3 cups of butter (6 sticks) softened at room temperature

small votive butter candles on fresh baguette in Food52 test kitchen

Make edible butter candles that melt into the ultimate tablescape moment—part decor, part appetizer.

Butter Candles

green, orange, and purple popcorn balls on plate 

Popcorn Balls

sheet-pan nachos on table in Food52 test kitchen

Sliding Sheet Pan Nachos

Immersion blender or food processor or blender

This kale Caesar salad with chicken is crisp, creamy, and protein-packed. A fresh twist on the classic Caesar—perfect for lunch or dinner.”

Kale Chicken Caesar Salad

These sweet corn puff pastry bites are lightly inspired by a recent bake that I saw at Radio Bakery in New York. They made a croissant tart with a custard base and while I do love making croissants, I figured changing it to a puff pastry tart would be easier and a faster process for anyone -- regardless of level for baking.

You end up with a flaky pastry dough, a deep corn flavor, and you can top it with cream and chili crisp like I did for a nice balance of buttery, sweet, and savory.

Puff pastry with sweet corn custard filling. Topped with sour cream and chili crisp. On a white place.

Sweet Corn Puff Pastry Tarts

Confit Sungold Tomatoes with Almond Ricotta

This southwestern riff on corn chowder (an American favorite) is creamy, complex, and darn tasty. It doesn't really need anything paired with it, but a stack of fresh Homemade Corn Tortillas (page 88) for dipping is never a bad idea.

Recipe courtesy of Dan Buettner, with Photography by David McLain

The Blue Zones Kitchen One Pot Meals: 100 Recipes to Live to 100| New Window

spicy chowder in bowl from Blue Zones' One pot recipe book

This Southwestern-inspired potato and corn chowder is creamy, hearty, and packed with flavor. Ready in 45 minutes, it’s an easy one-pot dinner that pairs perfectly with warm tortillas.

Kickin' Potato & Corn Chowder 

Risotto is the gift that keeps on giving—if you're lucky enough to have leftovers, you're in for a real treat! Stuff, dredge, and fry them into rice balls the next day and soon you'll be making double and triple batches of risotto just to guarantee a bite into a fresh hot arancino the next day.

tomato and mozzarella stuffed arancini in food52 test kitchen during tomato produce party

Tomato & Mozzarella Arancini

Is there anything that reminds you more of your childhood than deep- fried chicken cutlets? I mean, really. The most common schnitzel in Israel is made from chicken and coated with golden breadcrumbs and spices. As a child, I loved incorporating sesame seeds for an extra crunch and aroma. As an adult, I upgraded the mix with hawaij, a Yemeni spice blend of cumin, black pepper, turmeric, and cardamom. Hawaij gives the dish a little kick, and I’ve never been able to go back. You’ll see; it changes the schnitzel fingers game.

Eat Small Plates: Vibrant, Shareable Dishes for Daily Joy

Make Bengingi's schnitzel fingers—juicy chicken tenders coated in golden panko, sesame seeds, and hawaij spice, then fried until perfectly crispy. Serve with ketchup, harissa, and mayo for the ultimate childhood-inspired comfort food.

Ben’s Scnnitzel Fingers

These apple cheddar crostini with a drizzle of honey are the perfect sweet-and-savory appetizer. Ready in just 20 minutes, they’re a crowd-pleasing bite for parties or holiday gatherings.

Apple Cheddar Crostini 

beet hummus in dish at food52 test kitchen

Make this vibrant roasted beet hummus in under an hour with just a few simple ingredients. Creamy, earthy, and slightly sweet, it’s the perfect dip or spread for any occasion.

Beet Hummus

A revelatory flavor combination, this recipe has, hands down, the highest reward-to-effort ratio in this book. If you make one recipe, try this one. When dates are harvested in late summer and early fall, they are at what is known as the rutab stage, with flesh that is custard-soft and lush. Where I live in the northeast Unites States, it's also tomato harvest season, my favorite time of year. This dish is transcendent when made with peak-season rutab dates and summer's finest tomatoes, but you can make it with hydroponic midwinter cherry tomatoes and regular Medjools and still find yourself greedily mopping up the buttery remains. 

Use just enough yuzu kosho to add fragrance and a breath of heat without overwhelming the other flavors. If you can't find yuzu kosho, don't let that stop you: This dish is good with just the butter! Sometimes I like to omit the kosho anyway and stir a tablespoon of good red wine vinegar, along with an extra-generous pinch of flaky salt, into the hot butter instead; other times I go with red pepper flakes and lime zest. Not the same, but differently delicious.

Hot Date: Sweet & Savory Recipes Celebrating the Date, From Party Food to Everyday Feasts

tomato and dates on a plate in Food52 test kitchen

Rutab & Summer Tomatoes With Sizzling Brown Butter

This is a beloved family favorite, passed down from my aunt to my mom, and now to me: Asian-style wings with bang bang sauce. They’re sticky, sweet, savory, and packed with garlicky heat. And while they take a minute to come together, they’re more than worth the wait.

Isabelle Jardin alongside the beauty shot of her family Asian-style wings.

