It's funny how precisely the weather seems to adhere to the calendar year; the first day of fall immediately brought vibrant leaves and cooler breezes to Georgia. My appetite also succumbs to these changes and my urge for comfort food grows strong—out with vine-ripe tomatoes and grilled summer corn, bring on the hearty braises and savory stews. More

My stepdad brought Indian home cooking into my life. He and my mother had been high school sweethearts, American students at an international school in the foothills of the Himalayas where my stepdad had grown up, stuffing himself on dal and pappadums throughout childhood and cultivating a lifelong craving for fragrant vegetarian curries. Thanks to him and to recipes like this mixed bean masala, it's a craving I now share. Quick, healthy and economical, it's an easy recipe to double and freeze in preparation for chilly winter nights, when the scent of onion, ginger and spices bubbling on the stove will warm up the whole house. More

For many people, fall is the beginning of oatmeal season. Long gone are the days of yogurt and berries, replaced instead by hearty bowls of steaming oats. And while brown sugar, honey and nuts are all delicious toppings, there are infinite possibilities on the savory side of things. More

You're either an egg yolk person or you're not. If you're the latter, drippy egg yolks are confusing and repulsive; this recipe is not for you. If you're among the former, welcome! You have come to a place where egg yolk oozes over garlicky kale, crispy bacon and a toasty bun, pooling on the plate for extra dipping as you eat. Ready to start your day right? More

Fajitas taste best when the meat and veggies come straight off the grill, no question. But don't let that stop you when it comes to getting your fajita fix. I make this recipe entirely on the stovetop, where the spicy chicken picks up a touch of char from the grill pan and the peppers cook until they are completely tender. Add a dollop of creamy black bean spread and we have dinner. More

When I spoke with Maria Speck this week about the diversity of whole grains, she offered me this recipe for Wheat Berry Fool with Grand Marnier Figs — a rather "lofty dessert" — made with thick Greek yogurt, chewy grain berries and drunken figs. I had to share it with you. More

I love when I am pleasantly surprised by a new recipe, as I was with this creamy, comforting farro risotto. (Although in hindsight, what's not to like?) It's just that all this talk about whole grains lately has had me lingering in culinary limbo—part of me has tried very hard to ignore the health-nut hype while the other part has been wondering what exactly I am missing. More

A friend reminded me yesterday of an old trick used to get the correct water-to-grain ratio when cooking rice. It's simple: pour the rice into the pan you're going to cook it in. Level it out and place your index finger so that it is touching the surface of the rice. Add enough water so that it comes up to your first knuckle — I usually use the crease on the palm-side of my finger. Do you use this method? More

When I was young, I wanted nothing to do with the desserts my father brought home from our monthly trips to the Thai market in the city: gray griddled discs of taro root and coconut, round pancakes filled with coconut cream, and layered pink jellies flavored, disappointingly, with coconut.

Well, times have changed. Now I'm the coconut fiend and the traditional Thai dessert kao neow dahm is my favorite way to get my fix at home. Made with sticky whole grain black rice, coconut milk and toasted coconut, this warm rice pudding is creamy, sweet, a little savory, and very coconutty. It's also dairy-free and gluten-free, making it a great dessert — or breakfast — for almost any guest. More

Making risotto with whole grains like farro, barley or quinoa instead of arborio rice can result in a dish with interesting textures and great flavor, but it usually lacks the creaminess that traditional risotto is known for. Martha Rose Shulman of the New York Times has a smart method for making creamy whole-grain risottos that combine the best of both worlds. More