In many ways, I think this is the best time of winter for cooking. There's no holiday pressure. Our guests have all gone home. We have no real obligations at all. Which means that we get to cook exactly what we want, when we want to, and eat at our leisure. If you're at home today, I'd say this is the perfect time to drag out a heavy soup pot, pick some spices, and get something warm and comforting simmering on the back burner. More

A dear friend recently celebrated his birthday by hosting a big night out on the town (his extravaganzas more often than not end with very late night dance parties). I am more of a homebody myself, so I opted out of his wild and crazy festivities and offered to cook him a quiet dinner instead. Planning a heartfelt meal is the easiest way for me to show I care. More

For many of us, sandwiches are seen as a quick lunch, something that can be thrown together with a few dibs and dabs of whatever we may have laying around in the fridge. A quick slather of mayonnaise, a few pieces of salami, a slice of cheese, and lunch is complete. Perhaps a can of tuna is more your style. Or maybe you're an impromptu egg salad kind of guy or gal. Well, Mark Bittman would like to remind us all that it can get a bit more exciting. More

This time of year can be a tricky one for inspired breakfasts. Oatmeal is my go-to on weekdays, and on the weekends we often flail for something a bit more interesting but no more complex. With this morning tart, flail no more!
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Eggs and I have a hot-and-cold relationship. Some months I can't stand them and then, suddenly, I find myself in a phase where I find them deeply satisfying. Maybe it's the chilly weather or the desire for simple, inexpensive meals, but this is one of those "put an egg on it" moments when I'm inclined to top any lunch or dinner with some sunny protein, especially when that meal involves braised lentils and silky ribbons of chard. More

We're deep in it. Soup season, that is. And in my opinion, there's not much more comforting than a steaming bowl of creamy tomato soup. But is there a way to achieve that blissful flavor without the heavy cream? More

I am declaring this the year of the chicken thigh. I don't have any empirical proof or trend-spotting evidence that this will be so — just a gut feeling that this will be the year when the food world will fall hard for the sinuous charms and soul-satisfying goodness of this economical cut of poultry. You watch. It's going to happen. More

It's January, which means we are all craving food that is a little lighter, a little healthier, and a little more in line with the way we've resolved to eat this year. But at the same time, it's January and when we're wrapped up in sweaters and blankets, it's comfort foods we're dreaming about. That's where this recipe comes in. With its rich, mushroom-studded filling tucked under a layer of soft mashed sweet potato, it has all the hallmarks of a good shepherd's pie, but it's completely vegan — and includes a secret ingredient that adds body and creaminess to the filling, without any cream. More

Dried lentils are a pantry essential in most of our kitchens, and come cooler months they're a go-to ingredient for a quick weeknight meal. Lentil soup may be a favorite, but don't forget all the other things you can make with lentils. From spicy lentil wraps to wild mushroom lentil burgers, here are 10 non-soup lentil recipes we're craving this winter: More

How does a warm and creamy squash curry sound to you right now? Good, right?! This vegan curry is made with rich coconut milk and infused with enough spices to make your tongue tingle. It's the kind of dish that makes you look forward to dinner all day long. More