americancuisine

Photo: Allie Chanthorn ReinmannSurely you don’t have an anti-tofu bias, but if you do, you should knock it off and stop robbing yourself of possibilities and pleasure. I initially made this pie for two reasons: I wanted dessert, and I was…

Photo: Joel Cunningham“Put some potato chips in there” is a sandwich hack so timeworn, I’m hesitant to characterize it as anything more than generally accepted wisdom at this point. What sandwich wouldn’t benefit from extra salt and…

Post-Easter festivities might have you swimming in a sea of colorful eggs. In case your boiled egg bounty is getting monotonous, I’ve got a surefire way for you to spice things up: Drag you sanctimonious eggs to hell with hot chili-garlic…

What came first, the milkshake or the smoothie? Maybe they developed simultaneously, but I like to think the milkshake paved the way and that’s why smoothies feel like dessert even when they’re packed with kale and wheatgrass. And while it…

I cannot function without butter. I keep at least two types on hand at all times—one for cooking and one for snacking. But I also like to keep a few compound butters around for easy entertaining, even if I’m only entertaining myself in my…

Meats are muscles. On account of this, they’re not perfectly symmetrical bricks. Different cuts can be tear-dropped, conical, or otherwise shaped asymmetrically with a thick and thin side. But, alas, uneven shapes lead to uneven cooking.…

When asked “ranch or blue cheese?” I usually answer “both.” Though I have a slight preference for blue, I enjoy ranch dressing as much as the next white girl of uncertain European origin, and I don’t see why I should have to choose between…

Much like myself, potatoes are capable of taking on a lot of salt. The sharp salinity is quickly tempered by the creamy, slightly bitter potato flesh for a flavor combination I never get tired of. Potato chips, French fries, and fully…

About a month ago I found a two-for-one deal on tri-tip steaks, and I bought a whole bunch. Having recently read an article claiming one can dry age steaks by simply leaving them in the refrigerator for an extended period of time, I decided…

French fries, tater tots, and even the humble baked potato all like to get dressed up with a special dip to match the occasion. Ketchup, mayo, or sour cream are common condiments, but they can get a little humdrum. Instead of playing it…