Recipes

Rosie Schaap · NYT Cooking

This is as easy at it sounds — almost effortless, really. Just be sure to use a vermouth you really love (I’m a fan of dark, robust, earthy Spanish ones) and keep the bottle in the fridge.

Rosie Schaap · NYT Cooking

Here’s the easiest ever old-fashioned. No stirring. No garnishing. Just some whiskey, bitters, sugar and ice — an eternally excellent combination, even without any ritual or fuss.

Rosie Schaap · NYT Cooking

Like most mixed drinks, the Mimosa, that brunch staple, is better when the ingredients are of high quality. This doesn’t mean you should use that incredible bottle of Champagne you were given as a birthday present, but it does mean you should use a good, dry sparkling wine that tastes delicious without the addition of fruit juice. Cava, which may bring to mind Champagne more than prosecco does, is also substantially lower in price. As to the juice, squeeze it fresh — from whatever sorts of orange citrus you like best — and strain it.

Rosie Schaap · NYT Cooking

Apples and oranges! They’re often presented as exemplars of opposition, as though they have nothing in common. But both fruits make appearances on many Thanksgiving tables, with orange in some cranberry sauces and cornbread stuffings with apple, and they mingle beautifully in a mellow punch that gets its verve from bourbon and its depth from a brown sugar and cinnamon simple syrup. For extra apple flavor, try swapping an apple spirit, such as Applejack or Calvados, in for the bourbon. The leftover simple syrup is great in cocktails -- a festive Old Fashioned, for example -- and also on oatmeal and rice pudding.

Rosie Schaap · NYT Cooking

If coziness has a fragrance, it’s the aroma of red wine simmering on the stove with citrus and spices (and a little brandy for a bit more zing). Choose a red wine that isn’t bone-dry—a little fruitiness is just fine here. I like the inexpensive Zweigelt from Erdenlied for this, which conveniently comes in 1-liter bottles. This recipe is easily doubled for a larger crowd.

Rosie Schaap · NYT Cooking

There are many ways to make this classic winter drink. Using brown sugar is traditional, but maple syrup is awfully nice, too. Stirring in the butter with a cinnamon stick while you slowly sip the drink makes for a cozy ritual, but if the sight of a floating lump of butter disturbs you, add the butter earlier in the process, with the sugar—it’ll melt faster. You can also make the drink sweeter (add more sugar) or spicier (substitute spiced rum for dark rum), or both, to your taste.

Romel Bruno · NYT Cooking

Quick, easy and delicious, this one-pan meal is perfect for weeknights when cleaning up is the last thing you want to do. It’s reminiscent of hamburger skillet macs, which gained popularity in the 1970s, thanks to Hamburger Helper, when beef prices were high and families wanted to stretch a pound of meat. This kale-packed version spices up that classic with herby sweet Italian sausage, fresh garlic, red-pepper flakes and hot sauce. Like the original, the starch from the pasta helps thicken the cooking liquid into a quick sauce that becomes creamy once the cheese is added. Serve with a crisp green salad and toasted bread.

Romel Bruno · NYT Cooking

Some say this classic pub snack originated in Kentucky, but you can typically find it in bars all around, usually served with warm pretzel bites or vegetables. There are two different styles of beer cheese: a spreadable, thick version and a creamier fondue-style type like this one. Though optional, adding a bit of miso brings out the beer flavor and adds a bit of saltiness that eliminates the need to add any salt to the dish. Either way, make sure to choose a beer that tastes good to you.

Romel Bruno · NYT Cooking

In the Philippines, tocino is a sweet, cured pork dish that is served for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Though the term “tocino” comes from the Spanish word for bacon, in the Philippines, the dish can be made from chicken or beef as well. Its vibrant red hue often comes from annatto seed, an orange-red food coloring from the achiote tree. In this recipe, the annatto seed is swapped out for beet juice, which adds both color and sweet earthiness to the dish. When cooking the meat, you don’t want to sear it in superhot oil; the key is to let the sugars caramelize slowly with the pork to achieve a beautiful, dark, sticky glaze. Garlic fried rice and fresh slices of tomato make excellent side dishes.

Romel Bruno · NYT Cooking

In this homage to warm, mustardy German-style potato salads, bite-size potatoes are roasted with asparagus and sliced leeks until crisp, then tossed with a simple shallot-and-mint vinaigrette, which soaks into the warm vegetables and infuses them with flavor. Using just one pan makes things simple: less cleaning, more eating. Serve as a side dish, or add hard-boiled eggs for a hearty vegetarian dinner.

Romel Bruno · NYT Cooking

There are few things better for breakfast than fried potatoes swimming in a velvety pool of eggy custard, Cheddar cheese, seared bits of sage sausage and scallions. This recipe is inspired by hot dish, the Midwestern classic that gained popularity in the 1950s and 1960s. Traditionally a mixture of protein, vegetables, creamed soup and a starch, it still often dwells in church halls, or is covered in foil and brought to potluck suppers. This version is perfect for a hearty breakfast or brunch, something you can throw together when you want to feed a gang of loved ones or just two very hungry people. A simple green salad tossed in a vinaigrette would be a perfect pairing.

Romel Bruno · NYT Cooking

Add this flavorful fried rice to your roster of quick weeknight dishes: Pieces of juicy chicken thighs, richer and more forgiving than breasts, are sautéed with sweet red onion and fragrant curry powder then mixed with leftover, fridge-cold rice for a meal ready in less than half an hour. (It’s also almost worth making for the smell alone.) While so many fried rice dishes involve a significant amount of chopping, this one opts for frozen vegetables, cutting back on prep time. To maximize flavor, mild curry powder is cooked in oil to bloom toward the start of the recipe, but if you’re craving heat, reach for a spicier blend.

Robert Willey · NYT Cooking

Robert Willey

Robert Willey · NYT Cooking

Robert Willey

Robert Willey · NYT Cooking

Robert Willey · NYT Cooking

Robert Willey

Robert Willey · NYT Cooking

Guadalajara Sour, a riff on the whiskey-based New York Sour by the mixologist Michael Bowers at Modern Hotel and Bar in Boise, Idaho, brokers a novel friendship between tequila and rosé, two summer staples with more in common than you may realize. Surprising but not perplexing, it’s a smart drink that wears its erudition lightly. Robert Willey

Robert Willey · NYT Cooking

Robert Willey

Robert Willey · NYT Cooking

Robert Willey

Robert Willey · NYT Cooking

Robert Willey

Robert Willey · NYT Cooking

Robert Willey · NYT Cooking

Robert Willey

Robert Willey · NYT Cooking

This simple four-ingredient cocktail is made by muddling a handful of fresh, sweet cherries, lime and simple syrup and topping it with a few splashes of rum. It's a perfect midsummer's night cocktail. If you don't have cherries on hand, strawberries or blueberries work too. Robert Willey

Robert Willey · NYT Cooking

Robert Willey