As an enthusiastic, but decidedly amateur, baker, I’m following her advice. I certainly don’t need every gizmo and gadget around, but I want to make sure what I do have will last the test of time and help me make the best possible cakes, cookies, brownies, bread, and beyond. One thing I’ve realized while putting this list together is that you need to have equipment made from durable materials and can be used in my cooking projects as well....

Gelatin – this is a low-carb thickener that replaces eggs. Ghee – creamy and buttery, this is a great option for cookies (regular butter would work too). Chocolate chips – if you add these in, be sure to use sugar free chips for keto. Tips from an expert home chef After the cookies bake, allow them to fully cool before handling them. If you move them while warm they tend to crumble apart....

Cookie presses are one of those kitchen tools that are just not completely straightforward. Their performance can’t be measured solely on the cookie press itself because its success depends so much on other factors. First, there’s the dough, and it does have to be the right kind of dough or it won’t go through the discs correctly. It also depends on the mood of the baker as a cookie press may not be technically difficult to use, but it does take a fair amount of patience....

Luckily, there’s a lot of iced tea makers out there to help you. Some manual options simply rely on an immersed basket to slowly steep your tea, and a few of those are useful for making iced coffee as well. Electric models can quickly brew up tea for you, iced and hot, and some of those feature advanced tea making. But because there are so many types of iced tea makers out there, we had one of our home cooks test out some of the best ones on the market, selected based on reviews and our own research....

But while it may seem easy to buy the first microwave that appears on your online search results, or to purchase the first one you run into that’s on sale at the department store, in reality, it’s very important to choose the right appliance for you and your needs. The first thing to consider is the proper size and style for your kitchen, whether it’s a countertop, drawer, or over-the-range model....

Selection is a very subjective affair. There are serrated knives or non-serrated knives, wooden handles or resin handles, rustic looks or more delicate aesthetics, budget or high-end price tags; the landscape is wide. When choosing steak knives, there is also the consideration of how much work you want to put into maintenance, like sharpening and polishing. Our team put our top three choices to the test to see if these are the best of the best....

Any Fans of Trader Joe’s Out There? Recently, I noticed that cowboy caviar was gaining some traction on TikTok and was reminded of this nostalgic party app I loved when I was younger. How could I not revisit it? For this recipe, I made one stop at Trader Joe’s and I’m using only their products—HUGE fan here! This is going to take your summer entertaining game to the next level. Upon entering the store, I immediately realized that Trader Joe’s is already ahead of the trend and sells a jarred cowboy caviar....

Stuffing still gets a place of honor on my holiday table. Vegan mushroom stuffing is one of my favorite variations thanks to the depth of earthy flavor and variation in texture. As an added bonus, it will easily please vegetarians, vegans, and omnivores alike. What Makes This Stuffing Special Loaded with classic stuffing aromatics—onion, celery, garlic, and herbs—it gets the majority of its flavor and texture from a mix of mushrooms....

Whiskey Sours have been around for a long time, and at their simplest they’re made with just whiskey, citrus, and a sweet ingredient, like simple syrup. But add just one or two special ingredients to that recipe, and you have a very different drink entirely. The History of the Whiskey Sour The recipe for a Whiskey Sour first appeared in print in 1862, in a book called The Bartender’s Guide by Jerry Thomas....

A quick and easy Italian sausage spaghetti sauce works beautifully with white beans as well as pasta. And it’s a great way to lower the carb content and up the protein of the dish without sacrificing flavor. You can either cook the beans from scratch on the stove (we’re using a Tuscan approach found in Saveur Magazine), cook them in a pressure cooker, or use canned beans. By the way, you know how they always say to “rinse and drain” the beans if using canned beans?...

This truly is an anytime-of-day cake, whether you eat it for dessert, breakfast, or with your afternoon cup of tea or coffee. Serve it as-is, dust it with powdered sugar, pile it with whipped cream and fresh berries or even a dollop of yogurt. This is a humble, homey, delicately sweet treat that will become a household favorite. The Origins of Yogurt Cake Yogurt cake, or gâteau au yaourt, is a classic French baked good....

