Cuisine at home

Whether you’re looking for approachable dinner options, unique entertaining ideas, or how-to help, Cuisine at home packs each issue with expert culinary advice and original test kitchen-approved recipes, all aimed at teaching and inspiring you in the kitchen so you can creatively cook with confidence, every time.

FROM THE EDITOR

LET’S GET SOCIAL

CUISINE AT HOME

BOOZY BOOST

NOTABLE TIMESAVERS

WHERE’S THE BEEF

IN THE NOW • WHAT’S HAPPENING IN FOOD

COLOR ME blue • Naturally blue food is an anomaly, indicating there’s more to blueberries than meets the eye — their deep ocean color is what makes these berries so unique, and it’s also what makes them so good for you.

CHILLIN’ OUT • You shouldn’t have to break a sweat to get weeknight dinners on the table, especially in the summer. These four entrée salads deliver global flavors fast and keep you cool as a cucumber.

SIMPLY CROSTATA • Can you think of a better way to enjoy the fruits of summer than using them in desserts?! OK, maybe simply enjoying them as is ... but when you combine fruit in a free-form tart, crostatas are the summer dessert that can’t be beat.

CHOCOLATE DOUGH

SHELL GAME

eat a little nutrish-ish

gazpacho • Summertime soups are a specialized set, purposefully served cold as a refreshing repast. And these three out-of-the-ordinary soups are ideal on a hot summer day.

SMOKE & FIRE • Early adopters are already aware of the attributes of the pellet grill/smoker — turnkey readiness of a gas grill and inimitable smoke of a charcoal grill — sporting the convenience of electric ignition, cleaner, more efficient pelletized fuel, temperature setting at the turn of a knob, even heating, and easy cleanup.

THE ESSENTIAL PICNIC checklist

Let’s talk essentials • There are a lot of picnic “essentials” out there, but when it comes to packing a picnic, less really is more. And, earth-friendly is in.

Pack up plenty of picnic sammies • The one thing to keep in mind is that they should be layered with flavor. And these two sandwiches — one vegetarian and one Italian — are perfect for packing up and heading out.

Outdoor Movie Snacks • NOW SHOWING in a galaxy far, far away at a backyard down the block a plucky band of adventurers brave sprinklers and shrubberies to enjoy movies and snacks without paying a theater a small fortune and waiting in endless lines for kibble.

THE UNKINDEST CUT • CUISINE TESTS KITCHEN SHEARS WITH SIMPLE KITCHEN CHORES. SOME SHEARS WERE SHARP WINNERS, WHILE OTHERS JUST DIDN’T CUT THE MUSTARD.

OUR STAFF TESTED KITCHEN SHEARS

FLAME-KISSED VEGGIES

TRULY TEMPTING TEMPURA • Light, lacy, airy fried food isn’t an oxymoron — it’s tempura. As with stir-frying, preparation is critical for success. Read through these recipes, steps, and detailed instructions before p proceeding, then prep your sauces, veggies, and shrimp, and finally, heat your oil and make your batter, then fry, fry aaway!

hot dogs & burgers go-to guide • It’s easy to take hamburgers and hot dogs for granted. After all, they’re everywhere: at fast food joints, picnics, ballparks, even peddled from carts on the street. But don’t be fooled — there’s an art to the well-crafted burger or hot dog. These guidelines will teach you how to take the ordinary to the next level.

your buying guide

Onions • Onions are so common in cooking, they’re hardly given a second thought. But take a closer look — there’s more to them than you might think.

TEST KITCHEN TIP • you can give your onions a quick soak in cold water to reduce their sharpness.

PRESTO PESTO

an olive oil primer • To find out how olives go from branch to bottle, and then determine what type of oil is best for your...