You might be tired of heavy winter braises by now since spring is in full force, but that doesn't mean you should retire the braising pot just yet. All the gorgeous spring vegetables still work beautifully in a quicker, lighter braise — one where you can still taste the unique flavors of each vegetable.
Quick, can you name all seven layers in a seven-layer dip? If you can, you're invited to join me on Team Party Dip. This team knows that a party is only as good as its best dip, and a classic seven-layer dip with all its spicy Southwestern goodness is a guaranteed win at the party.
Even if you're skeptical of all those layers, I'm willing to bet we'll find you hovering over the dish within five minutes of walking in the door.
When you're looking for something beyond vanilla, but still aiming to please a crowd, try a classic lemon cake. Something as simple as lemon might get overlooked in a world of salted caramel, velvety raspberry, and matcha-everything, but this lemon supreme cake is anything but ordinary. With three layers of lemon-soaked cake blanketed in satiny vanilla buttercream, this little cake makes for an exceptional dessert for anything from a bridal brunch to afternoon tea to a birthday party.
I sometimes forget about beets, but then I spot my favorite, golden beets, at the store and can't stop myself from buying some — even if I don't have a set plan for them. And if they have the leafy tops attached? I'm definitely grabbing some since they come with a bonus bunch of greens I don't have to pay for. When tossed with warm farro and feta, this becomes one my favorite ways to eat beets.
Sometimes what really makes a meal stand out is a small touch of the unexpected. These bite-sized pieces of chicken coated with a crunchy layer of panko breadcrumbs look like your standard homemade nuggets, but take your first bite and you'll see we reached for something that might surprise you to get to this sweet and spicy crust.
Craving cake, but don’t necessarily have an occasion to make one for? Well then it’s a pretty good thing that you don’t need to wait until your birthday to make this honey-apple cake. This recipe falls under what I call "casual cakes,” meaning cakes that are perfectly suitable for Sunday brunch, afternoon tea, or any random Wednesday night when you need to fulfill a relentless cake craving without having to make something completely over the top. There's a whole chapter in my book dedicated to these cakes without occasion.
With layers of fresh apple cake, honey buttercream, and a touch of crunchy oat crumble, you may even end up devouring a slice of this one for breakfast!
Rhubarb is often thought of as an ingredient for sweets, and while I would never turn down a slice of strawberry-rhubarb pie, rhubarb can do double duty in the world of savory foods as well. Stew it with onions, spicy ginger, and some soy sauce, and now you have a tangy sauce that you can braise pork chops in until juicy and tender.
