Monday” dinner! Vegetarians and vegans are used to fending for themselves at holidays and social functions. I know because I was one for more than ten years! This dish is cooked in several stages. This helps develop the flavors and textures of each ingredient. While this takes a little extra time, it’s worth it for all the rich, caramelized, vibrant flavors that make their way into the finished dish....

While pomegranate molasses has long been a common ingredient in Middle Eastern cuisine, it has only recently gained popularity elsewhere. It’s a thick syrup that lends tang and gentle sweetness to everything from stews to cocktails. Here’s everything you need to know about this special ingredient. What to Know About Pomegranate Molasses Pomegranate molasses is simply pomegranate juice that’s been boiled down and reduced to a thick, dark brown, molasses-like syrup....

While we can still find pomegranates, apples, and pears in the market, it’s because they store well chilled. Those harvests are mostly over and what are coming in now are the first of the citrus — Mandarin oranges. Buy them by the boxful! This is a great time for brassicas — cauliflower, romanesco broccoli, kohlrabi, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, collards and kale. And of course we couldn’t start winter without root vegetables like turnips and beets, or winter squashes like butternut and kabocha....

Chocolate is good anytime, anywhere, but chocolate recipes feel especially on point when the weather turns colder. Hot chocolate! Hot cocoa! Chocolate banana bread! Chocolate brownies! Double chocolate cupcakes! Someone stop me, please, before I share this list of 14 more decadent chocolate recipes. (Too late.) To make all the chocolate things, you need to have some chocolate (bars or chips) or cocoa on hand. But what kind? Quality, flavor, and meltability can all vary from brand to brand, so I queried my fellow team members for their favorite go-to brands for cocoa, baking chocolate, and chocolate chips....

Sauces and toppings are the perfect building block for any patty. Start with any burger as your base (beef, turkey, chicken or veggie) and build from there. Here is a guide on how to mix, shape, and grill the best beef burgers. After using these techniques, your guests will surely be impressed. Make sure your burger bar has the usual suspects—an assortment of cheeses, ketchup, mayo, mustard, pickles, lettuce, and tomatoes and from there you can get creative....

Stone fruits, like nectarines, apricots, peaches, and plums ripen throughout the season. Cherries, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and berries of all types brighten farmers market tables. Watermelon, honeydew, cantaloupe, and melons of all varieties carry us through the late season. And certain citrus, like lemons and limes, have their second season in summer. Here are guides to tell you what produce is in season in June, July, and August so you can cook with fresh produce all summer long....