Aunt Debbie’s Chicken Wings

What You’ll Need:
- Sifting spoon or mesh spoon
- Bowl of ice
- Bowl of water
- Big mixing bowl
- Big pot for boiling water

Pork & Shrimp Dumplings in Chili Sauce in Food52 Test Kitchen

Make homemade pork and shrimp wontons with scallions and a spicy chili sauce. Easy step-by-step recipe with folding tips, prep time, cook time, and serving size.

Pork & Shrimp Dumplings in Chili Sauce

I went to the Atlanta Harvest Farmer's Market in Ellenwood, Georgia and was happy to still see tomatoes despite us getting closer and closer into the fall season. They were plump, juicy, and ready to be used!

Flatbread pizza is one of my favorite appetizers whether I'm out at dinner or hosting a dinner party. You can get creative with the toppings and match whatever might be in season for the month!

Flatbread pizza with a balsamic vinegar drizzle, cherry tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese

Caprese Flatbread Pizza

Crudo might seem like a restaurant-only dish, but it’s surprisingly simple to make at home. With sushi-grade fish from your local Japanese market and a few seasonal ingredients, you can create a fresh, elegant dish that feels special without being complicated.

A plate of yellowtail crudo with nectarine and meyer lemon relish

Bright, fresh, and flavorful, this Yellowtail Sashimi with Meyer Lemon Relish and Herbs is a no-cook appetizer featuring cured sushi-grade yellowtail, vibrant herbs, and a tangy, citrusy sauce.

Yellowtail Sashimi with Nectarine & Meyer Lemon Relish

a fresh toasted baguette topped with fresh grated tomatoes, olive oil, anchovies & chives

Pan Con Tomate

This savory heirloom tomato tart features jammy tomatoes, a creamy basil mascarpone filling, and a crispy parmesan polenta crust. Perfect for summer lunches or easy entertaining.

homemade heirloom tomato tart with basil cream and fresh parmesan

Heirloom Tomato Tart With Basil Cream

In our test kitchen, resident baker Isabelle teamed up with Tiara—the founder and pastry chef behind NYC’s beloved The Pastry Box—to create this fluffy, cheesy garlic focaccia. It’s approachable for bakers of all levels and perfect for when you want fresh, homemade bread the same day. Soft, garlicky, and loaded with melty mozzarella and Parm, this focaccia hits all the right notes without the fuss.

plate of homemade cheesy, garlicky foccacia  bread

Learn how to make a soft, cheesy garlic focaccia in just a few hours. 

Cheesy Garlic Focaccia

These Basque-inspired nachos are layered with crispy kettle chips, Iberico ham, grilled olives, pepperoncini, and manchego cheese. An easy, elevated twist on party snacks.

Basque Nachos

These pork wontons are filled with ginger, shiitake, and water chestnuts, then tossed in a savory soy-sesame sauce. A comforting homemade dish that’s perfect for sharing.

Grandma’s Wontons

Crispy fried cabbage wedges paired with a vibrant herb slaw and smoky aioli make for an irresistible combination of textures and flavors. Perfect as an appetizer or a show-stopping side dish, this recipe is sure to wow.

Chef’s Tip: Any leftover aioli pairs beautifully with roasted vegetables or as a dip for fries.

Perfect as an appetizer or a show-stopping side dish, this recipe is sure to wow.

Fried Cabbage & Slaw with Smoky Aioli

"A panzanella is a stale-bread salad: Day-old bread is torn into bite-size pieces and then toasted into chewy, crunchy croutons that briefly soak up the juices of whatever else you choose to construct your salad with. Tying for first place with homemade breadcrumbs, a panzanella is one of our favorite uses for a rejected loaf of sourdough bread. The ideal level of stale is a loaf that’s a day or two old, but you can make a worthy panzanella even if your forgotten loaf has turned to brick—simply pour a thin stream of water onto your hardened loaf and pop it into a preheated 350°F oven for 10 to 15 minutes; the resulting steam will nudge it back to life. This rendition leans on the convenient delight of a frozen bag of peas and a tin of our flavor-loaded chili crisp smoked salmon to create a fabulously textured summer salad."—

Chili Crisp Salmon Panzanella

"I used to watch my lola roll her lumpia, one by one, into edible "presents." Lumpia, is, in essence, a fried spring roll. The crispy outer layer is like the wrapping paper for the vegetable mixture within. They're a total crowd-pleaser and the perfect appetizer for celebrations with friends and family. Bring them to a party and people will lose their minds.
They're usually made with meat, but I use traditional, humble root vegetables here-carrots, celery-and then add chickpeas for a little hearty protein and a meaty quality, when cooked with my holy trinity: onions, garlic, and ginger. It's the most delightful little pocket of flavor inside crackly, crunchy skin. I'm drooling already.
This pairs well with all those sauces from the Sawsawan section, and, honestly, this would be a really fun, interactive thing to cook with friends. Frying lumpia as you play music and drink wine: What says "holidays" more than that? You can also fold big batches and freeze them. Then just fry up a few when you're in a snacky mood.
Making these for friends carries on my lola's legacy-so much of cooking is about nurturing and caring for people, so I feel like I'm taking that love, comfort, and warmth that she gave me and passing it onto my friends and family. It's taking her love and keeping it alive."—

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