fine cooking

If someone were to ask me which condiment deserves the title of most underrated sauce, I'd probably say romesco, the classic sauce from Catalan that's made from dried, roasted red peppers, almonds, and olive oil. Romesco adds spectacular smokiness to just about anything, and that includes bold proteins. Use it as an accompaniment for unadorned steak, freshly charred from the barbecue; serve grilled asparagus and scallions, which also pair well with the sauce, with the meal. For the speedy Summer recipe, read on.

The cherimoya was once described by Mark Twain as "the most delicious fruit known to men," and I must agree: it's divine! Although the cherimoya originates in South America, it's now also grown in California.

If you were to combine the flavors of mango, pineapple, papaya, and bananas, it would be pretty close to the taste of a cherimoya. The texture is exceptionally creamy, almost like an avocado, and it makes a very smooth sorbet. At the store, you might pass up a cherimoya since its appearance is similar to reptile skin, but don't let its looks fool you; it's an easy fruit to enjoy.

Lime juice and lime zest add a kick to the naturally sweet fruit. Pull out your ice cream maker and hunt down a couple cherimoyas, you won't be disappointed. To see this simple sorbet recipe, keep reading.

Only a couple weeks ago, Party made a delicious black bean quinoa, and ever since then I've had a hankering for quinoa salad. Recently, I found red quinoa which is very similar to regular quinoa, but with a stunning color.

This uncomplicated recipe combines quinoa, avocado, dried fruit, and nuts dressed in a tart lemon vinaigrette. I didn't have raisins on hand, so I used cranberries and they proved to be a perfect substitute.

This protein-packed dish is a great side or an easy lunch. The salad is nutty, fruity, creamy, and full of satisfying texture. If you want to experiment with quinoa, keep reading for the recipe.

Three humble ingredients — Italian sausage, white beans, and crinkly kale — come together to make one superbly comforting bowl of soup. I love this recipe because it's very basic, but the resulting dish is earthy, filling, and wonderful. It's the rustic kind of soup that you enjoy in a cabin after a long day on the slopes. Or for a casual and relaxed dinner party, it can be served alongside a grilled cheese sandwich and green salad. It's definitely a crowd-pleaser, so get the recipe after the jump.

Who doesn't love a savory tart? For an afternoon brunch, I rolled up my sleeves to make a mouth-watering puff pastry tart topped with ricotta cheese, caramelized onions, and homemade olive tapenade. The anchovies are initially pungent, but once they reduce and caramelize with the onions, their flavor mellows immensely. If you're serving vegetarians, leave out the anchovies and salt the onions a little more heavily. The creamy ricotta cheese complements the crunchy crust and salty toppings. This tart is easily prepared ahead of time and then thrown in the oven to bake just before serving. Don't bother ordering a pizza; just make a savory tart at home. Keep reading for the recipe.

On cold Winter days, there is nothing better than a comforting bowl of soup. With its rainy weather, this past weekend was a perfect time to try out a new soup recipe: celery root and leek. When a couple of friends stopped by and I didn't have enough bowls for everyone, I took a tip from PartySugar and served my piping hot soup in small coffee mugs.This soup can easily be prepared a couple days in advance and would freeze well, if you wanted to make it in larger batches. The texture of pureed celery root and leek is exceptionally smooth and creamy — even though there is no cream in the actual soup. It's full of fresh flavor and even better once topped with tangy crème fraîche and chopped chives. To warm up this Winter, keep reading for the recipe.

New Year's Eve is a time for celebrating, so I always like to keep the food simple and delicious — with lots of sparkling, of course. To avoid a bunch of cleanup after a party, I prefer to serve appetizers with no utensils required. An endive spear filled with sweet potatoes, bacon, crème fraiche, and a sprinkling of chives fits the ticket perfectly.

I experimented with these on Christmas to make sure they are perfect for New Year's Eve. The sweet potato and bacon I prepped the morning of, sautéing it until nearly finished. Just before my guests arrived, I reheated the bacon and sweet potato mixture in a pan and plated the dish. The bitter endive and peppery bacon balanced the sweetness of sweet potato. Each bite reminds me of a more complex baked potato with all of the fixings. Celebrate your New Year's with sweet potato endive spears, and get the recipe by reading more.

When I was younger, cranberry sauce was one of those Thanksgiving sides that wasn't given much thought; often, we ate something that was pre-made or canned. However, I have since learned that fresh cranberry sauce is light-years better than the canned variety. It's exceptionally easy to make and can be prepared up to three days prior to the feast.

The combination of sweet caramelized onions and tart cranberries is perfect to pair with turkey. While I might not be cooking my bird for a couple more weeks, I can't wait to use this sauce to top chicken or a meatloaf sandwich. If you want to give up the can and make your own scrumptious cranberry sauce, keep reading.

The beginning of the workweek is always on the strenuous side, so keep Monday nights as effortless as possible by selecting a swift dinner recipe that calls for ingredients you've already got on hand.

By doubling up on the amount of halibut and clams that you needed for last night's meal, you won't have to worry about hitting up the supermarket again.

Take a stab at a stress-free riff on cioppino, the classic San Francisco stew. With a mere 30 minutes, you can make a savory soup that's sure to allay any of your weekday stresses. See the recipe when you read more.

There's no better way to really catch Fall fever than to prepare a steamy seafood dish that also incorporates the season's top produce picks.

For dinner tonight, sauté aromatic leeks and unconventional hen of the woods mushrooms in butter, add broth, and simmer halibut and clams in liquid until just barely cooked.

The resulting meal, which is delicate both in texture and flavor, makes for an enjoyable end to the weekend. Ready to cook it? Then read more.