Easy Rolls

Palets bretons are oversize cookies that feature butter, and because they’re from Brittany, they’re traditionally made with beurre salé, salted butter.

Fufu is a dish that has been passed down through many generations and is seen as a symbol of Ghanaian identity and heritage. Making fufu traditionally is a very laborious task; this recipe mimics some of that hard work but with a few home-cook hacks that make for a far easier time.

Originally called omelette à la neige (snow omelet) in reference to the fluffy snow-like appearance of the meringue, île flottante (floating island) has a lengthy history that dates back to the 17th century.

A glug of lemon-lime soda gives this pound cake a citrusy zip and tender crumb.

Layer homemade custard, ripe bananas, and vanilla wafers under clouds of whipped cream for this iconic dessert.

Creamy, vinegary, and with lots of fresh dill.

An ex-boyfriend’s mom—who emigrated from Colombia—made the best meat sauce—she would fry sofrito for the base and simply add cooked ground beef, sazón, and jarred tomato sauce. My version is a bit more bougie—it calls for caramelized tomato paste and white wine—but the result is just as good.

You can find butter mochi on practically every corner in Hawaii—it’s that ubiquitous because, well, it’s that good. For my version, I’ve browned the butter for a layer of toasted nutty flavor and added miso, which balances out the sweetness with its signature umami.