Simple Cooking

These yummy vegan cookies are free of butter, added sugar, and even eggs—the peanut butter and applesauce hold them together. But trust me when I say you won’t miss the sugar. The sweet banana and abundance of chocolate more than make up for it.

Shards of rich, dark chocolate melt into the brownie batter as this dessert bakes, leaving behind pockets of luscious, gooey, molten deliciousness in every chewy bite.

Few side dishes are better on a cool fall evening than roasted acorn squash sweetened with just a little honey and made even mellower with nutmeg and fresh sage leaves. When I catch a whiff of it coming from the oven, I feel warm and comforted, and you will, too.

An ancho chile spice mix serves double-duty in this dinner: it's the sweet and zesty rub for the tenderloin, and the seasoning for roasted squash and Brussels sprouts.

Make farmer cheese at home with just one container of kefir and a little bit of patience.

This one-dish wonder grants you immunity from even the most gluten-averse, meat-abstaining, fat-conscious houseguests. And the spicy vegetarian curry tastes as good as ever reheated.

While the chicken thighs braise in the oven, the kale gets nice and crispy, making it the most irresistible part of this cozy one-pot dinner.

The real star of this dish is the flavorful ginger- and allspice-scented broth. Comforting anytime, it’s positively liquid gold for anyone feeling the first tingles of cold season.

A simple pie with a biscuit-like, no-roll crust that is incredibly versatile.

A vegetarian pasta dinner that's full of so much fresh arugula, it almost feels like eating a salad. In a good way.

This pasta is so packed with vegetables and shrimp that it's a complete, satiating meal—despite using half the normal serving size of noodles.

In this dish, you’ll sauté mushrooms and bacon until they become crispy. You’ll use bacon fat to sear the cabbage before tossing in an egg, Parmesan, and pasta.

These easy omelets are great for breakfasts on the go. Wrap a couple in some parchment paper and enjoy on the road or at your desk; they can be eaten with your hands!

This soup uses refried beans as a thickener, so the resulting soup is very thick and rich without having to cook all day. Since I almost always have some leftover smashed pinto beans in my refrigerator, I decided to incorporate them into my version of this delicious soup.

Use the flavorful shredded chicken in soups, sandwiches and salads. You can freeze the chicken stock in airtight containers for up to 3 months.

If you have the homemade red curry paste on hand, this sauce comes together pretty fast and will last five days, sealed tightly and refrigerated.

A simple and refreshing relish for grilled meats. You can make the vinegar and sugar dressing up to six weeks ahead of time (store it in the fridge), but assemble the relish the day you plan to serve it.

By constantly stirring the mixture, you'll end up with luscious, velvety smooth curd. Store lemon curd in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Meet your new favorite show-stopping Christmas dessert: a spiced chocolate cake topped with a cream cheese mousse studded with dried fruit and nuts and glazed with brandy-spiked melted chocolate. Serve it with sparklers on top for a memorable entrance.

Butter adds velvety texture and comforting flavor to this special-occasion cocktail, a combination of our two favorite winter warmers.