Bosc pears poached in Marsala wine with star anise, cinnamon, and cloves. More Pear Desserts Marsala Poached Pears Firm, just ripe pears should be used. If overly ripe, the pears will cook up mushy. Elise Bauer If Bosc pears are not available, Bartlett or Anjou can be substituted. you could core the pears if you wish, from the bottom, but it really is not necessary. Bring to a boil. Elise Bauer...

Marta is a food photographer who has won accolades for her photography. Best piece of cooking advice:“Use your hands! Don’t be afraid to dive into a dough or grab a piece of raw meat with your hands. It saves on dishes!” Education Marta has an Associate’s Degree in Professional Cooking and Baking from Baltimore International Culinary College. Learn moreabout usand oureditorial process.

It’s already in your pantry. Simply Recipes / Getty Images All brownie lovers have a strong opinion on what makes a perfect brownie. There are proponents of crispy corners, chewy edges, and soft middles. Simply Recipes / Getty Images Could this seemingly minor tweak bring me closer to that dreamy, fudgy texture I love in brownies? I set off to find out if this one-ingredient upgrade works. Does Adding Oil Actually Yield Fudgier Brownies?...

All it takes is a nice rub of garlic. What’s so special about a clove of garlic? It’s not about the ingredient per se, it’s about how the garlic is used. Simply Recipes / Adobe Stock / Getty Images Garlic is an aromatic ingredient with incredible flavor and aroma, but it can sometimes be overpowering. Rub the sides and bottom of your casserole dish with the clove. Save the clove to chop or mince for use in another dish and proceed with your recipe....

The tip comes from Martha’s mom, Mrs. Kostyra. The cream cheese gives you the richest, creamiest, and most delicious mashed potatoes you’ll ever have. It is a rich and creamy ingredient that gives the mashed potatoes a luxurious texture. Simply Recipes / Getty Images Simply Recipes / Getty Images

It has the best flavor and texture. First and foremost is its fat content. The higher the fat, the smoother and creamier the butter. Simply Recipes / Photo Illustration by Wanda Abraham / Getty Images Vermont Creamerys cultured butter clocks in between 82 and 86 percent fat. This creates flakier pastries and gives the butter a higher smoke point for cooking. Good butter starts with good milk, and that means excellent cow care, something Vermont Creamery takes seriously....

Its the easiest way to get perfectly cooked asparagus on the table in a hurry. Once I tried Martha’s method, though, I was hooked. Martha’s roasted asparagus recipe is proof of that. Simply Recipes / Photo Illustration by Wanda Abraham / Getty Images Roast for 15 minutes in a 450F oven until the cheese is melted and golden. This recipe is deceptively simple, but the genius is in the heat....

Here are my tricks for perfecting them. My children, on the other hand, would do just about anything for a sugar cookie. Even I, a sugar cookie skeptic, am converted. Simply Recipes / Getty Images / Molly Adams I suggest using a higher-quality butter to give your cookies a rich, nuanced flavor. I used Kerrygold, but cultured American butter would be nice, too. Bake the Cookies in Batches These cookies are giant!...

It makes an especially delicious, soft, easy-slicing loaf. I make a beeline straight for them because I love makingbanana bread. I consider it a perfect food, and Im always looking for delicious ways to enjoy it. Simply Recipes / Getty Images They all work together to create tender, flavorful loaves. That brings us toMartha’s key banana bread ingredient: sour cream. So, adding sour cream creates a bread with an outstanding texture and flavor that’s easy to slice....

A combo of butter and mayo make the bread extra crunchy. I thought I had my grilled cheese down to a science until I stumbled upon Martha Stewarts method. Forget Mother knows best; Martha knows best. Simply Recipes / Getty Images / Photo by Julia Gartland; Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne How Martha Stewart Makes the Best Grilled Cheese So whats Marthas secret for better grilled cheese? Well, she actually has a few of them....

This method yields extremely tender salmon every time. Fish cookery is hard, but it doesn’t have to be! To avoid this problem, tryMartha Stewart’s tipfor slow-roasting salmon at a low temperature. Simply Recipes / Photo Illustration by Wanda Abraham / Getty Images (She shared this technique onInstagram, but she didn’t invent it.) The gentler heat cooks the salmon slowly and reduces the chances of overcooking. It also gives you the time to calmly assess when the salmon is done....

This method yields extremely tender salmon every time. Fish cookery is hard, but it doesn’t have to be! (She shared this technique onInstagram, but she didn’t invent it.) Simply Recipes / Photo Illustration by Wanda Abraham / Getty Images The gentler heat cooks the salmon slowly and reduces the chances of overcooking. It also gives you the time to calmly assess when the salmon is done. Bake the salmon at 275F for 20 minutes, or at 300F for 10 to 15 minutes....

It’s also the easiest way to make bacon. I use this time to make myself another cup of coffee. The bacon sits in its rendered fat and essentially fries in it, becoming crispy more quickly. Simply Recipes / Photo Illustration by Sarah Crowder / Getty Images To follow Marthas method to a T, youll need to rotate the sheet pan halfway through. Although I’ve accidentally forgotten to do this countless times and my bacon still turns out great....