Mexican Street Corn (Elote)

 This Mexican street-style corn gets its flavor from deeply charring fresh ears of corn rather than boiling them. The hot corn is coated with a creamy mixture of mayonnaise and Mexican crema, then finished with Cotija cheese, chile and plenty of fresh lime. The contrast of sweet, blistered corn, creamy dressing, salty cheese and bright lime makes this a terrific summer side dish.

Mexican Street Corn (Elote)

Traditional Refried Pinto Beans (Frijoles Refritos)

Homemade refried beans are remarkably simple when they begin with a pot of freshly cooked pinto beans. The beans are fried with onion in manteca, mashed directly in the skillet and loosened with their own flavorful cooking broth. The result is much richer and creamier than refried beans made with water.
Despite the English name, frijoles refritos are not normally fried twice. The cooked beans are fried and mashed once, with refritos conveying the idea of beans that are thoroughly or well fried.

Traditional Refried Pinto Beans 

Traditional Mexican Pinto Beans (Frijoles de la Olla)

Frijoles de la olla—literally “beans from the pot”—are one of the foundations of Mexican home cooking. Pinto beans are gently simmered with onion, garlic and a little manteca until tender and creamy, then served in their flavorful cooking broth. They are wonderful on their own and are the perfect starting point for homemade refried beans.

Mexican Pinto Beans

Cindys Cranberries

 A perfect side dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas. The cranberries do not burst when prepared according to the instructions and look like rubies in the serving dish.

Cindy’s Cranberries

Classic Stuffed Green Peppers

Tender green bell peppers filled with a hearty, savory mixture and baked until the peppers are soft and the filling is hot and flavorful. This old-fashioned comfort-food favorite makes a satisfying family dinner and works equally well with ground beef, turkey, chicken or a plant-based alternative.

Stuffed Green Peppers

Mom's Smokey Baked Beans

A simple baked bean recipe with brown sugar, bacon, dry mustard, ketchup, and a touch of liquid smoke for a sweet and smoky flavor.

Mom’s Smokey Baked Beans

Mom's Red Beans and Rice

A hearty pot of slow-simmered red beans flavored with ham, vegetables, garlic, cumin, Worcestershire and a touch of heat. The ham is added back to the thickened beans along with fresh lemon juice and served over hot white rice.

Mom’s Red Beans and Rice

Crispy Stacked Potatoes with Herbs

Thinly sliced russet potatoes arranged upright in a cast-iron skillet, seasoned with fresh herbs and clarified butter, then roasted until tender inside with beautifully browned, crisp edges.

Crispy Stacked Potatoes with Herbs

Zucchini Gratin

A simple family recipe of grated zucchini sautéed with green onions, garlic and butter, then topped with Monterey Jack cheese and baked until hot, bubbly and lightly browned.

Zucchini Gratin

Mom's Scalloped Potatoes

Thinly sliced potatoes baked slowly in a rich custard of cream and eggs, lightly seasoned with garlic and nutmeg. The long, gentle baking produces exceptionally tender potatoes before a final increase in temperature finishes the top.

Mom’s Scalloped Potatoes

Thomas Keller Zucchini-Basil Pistou (Food and Wine)

A fresh, vibrant zucchini pistou made with extra-virgin olive oil, garlic, basil and lemon. Briefly cooking the zucchini and basil preserves their fresh flavor and color, while pulsing rather than fully puréeing gives the sauce a rustic texture.

Zucchini-Basil Pistou 

Twice Baked Potatoes with Bacon and Eggs

Crispy potato shells filled with creamy cheddar mashed potatoes, bacon, scallions and parsley, then topped with an egg and baked until the white is set. A hearty breakfast or brunch dish with everything in one potato.

Twice Baked Potatoes with Bacon and Eggs

French-Style Potatoes (Cookery for Entertaining)

These classic oven-roasted potatoes are briefly parboiled, then roasted at high heat in butter and oil until beautifully golden and crisp on the outside while remaining tender inside. The potatoes can be prepared through the parboiling step ahead of time, making them especially convenient for entertaining.

French Style Potatoes

Pommes Anna

A classic French potato dish made by layering paper-thin slices of russet potatoes with clarified butter, salt and pepper, then baking until beautifully golden and crisp. Once inverted onto a serving platter, the overlapping potatoes create an impressive presentation with a crisp exterior and tender, buttery center.

Pommes Anna

Mexican Rice

A simple, flavorful Mexican-style rice made by toasting the rice with onion and garlic before simmering it in chicken broth, tomato sauce and cumin. Using El Pato tomato sauce adds a little extra chile flavor and makes this especially good alongside tacos, enchiladas or chile rellenos.

Mexican Rice

Cilantro Lime Rice (Rice Cooker)

A bright and flavorful rice made with fresh lime, garlic, and cilantro. Cooking the rice in vegetable broth adds extra flavor, while the fresh cilantro-lime mixture folded in after cooking keeps the rice fresh and vibrant. It’s an excellent side for tacos, enchiladas, grilled chicken, or other Mexican-inspired dishes.

Cilantro Lime Rice

Sauteed Dutch Yellow Peewee Potatoes (From Package)

Tender Dutch Yellow Peewee potatoes are browned in olive oil and butter with onion, chile powder and cumin, then finished with sweet red bell pepper. This simple skillet side dish is crisp and golden on the outside and creamy inside, with a mild Southwestern flavor.

Peewee Potatoes

Pommes Anna(2)

A classic French potato dish made by layering thinly sliced potatoes with clarified butter, salt and pepper, then baking them under pressure until they form a compact cake with a deeply browned, crisp exterior and tender, buttery layers inside. A heavy cast-iron skillet is an excellent choice because even heat is essential to developing the crust.

Pommes Anna

Spicy Stir-Fried Green Beans and Scallions

Crisp-tender green beans and scallions are quickly charred in a very hot skillet, then tossed with garlic and a savory, slightly sweet and spicy soy-vinegar sauce. Serve as a side dish, or make a double portion and serve with rice for an easy entrée.

Spicy Stir-Fried Green Beans and Scallions

Party Potatoes

Rich and creamy make-ahead mashed potatoes blended with cream cheese and sour cream, then topped with butter and paprika and baked until hot. This classic family-style side dish is especially convenient for holiday dinners and entertaining.

Party Potatoes