TASTElist

San Francisco mixologist Erick Castro taught us how to make this easy holiday punch. It’s a flexible recipe that works with almost any base spirit. Here we use genever, blended with orange curaçao, simple syrup, bitters, sparkling water, lemon juice, sparkling wine, and a touch of grated nutmeg. Garnish with pineapple slices and whole star anise before serving. You’ll need to make a batch of Rich Simple Syrup and freeze a large block of punch ice before you begin.

In this refreshing and unexpected cocktail-party appetizer, elegantly concave leaves of Belgian endive become easy-to-pick-up vessels for a delicious mixture of diced feta and pear, seasoned with lemon juice, olive oil, and salt and pepper. It’s easy, healthy, and sets your guests up for the meal (or more substantial appetizers) to come.

This streamlined version of classic Greek spanakopita calls for frozen chopped spinach and frozen filo dough, so active prep is at a minimum. You begin by making the filling, sautéeing onion in butter, then adding eggs, Parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, and seasonings. Add the squeezed, defrosted spinach and crumbled feta. Then layer thin sheets of filo dough in a baking dish, remembering to brush each layer with melted butter.

Think of this as a lower-stress version of Chicken Cacciatore. Skin-on, bone in chicken thighs receive a flavor-boosting browning. They’re joined in the crockpot with the classic trio of aromatic vegetables: onion, celery, and garlic, with garlic, sautéed to soften. Moisten with broth, canned diced tomatoes, red wine, and balsamic, and let the slow cooker do its thing for 5 to 6 hours. Serve with creamy Polenta.

Like crepes? Than you’re going to love socca. This thin chickpea flour pancake hails from Nice, but it’s rarely seen outside the South of France (except in Genoa where’s it called a farinata), and we think it merits wider recognition. Add a flavorful filling—we like it with a dollop of fresh goat cheese and lots of freshly ground black pepper—fold it up, and polish a few off for a delicious snack.

A favorite pancake recipe of mine. This recipe went through vigorous testing to create an amazingly fluffy and light pancake. The olive oil addition is what creates such a moist cake. Olive oil can be replaced by melted butter, or even browned melted butter, for a richer flavor. Add fresh fruit or citrus zest to your completed batter to create other versions of this beauty.

Yes, it’s easy enough to go ahead and call up Chinese takeout, but why not give this super-simple slow cooker recipe a shot the next time you’re craving fried rice? Trust us, adding these fried rice ingredients to your crock pot is fail-proof; plus, it’s healthier than the grease-laden versions you might get when you order out.

This is a smoothie with a secret: a handful of fresh spinach leaves, a powerful source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber (in addition to the blueberries’ fiber and antioxidants) that provide tons of nutrition without tasting that way. It’s great for adults and kids alike. Serve with a spoon and scoop of Granola for a more filling, crunchy treat.

For many, being a teenager in the ’80s meant hanging at the mall and consuming as many cups of Orange Julius as possible. As a nod to this frothy, orangey drink, which remains one of the best takes on a smoothie ever, we created this recipe, a fancier homemade version of the original. For more healthy inspiration, check out our Fruity Smoothie, Healthy Blueberry Smoothie, and Apple-Lemon-Ginger Juice.

Greek yogurt gives this healthy smoothie a gently tangy edge, a great boost to your morning. To make it vegan, use almond milk in place of regular milk and replace the yogurt with coconut milk. We suggest making with our Granola recipe as a more filling option with an added crunch.

Poutine, Montreal’s beloved snack and late-night drunk food, gets the pulled pork treatment here. You start by cooking oven fries that—easily enough—you get from the freezer case, then topping with cheese curds and a mound of pulled pork. Ladle gravy over the top, pop the whole thing back in the oven briefly, just enough to melt the cheese, and you and your guests are ready to scarf.

A fizz is one of simplest, most refreshing tall drinks we know. There’s something about the mix of gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup topped off with fizzy water that expresses the soul of the cocktail. Here, we give it a pink twist—a little boost of deep red grenadine syrup—that turns the classic fizz into a blushing sipper perfect for Valentine’s Day or other romantic occasions. Try pairing with our fresh Red Velvet Cake recipe to really impress your date. Game Plan: Try it with our easy, h...