Table of Contents
Against drudgery xiii
Breakfast
Deli rye english muffins 3
Granola biscotti 5
Jam-bellied bran scones 8
Baked oatmeal with caramelized pears and vanilla cream 11
Spinach, mushroom, and goat cheese slab frittata 12
Everything drop biscuits with cream cheese 17
Ricotta blini with honey, orange, and sea salt 18
Loaded breakfast potato skins 20
Sticky toffee waffles 23
Raspberry hazelnut brioche bostock 25
Polenta-baked eggs with corn, tomato, and fontina 28
Magical two-ingredient oat brittle 31
Flipped crispy egg taco with singed greens 32
Alex's bloody mary shrimp cocktail 35
Perfect blueberry muffins 37
Salads
Cauliflower wedge 42
Mango apple ceviche with sunflower seeds 45
Potatoes and asparagus gribiche 46
Winter slaw with farro 48
Smashed cucumber salad with salted peanuts and wasabi peas 50
Sushi takeout cobb 53
Kale caesar with broken eggs and crushed croutons 55
Charred corn succotash with lime and crispy shallots 59
Whitefish and pickled cucumber salad 61
Fennel, pear, celery, and hazelnut salad 65
Fall-toush salad with delicata squash and brussels sprouts 66
Arrot salad with tahini, crisped chickpeas, and salted pistachios 68
Soups and Stews
Red lentil soup, dal style 72
Pea tortellini in parmesan broth 75
Mini-matzo ball soup with horseradish and herbs 77
Roasted tomato soup with broiled cheddar 80
Cucumber yogurt gazpacho with mint, almonds, and grapes 82
Spiced carrot and pepper soup with a couscous swirl 84
Grandma-style chicken noodle soup 87
Manhattan-style clams with fregola 90
Sandwiches, Tarts, and Flatbreads
Broccoli melts 94
Artichoke and parmesan galette 97
Leek, feta, and greens spiral pie 99
Grilled yogurt flatbreads 102
Corn, bacon, and arugula pizza 104
Roasted tomato picnic sandwich 107
A very simple pizza dough 108
Winter squash flatbread with hummus and za'atar 109
A dense, grainy daily bread 112
Vegetable Mains
Halloumi roast with eggplant, zucchini, and tomatoes 116
Parmesan dutch baby with creamed mushrooms 118
Crispy tofu and broccoli with sesame-peanut pesto 121
Fried green plantains with avocado black bean salsa 123
Broccoli, cheddar, and wild rice fritters 126
Wild mushroom shepherd's pie 129
Spring fried barley with a sesame sizzled egg 131
Zucchini-stuffed zucchini with sorta salsa verde 134
Romesco, chickpea, and smashed egg bowl 137
Dry-rub sweet potato steaks with green bean slaw 139
Tomato and gigante bean bake / pizza beans 143
My go-to garlic bread 144
Cacio e pepe potatoes anna 145
Caramelized cabbage risotto 148
Mujadara-stuffed cabbage with minted tomato sauce 151
Spaghetti pangrattato with crispy eggs 153
Brussels and three cheese pasta bake 157
One-pan farro with tomatoes 159
Meat Mains
Brick hens with charred lemon 164
Siberian pelmeni 167
Crispy short rib carnitas with sunset slaw 168
Quick sausage, kale, and crouton sauté 172
Smoky sheet pan chicken with cauliflower 174
Chicken and rice, street cart style 177
Grilled squid with chickpeas, chiles, and lemon 179
Meatballs marsala with egg noodles and chives 183
Beefsteak skirt steak salad with blue cheese and parsley basil vinaigrette 185
Pork tenderloin agrodolce with squash rings 189
Sizzling beef bulgogi tacos 191
Miso maple ribs with roasted scallions 195
Bacony baked pintos with the works 197
Sweets
Two thick, chewy oatmeal raisin chocolate chip mega-cookies 204
Strawberry cloud cookies 206
Double coconut meltaways 209
Olive oil shortbread with rosemary and chocolate chunks 210
Pretzel linzers with salted caramel 213
Bakery-style butter cookies 215
Tarts and pies
Wintry apple bake with double ginger crumble 221
Julie's punked strawberry tart 223
Chocolate pecan slab pie 226
Caramelized plum tartlets 230
Apricot pistachio squares 233
Bake sale winning-est gooey oat bars 235
Cake
Marble bundt cake 241
The smeteneh küchen / sour cream coffee cake 243
Banana bread roll 247
Marizan petit four cake 249
Chocolate peanut butter icebox cake 252
The party cake builder 257
Puddings, frozen things, etc
Blackout brownie waffle sundae 270
Lemon meringue pie smash 273
Cheesecake semifreddo with gingersnaps and cranberries 275
Danish rice pudding with cherry black pepper sauce 279
Peach melba popsicles 281
Toasted marshmallow milkshake 284
Cannoli zeppole 287
Apps, Snacks, and Party Food
Kale-dusted pecorino popcorn 291
Herb and garlic baked camembert 293
Chopped liver on rye, roumanian steakhouse style 297
Mom's bread bowl with spinach liptauer and pickled red onions 299
Crushed olives with almonds, celery, and parmesan 303
Garden gin and tonic with cucumber, lime, and mint 305
Pomegranate and orange peel fizz 306
Acknowledgments 309
Measurements 311
A guide for special menus 313
Index 317