From James's kitchen
Tested, annotated, and worth returning to. Browse dependable recipes for everyday cooking, relaxed weekends, and occasions worth sharing.
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49This retro recipe from the 70’s was regularly printed on the back of a Duncan Hines yellow cake mix box. You can still make it with a yellow cake mix, but it’s important to add a few extra ingredients to give it a more “from scratch” taste. Sour cream, toas…
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50I posted this vintage recipe 9 years ago, and thought it was worth re-posting in case you are running low on eggs, or just trying to conserve. This moist chocolate cake was popular during the Great Depression, when people had limited access to eggs and oil.…
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51If you’re looking for a refreshing summer treat that big on flavor and low on sugar -this recipe is for you. America’s Test Kitchen has a wonderful cookbook called Naturally Sweet that is loaded with innovative desserts with 50% less sugar. This banana ice…
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52After a long winter, where even Southern California has had its share of cold temperatures, it’s nice to transition to brighter, fresher, springtime recipes. Pavlova is a perfect example - light, airy, elegant – it’s a whimsical dessert that combines crisp…
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53Years ago my friend Robert’s mother was visiting from Mexico and taught me how to make her famous fruit filled guacamole ( Anita Kass Guacamole recipe ), but it came with a warning, “don’t make this if you’re going to use store bought tortilla chips” – they…
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54A modern twist on a comfort food classic. The incredibly delicious pureed cauliflower mash is rich, creamy, pairs perfectly with the flavorful sauce and ground turkey. Another winning recipe from America’s Test Kitchen’s Super Foods magazine
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55I found this recipe in the October / November 2018 issue of Cooks Country Magazine (loaded with great fall recipes) and it is a perfect winter comfort dish, that will satisfy any craving for Mexican food. The flavors will remind you of Enchiladas Verdes and…
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56Pancakes are traditionally an indulgent weekend option, but often are made with simple carbs that leave you feeling hungry in no time. I’ve tried a few multi-grain “healthy” recipes, but the pancakes were typically heavy and dense. I found this recipe in an…
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57As with most recipes from Cook’s Illustrated, these are fool proof pancakes that are super easy to prepare. I sometimes cut the recipe in half for just two people, or you can refrigerate leftover better in a sealed container, and make a few more the next da…
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58Delicious muffin recipe from Cook’s Country magazine that is perfect to make around the holidays. Ground ginger and crystallized ginger pack these moist and tender muffins with great flavor. I substituted Saco Buttermilk powder and water for the buttermilk…
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59The natural sweet flavor of butternut squash combines perfectly with the rich creamy risotto. This recipe from Cook’s Illustrated uses the squash's seeds and fibers to help deepen the earthy squash flavor. Makes a great fall dish, and the balsamic drizzle i…
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60This recipe for "New York-Style Crumb Cake" from Cook's Illustrated reminded me of my years in NYC where you could find big squares of thick crumb coffee cake in nearly every corner deli. It's also reminiscent of Drake's Coffee Cakes - a primarily east coas…
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61This is a great alternative to the traditional pineapple version, and a perfect recipe to try during peak peach season. I found this recipe in Cook’s Country magazine (Aug/Sep 2016) and they developed the cake recipe using a little toasted cornmeal which ad…
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62This is a great option when you need a dessert for a large group. Using store bought pie crust is a nice shortcut, and though I usually prefer homemade, this Cook’s Country version “doctors up” the dough with crushed animal crackers and melted butter, which…
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63Even if you don’t follow a gluten-free diet, this recipe is worth trying and is guaranteed to satisfy. Tender and moist, the muffins have a slightly tropical flavor thanks to coconut sugar and flour.
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64There are hundreds of recipes for chocolate chip cookies – thin, thick, crisp, chewy, with nuts and without – but this happens to be one of my favorites. Years ago my friend Scott took me to Kathleen’s Bake Shop in Southampton, now known as Tate’s , where I…
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65“Impossible Pie” was a recipe most often found on the back of Bisquick boxes. I don’t think I ever made one, but the idea intrigued me. I stumbled on a recipe in Cooks Country Magazine (February/March 2013 issue) which, as usual, they had improved greatly.…
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66This recipe from Cook's Illustrated Complete Vegetarian Cookbook is fast to throw together and makes a great summer menu side dish.
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67These are wonderful little cookies to serve with tea, or as an after dinner treat with a nice wine. I found the recipe in America’s Test Kitchen’s new Complete Cooking for Two Cookbook and thought they sounded easy and original. Use high quality olive oil h…
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68I love roasted vegetables, especially broccoli and cauliflower. The cauliflower caramelizes beautifully in this recipe and gets tremendous flavor from the ginger and curry.
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69For the best banana flavor, make sure to use very dark, very ripe bananas. This bread is super moist and is great toasted and spread with a little cream cheese or almond butter.
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70This is an incredibly easy pasta dish from America’s Test Kitchen that features the classic combination of spinach and ricotta, without the extra work of stuffing shells or ravioli. It makes a great lunch for 4 people, and while the ingredients are simple,…
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71This is a quick and easy version of Mexico’s signature sauce - Mole. Traditional mole often has 20 ingredients or more and it can take all day to prepare. This simplified recipe uses some of the classic ingredients - cocoa, chili powder and ground nut butte…
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72Perfectly roasted chicken and creamy mashed potatoes may just be the epitome of comforting, home-cooked food. Spatchcock, or butterflied whole chicken is a popular method that splits, then flattens the chicken—yielding a roasted chicken in much less time. I…
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