What to Cook

All-Purpose Chocolate Sheet Cake

This chocolate cake really stands up on its own with a vanilla buttercream frosting—simple and classic.

Simple Fruit Tart

If you’re looking for a way to use your summer fruit bounty, I love this basic, elegant, classy tart. It’s reserved and restrained, it’s prim and proper, it’s creamy and delicious.

Vanilla Pastry Cream, A Perfect Pudding

Thick, velvety vanilla custard. That’s it, that’s the dessert, perfect as is.

Almost Cheesecake

It’s cheesecake in parfait form and you should really make it next time you only want a little bit of cheesecake.

New York Sour Punch

I would simply never make one cocktail at a time, so punch is my preference for holiday parties. The New York Sour is one of my favorite classic cocktails. It’s tart, refreshing, easy to drink and easier to make.

Holiday Ham with Many Mustards

The difference between having a ham for dinner and a ham party is in the number of condiments and amount of fun you could possibly have, and folks, I’m delighted to report it’s ham party season.

Blanched Green Beans with Scallion and Soy

This is the best season for green beans, and I’ll be making them every opportunity I get. These ones are great for a summer barbecue or dinner party, as they only get better the longer they sit in their tangy, soy sauce-y bath,

Slow Roasted Turkey Legs with Garlic and Herbs

YIELD — 6-12 servings There isn’t much I can say here about this recipe that would help you more than simply following the instructions, as it’s truly one of the easiest and most foolproof cooking techniques period, but especially for large-format meats and birds like turkey legs.

Anchovy-Butter Chicken with Chicken Fat Croutons

I’m going to be honest with you: this recipe is almost too much. The sticky juices from the roasted chicken, the caramelized bits from anchovy butter, and the croutons that cook in the skillet and crisp in the fat. For what other dish would you be tempted to lick a hot skillet?