The name Pilau, just like the term pilaf, derives from the Persian term polow, which is rice mixed with things like spices, nuts, and meat. For this recipe, basmati rice is infused with aromatic spices like cardamom, cinnamon and cloves bloomed in butter then cooked in coconut milk to deliver a comforting and flavorful foundation to pair with vegetables, beans, meat or meat stews. Tips for Making Zanzibar Pilau This recipe requires rinsing the rice and the then letting it soak in cold water for at least 10 minutes, but up to 30 minutes....

Whether your garden is bursting at the seams with zucchini or you just need a new, exciting way to prepare summer squash, this side dish is an all around winner. Enjoy it alongside chicken, tofu, fish, or beef, or keep your meal vegetarian and serve it over rice or your favorite grain. How to Pick the Best Zucchini When it comes to picking out zucchini at the store, make sure that they’re firm and without any bruising or blemishes....

Speaking of challenges, how about making your Whole30 a lot easier? We know that finding recipes, planning meals and creating shopping lists each week for the Whole30 can be very painful and time consuming. Don’t want to do all that? Ok, we’ve already done the work for you. We have created a complete Whole30 meal plan with all the recipes and shopping lists for those of you looking for an organized plan to use during your Whole30....

I’ve been writing you letters before you were born—all delivered to an email address that I’ll present in the future, like a time capsule of love—but this letter feels different. For one, you’d be able to read some of these words. At night, instead of playing with dolls or drawing, you now curl up with a book. Yesterday, you read a picture book version of “Anne of Green Gables” to a friend, acting out the scenes with such vivacity that I could identify them from downstairs, where I sat unabashedly eavesdropping....

It was at a wedding I attended with my girlfriend DeDee, and it was one of those classic Long Island weddings, with all the glass clinking to make the couple kiss at awkward moments, a thicket of big hair, and so much Billy Joel music I had to listen to the Dead Kennedys for a week afterward to recover. I had a blast, but what I remembered most was this odd appetizer of an oyster, wrapped in bacon and squirted with lemon juice....

My father originally found a recipe for apple cranberry pie years ago in Bon Appétit magazine (Oct, 1998). We’ve modified it somewhat over the years, experimenting with different crusts and baking temperature and times. We love the sweet and sour interplay of apples and cranberries in this pie! The Best Apples for This Apple Pie Like our classic apple pie, this one benefits from a mix of different kinds of apples....

Cut into squares, everyone gets their own “slab” of apple pie! With an apple slab pie, you usually only add a thin layer of filling, so there’s also a much higher crust-to-filling ratio. This means more flaky, golden pie crust in every bite, and in my experience, we’re really all in it for the crust! I also love that slices of apple slab pie are so easy to cut and lift from the pan—you avoid the dreaded removal of the first wedge of pie....

this recipe The Glaze So what makes this glaze so yummy you ask? Well, the combination of balsamic vinegar, coconut aminos, ginger and garlic really create a robust flavor. The balsamic vinegar gets reduced down, so it adds a little bit of gooey deliciousness to the drumsticks and pairs wonderfully with the crispy skin. Just check out how the light shines on these balsamic glazed chicken drumsticks. Don’t you just want to reach right in and gobble one (or two) up?...

Best Meat Subscription Boxes of 2022 Best Overall: Butcher Box Best for Pasture-Raised Meat: Farm Foods Market Best for Snacks: Carnivore Club Best Restaurant-Quality Meat: Crowd Cow Best for Gift-Giving: Porter Road Best for Buying in Bulk: Stock Yards Best for Pork: Good Chop Why You Should Try It: ButcherBox is our pick if you’re looking for a reliable, straightforward service that delivers high-quality meat straight to your door. Given the variety of meat you can get in a box and the ease of starting and stopping your subscription, it’s a great option for any home cook....