Cooking Basics

Looking to preserve Summer's bounty of tomatoes for chilly seasons to come? Chances are, you've been advised to peel your tomatoes. While most fruits and vegetables are prepped with a few swipes of a vegetable peeler, tomatoes require a little extra TLC, due to their juicy delicate flesh. Luckily, the process is extremely simple, and requires no specialized equipment; keep reading to learn how.

Father's Day is approaching quick, so here's menu inspiration for a leisurely Father's Day Sunday lunch. What better way to recognize and celebrate Dad than by making all his favorite things? No matter what your dad likes, you're sure to find one of his favorites in this mouth-watering menu. Artichoke, corn on the cob, chicken wings, and apple cobbler are just a few dishes Dad will appreciate receiving on his honored day.

Summer produce is usually so good that it doesn't need much to make it better. But when you are looking to spice things up, we have a few ideas to make your Summer snacks more interesting and elegant. Butter, citrus juice, and salt are a few of the no-brainers, but we've thrown in some oddball ingredients too, like ginger and kelp sprinkle.

If your dad tends to his home bar as if it were his livelihood, then it's hard to go wrong gifting a nice bottle of booze. It's thoughtful, not too expensive or too cheap, and — unlike a new gadget or a DVD — it's not a problem if he already has one.

Maybe I'm biased: since my dad and I share a love for cocktails, I find myself often shopping for top-shelf spirits that aren't superpricey but also aren't run of the mill. Based on years of research, here are my recommendations for all types of drinking dads. Of course, I'm always looking for new booze to try, so add your own gift ideas in the comments.

Rosé may be the quintessential Summer wine. It goes with just about any food from spicy appetizers to grilled meats to cheese plates, but it isn't so acidic that it can't be sipped alone. We tried a whole slew of Rosés, from bone-dry to syrupy sweet, but these five are just right, plus they have an affordable price tag to match. Keep reading to find your next picnic wine.

If you or someone you know is a burger aficionado, then chances are, many a burger will be grilled this Summer. Gearing up for the high season? Make sure everything you need is at arm's length; the right tools are a must to keep those patties seasoned, stored, and cooked properly. Check out 10 picks we think every burger lover should own.

We've got a partnership with the recipe, equipment, and product-testing gurus at America's Test Kitchen. They'll be sharing some of their time-tested recipes and technical expertise with us weekly. Today's topic? A guide to 17 common Italian pastas, plus a fast, easy recipe for meatless pasta recipe to boot.

Ridged, tubed, stranded—they're all here.

What could be a higher art form than Italian pasta names—where pappardelle means "gulp down" and ziti translates to "bridegroom"? Pairing a pasta shape with the right sauce is more art than science. However, we think there’s only one basic rule to follow: Thick, chunky sauces go with short pastas, and thin, smooth, or light sauces with strand pasta. (Of course, there are a few exceptions—but that’s where the art comes in.) Although we specify pasta shapes for every recipe we publish, like campanelle in pasta with roasted tomatoes and porcini sauce, you should feel free to substitute other pasta shapes as long as you’re following this one basic rule.

Read on for the pasta shapes we use most often, along with translations or alternate names, plus some measuring tips.