RIPE

My husband usually wants an angel food cake for his birthday. This year he began hinting about changing things up nearly a month in advance. When his request finally came in for pineapple upside-down cake, I cringed a little. After remembering that it was his birthday, not mine, I rose to the occasion and got out several references: Joy of Cooking, The Fannie Farmer Cookb...

A chocolate chip version of the Blue Bottle Coffee Snickerdoodle. Just like the original version, what I like best about these cookies is their subtle sweetness and buckled texture. They are cakey but still soft inside. The secret is bak...

Carnaroli rice makes the best risotto because while its high starch content produces a creamy, saucy texture, each grain maintains a pleasant bite. Arborio is another popular choice but it lacks the al dente core, so be careful not to overcook it.

Change this risotto throughout the year by incorporating seasonal vegetables (see notes).

My college-aged kids think I have lost it since I now cook for the dog. She still gets her kibble, but for dinner, there’s topper! It’s special for her.

Dinner time bowl: a base of kibble (a little less than usual amount), then about half a cup of topper. Easy!

To make the topper: Brown a pound of ground turkey or chicken or other plain ground m...