The winner was also the cheapest! Simply Recipes Boxed cake mixes have been around since the 1930s. Im a professional baker and I always keep them stocked in my pantry. Simply Recipes Sometimes astore-bought cake mixwill do. Typically, I buy whatever box catches my eye (a.k.a. whats on sale). Simply Recipes / Meghan Splawn But recently a friend asked for recommendations and I was stumped. I had never paid close attention to brand names, prices, or whether Id like the baked cake....

Make these crispy Spanish potatoes with no deep frying required. In southern Spain, theyre served with a spicy, tomato-less paprika sauce. Making Patatas Bravas at Home Spain has a culture of going out. Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm But, if Im going to make it at home, I want it to be easy. To make patatas bravas more quickly and simply, I utilize a couple of shortcuts. Ive also figured out a shortcut to my preferred tomato-based brava sauce to decrease the amount of work....

This surprising method means no standing over the stove. I also love that I didnt have to make it. I have a bit of a hangover from a much earlier experience trying out risotto. Simply Recipes / Sara Haas It cant be that hard, I remember thinking. I was right: It wasnt hard. But I still somehow managed to ruin the meal. Simply Recipes / Sara Haas But that doesnt mean I dont love a good cooking hack to help make the process easier....

Find me drizzling salsa macha on everything from eggs and roasted broccoli to even a grilled cheese sandwich. Oh, itschili crisp, a Chinese condiment I know and love. But why does the label say salsa macha? Simply Recipes It tastes different from chili crisp mostly because of the many varieties of Mexican chilis it uses. Its also nothing like the jarred salsas for dipping tortillas and filling tacos. Salsa macha comes from the states of Veracruz and Oaxaca in Mexico....

Simply Recipes / Alexandra Shytsman I first discovered kimchi many years ago, in the pre-internet 1980s. The command for kimchi was, Just eat. I bought a jar. Simply Recipes / Alexandra Shytsman I opened up the container of boldly fragrant, spicy cabbage at home and started eating. With no cultural context but lots of enthusiasm, I tried it in salads and sandwiches. I stirred it into cottage cheese and I nibbled it alongside my basic stir-fries....

Theyre the only lemon bars I make. Ive never looked back. Ive since found another lemon bar lover in the family: my 11-year-old daughter. Simply Recipes / Photo Illustration by Wanda Abraham / Sara Haas It begins with making a simple shortbread crust. The mixture is pressed into the prepared pan and bakes for about 15 minutes. After whisking, pour the filling into the baked, slightly cooled crust and bake for 30 minutes....

It’s the juiciest, most bewitchingly delicious chicken ever. The chicken is marinated in a lemon, garlic, and rosemary magic potion. It’s the best part of the recipe and what guarantees the meat to be juicy and tender. Simply Recipes / Getty Images / Myo Quinn Without counting salt and pepper, it calls for only five ingredients. ), so I cull those hard parts. Instead, I use whole chicken legs and opt for roasting in the oven....

Baby it’s cold outsidetuck yourself in with a warm bowl of soup. What makes Ina’s soup Tuscan? I’vealwayswondered about this and dug a little to find the answer inEssentials of Classic Italian Cooking. Simply Recipes / Getty Images / Myo Quinn Ina’s Tuscan soup calls for cannellini beans and is worthy of everyone’s affection. The beans melt into the broth, becoming ultra-luxurious. Try it once, and don’t be surprised if it becomes a wintertime cooking ritual....

Its so much more than the sum of its parts. Simply Recipes / Getty Images To say I love soup is an understatement. I even wrote abook on the topic, such is my love of a good bowl of soup. Simply Recipes / Getty Images Its the very first recipe in Julia ChildsMastering The Art of French Cooking, and its a doozy. Another reason that I love this recipe is that its not just one recipe....

It’s the best cookie recipe on the planet. Thats not a problem when someone inquires what my favorite cookie recipe is. Not that anyone has ever asked, but when they do, Im prepared! Simply Recipes / Photo Illustration by Wanda Abraham / Irvin Lin / Getty Images I was told to make 14 dozen. Thats 7x the recipe. Have you ever grated that much ginger on a microplane? Simply Recipes / Irvin Lin...

A quick and easy weeknight dinner that’s become a classic. An entire pasta dinner? What magic is this?! Simply Recipes / Photo Illustration by Wanda Abraham / Emma Christensen / Getty Images we said while simultaneously reaching into our cupboards for a box of linguini. It truly is creamythe handful of shredded Parmesan stirred in just before serving is really just gilding the lily. A skillet with sloped sides would likely result in unwelcome splashes and spills as you stir....

If you tap on links we provide, we may receive compensation. How my imaginary popcorn-popping holy grail became reality. All of them worked fine (I stand by our stovetop method! Simply Recipes / Photo Illustration by Wanda Abraham / Getty Images ), but I still felt like I was chasing after some imaginary popcorn-popping holy grail. The best popcorn popper that Ive ever found is theW&P Microwave Silicone Popper. I want those kernels fully popped and looking like exploded cotton balls....

Its ready in 15 minutes. My favorite thing about Ina is her confidence in the kitchen. Watching her taught me to be a confident chef. Simply Recipes / Getty Images / Haley Scarpino I learned to trust my instincts by tasting the food Im cooking as I go. One of my most beloved Ina recipes is her hummus. There’s nothing extraordinary about it, which is exactly why I love it....