Whenever Esi Impraim’s mother made jollof — a rich, tomato-laced dish of meats, rice and sometimes seafood — the time it took to bubble away on the stove was always excruciating.

You can keep your decorated, stained glass, death-by-chocolate, triple-dunked biscotti bombs, or whatever this holiday season’s must-bake cookie will be.

Back during my days at Gourmet magazine, my many duties included teaching cooking classes. I used to tell my students — especially the cooking-impaired ones — that if they made sure to greet dinner party guests with a special homemade drink, they would always win, no matter what else happened that evening.

When I told my mother — a fiend for candied ginger — that I was testing a batch of these muffins, she said she wished she could fly right over and dig in. She’s not the only one.

When I told my mother — a fiend for candied ginger — that I was testing a batch of these muffins, she said she wished she could fly right over and dig in. She’s not the only one.

When I told my mother — a fiend for candied ginger — that I was testing a batch of these muffins, she said she wished she could fly right over and dig in. She’s not the only one.

For me, nothing signifies the end of summer as poetically and viscerally as seeing pumpkins in a patch. One look at that field and I start salivating for all of my favorite pumpkin dishes.

For me, nothing signifies the end of summer as poetically and viscerally as seeing pumpkins in a patch. One look at that field and I start salivating for all of my favorite pumpkin dishes.

If you boil down the concept of breaking the Yom Kippur fast to its culinary essence, two basic rules become clear — make it easy to prepare and make it easy on the stomach.

Unlike winter squash, which can be stored in a cool dark place for many months, summer squash have a shorter shelf life and are harvested when their rinds are still tender and edible. Since summer squash varieties such as zucchini, yellow crookneck and patty pan squash must be eaten quickly, it’s essential to have an arsenal of squash recipes at hand.

Unlike winter squash, which can be stored in a cool dark place for many months, summer squash have a shorter shelf life and are harvested when their rinds are still tender and edible. Since summer squash varieties such as zucchini, yellow crookneck and patty pan squash must be eaten quickly, it’s essential to have an arsenal of squash recipes at hand.

As all-American desserts go, it’s hard to beat apple pie, especially for the Fourth of July.

You may not be able to jet Mom off to a tropical island to show your love, but you can at least give her a tropical treat.

You may not be able to jet Mom off to a tropical island to show your love, but you can at least give her a tropical treat.

As pancake toppings go, maple syrup is swell and certainly traditional, if not particularly inspired.

As pancake toppings go, maple syrup is swell and certainly traditional, if not particularly inspired.

In home decor, there’s something about the start of spring. When life’s renewing itself outdoors, we feel the urge to revive our interiors too.

In home decor, there’s something about the start of spring. When life’s renewing itself outdoors, we feel the urge to revive our interiors too.

One of the most pleasant surprises of the last couple of weeks is the cool evenings and even some cold and rainy nights. If you are fortunate enough to have a fireplace, they are the kind of evenings you can curl up with a warm drink, a favorite movie in the company of good friends.

One of the most pleasant surprises of the last couple of weeks is the cool evenings and even some cold and rainy nights. If you are fortunate enough to have a fireplace, they are the kind of evenings you can curl up with a warm drink, a favorite movie in the company of good friends.

Sweet eggnog, spiced pumpkin and cool peppermint, signature flavors nearly impossible to find other times of the year, offer season's greetings with starring roles in IHOP's Holiday Hotcakes.

Sweet eggnog, spiced pumpkin and cool peppermint, signature flavors nearly impossible to find other times of the year, offer season's greetings with starring roles in IHOP's Holiday Hotcakes.

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens ... wait, scratch the kittens since I'm horribly allergic to cats. However, while I'm pondering my favorite things I would definitely have to put cheese on my list. In my early cooking life my roommates and I would joke that any culinary disaster could be salvaged by a thick layer of cheese - which usually did work, though sometimes it needed to be in tandem with a lot of garlic.

The appeal of quick breads isn't merely the ease. Though you have to love any baked good that is no more complicated than mixing a bunch of things together, then baking.