Simple Cooking

Throw an oyster in the gin! The oyster not only does the work of the olive, providing texture and salt and visual interest, but also covers for the vermouth with its liquor—a variation on the “dirty martini.”

The cherry blossom, as well as the addition of sake and maraschino liqueur to the usual gin, result in a very delicate Martini.

This drink’s single deviation from the typical dry Martini is a couple of dashes of the liqueur kümmel, which tastes of caraway and cumin, in place of the usual orange bitters.

The Puritan, another old variation, lies somewhere between the Martini and the Alaska, using both dry vermouth and a bit of yellow Chartreuse. 

Tuxedo No. 2 mixes gin, maraschino liqueur, vermouth, and absinthe, and is lightly luscious.

Basically, this is a Martini made intriguing by a splash of absinthe. If this ends up being your deathbed drink, you didn’t do too badly.

This one-skillet meal is ideal for both chilly evenings and weekend mornings when hot melted cheese and comfort is all you want. Leave a handful of chips undressed to tuck into the skillet at the last minute. Their salsa-free points add the perfect layer of crunch.

This tequila-infused carnitas recipe is perfect for festive occasions—or any weeknight you want to party.

The meatballs are tender and juicy, and once covered in a nice cozy blanket of tomato sauce and melted mozzarella, they’re pretty hard to resist.

It’s a vodka martini—properly called the Kangaroo—gone savory with peaty Scotch and olives four ways.

Pairing the tangy fruit with Scotch—plus oolong tea that’s been steeped forever—gives a whisper of smoke and a bitter, malty edge to the drink.

It couldn’t be simpler to combine honey, grapefruit, lemon, and seltzer, but the mixture is surprisingly complex in flavor, both tangy and rich.

The Stilton adds another dimension to the bubble and squeak, giving it a wonderfully rich and redolent tang. Served with slices of Christmas ham, this is a dish that would certainly get those Herald angels singing.

While brandy is the traditional partner for fruit cake, you could also try using a dessert sherry such as Pedro Ximénez. It’s an intensely sweet, dark sherry made from the Spanish grape variety of the same name. Perfect in festive cakes, puddings and custards, you can find it in liquor stores.

This velvety Vietnamese rice porridge gets a deep flavor from soaking overnight in chicken or vegetable broth before simmering with fragrant ginger and scallions.

These bite-size mashed potato croquettes are filled with smoked trout, mozzarella, Parmesan, and chives.

If you love beef tartare but don’t love the idea of leaving a bowl of raw beef out at a cocktail party, this recipe is for you. 

Anchovy lovers: This one’s for you. The combination of vanilla butter and anchovies is the perfect combination of sweet and salty.

Like many long-simmered sauces, this one, perhaps the most delicious of all the Italian meat sauces, is more flavorful and balanced the following day.

Use this rich, creamy Italian white sauce for lasagna, gratins, and mac and cheese.