This deeply savory, and dare I say elegant vegetable dish celebrates leeks, which were previously criminally underrated but are currently having a well deserved moment. Leeks are the perfect vegetable for these last dreary weeks of winter before spring produce emerges because they hint at spring alliums to come, while being perfectly fresh and in season, and a slow braise keeps the preparation feeling cozy. Braised in white wine and chicken (or vegetable) stock, the leeks will become caramelized, sweet, and silky. The finishing touch is a nutty, aromatic brown butter sauce, brightened with a touch of sherry vinegar to cut through the richness. This recipe would be great paired with roasted chicken, lamb, or fish.  

When it comes to date night dinner at home, neither my husband nor myself have much of a sweet tooth and prefer to focus our efforts on the main meal. But for Valentine’s Day, dessert feels like a must. So I’ve written the kind of Valentine’s dessert recipe that I’d like to make: super simple, yields only 2 servings, is appropriately pink, and features arguably the most romantic of fruits - cherries. With only about 15 minutes of active time, this recipe is easy to (literally) whip up the day before and store in the fridge so that all you need to do on the big night is garnish and serve. After all, maybe Valentine’s dessert should be a little bit like love itself - simple and sweet.

Japanese BBQ sauce takes center stage in this fast, flavor-packed dinner, lacquering bite-size chicken thighs in sticky umami richness. Crispy cucumbers, toasty sesame carrots, and fluffy jasmine rice round this bowl out into a complete and satisfying weeknight meal. Marinate the chicken if you have time, but even without, this 40-minute recipe delivers big flavor with minimal fuss.

Sweet, smoky, tart, and just the right amount of fiery, these mezcal margaritas get their kick from Melinda’s Ghost Pepper Strawberry Preserves. They're not for the faint of heart! But they are for lovers of a good flavor punch.