Craig Claiborne was a child of Mississippi who started as food editor of The Times in 1957 and did as much as anyone to help bring home cooking into the spotlight The dish “belongs in the ‘comfort’ category,” he wrote in 1983, “a food that gives solace to the spirit when you dine on it.” You could give your smothered chicken some European flair with mushrooms and small onions in the gravy, as Claiborne did in his experiments with Pierre Franey, then his kitchen co-pilot Or you could send yourself south to the Creole tastes of the Delta, with a blend of tomatoes, chopped celery, onion and green peppers added to the sauce

Could this be the anti-ramen Either way, it’s my new favorite cold pasta, custom-made for hot summer weather because it is refreshingly and unapologetically spicy Make the sauce in advance, but wait to toss with the noodles until just before serving

With cucumbers, tomatoes, browned tofu and a punchy dressing, this recipe’s combination of hot, cold, juicy and snappy makes for a refreshing lunch or light dinner Inspired by Chinese smashed cucumber salads, many of which include dried chiles or chile oil, this recipe’s piquant and spicy dressing uses chile crisp as well as lemon juice, raw garlic and soy sauce The only cooking that’s required is searing the tofu, which helps it drink up more of the dressing

Lemon isn’t a classic seasoning for mashed potatoes, but butter makes an excellent go-between This variation on French pommes purée is just the kind of dish that Ina Garten, who shared this recipe from her book “Modern Comfort Food” with The Times, likes to perfect for home cooks Cooking the potatoes in less water than usual and gradually mashing in bits of chilled butter are the details that make the recipe special.

There’s really no reason not to celebrate meatloaf — it’s simple, budget-friendly, cleanup is a breeze and there are almost always leftovers for next-day sandwiches While beef is often the go-to choice for the meat, turkey is a flavorful alternative that can take on a slew of mix-ins Here, seasoned bread crumbs, garlic powder and Worcestershire do the work, but a teaspoon of Italian seasoning or a palmful of fresh, chopped thyme or sage can be added for an extra boost

One of Chile’s most popular street foods, Completos feature hot dogs tucked into a fresh, sturdy bun then generously topped with sauerkraut, diced tomatoes, mashed avocado, mayonnaise, and more.

Bolis de Pay de Limón are creamy, tart ice pops with vanilla cookie crumbs swirled in to emulate the classic key lime pie.

Crisp on the outside and warm and melty on the inside, these tacos gobernador are filled with a shrimp and tomato stew and sprinkled with cheese before being folded and griddled.

Get dinner on the table fast with our recipe for crisp, tender air-fryer cauliflower. Enjoy it as is, or dress it up with our three easy variations.

Start your day with bittersweet iced Vietnamese coffee, which gets its rich flavor from dark roast beans and satisfying creaminess from sweetened condensed milk.

Beloved in Arizona, these hot dogs are wrapped in crispy bacon and loaded with pinto beans, onions, a jalapeño salsa, and juicy tomatoes.

Juicy grilled shrimp tossed with an herby mayo and piled into toasted, buttered buns.

This infused water recipe combines sweet ripe blackberries, tart grapefruit, and woodsy sage for a refreshing and balanced drink.

A pan pizza recipe for those who love a thick and crispy crust that's golden on the bottom, but puffy and soft under the layers of sauce and mozzarella.

The main ingredients of Caesar salad—anchovies, garlic, olive oil, black pepper, toasted croutons, and Parmesan cheese—are naturals when reimagined as two different pasta sauces.

Salad and stir-fry in one, lettuce cups are a relaxed summer dinner that combine textures and temperatures to great effect Cool, crunchy lettuce leaves smeared with hoisin sauce are all that are needed to contain this quick-cooking filling on a hot day, although steamed rice and a cold beer would make lovely accompaniments The filling can be adapted easily by substituting ground pork for the turkey, firm tofu for the mushrooms, carrots or peas for the celery and peanuts or pine nuts for the cashews.

This collection of coleslaw recipes includes a creamy classic version as well as the vinegary and red varieties commonly served with barbecue in the Carolinas. A Tex-Mex jalapeño slaw brings the heat, and two slaws inspired by Asian cuisine add variety to the bunch.

Thick, cheesy, and briny all at once, this Caesar dip pairs the assertive garlicky anchovy flavor of Caesar dressing with the texture of a cream cheese-based dip. Scoop it up with crunchy vegetables, chips, or salty crackers.

In this twist on the classic Caesar salad, a garlicky, savory vinaigrette is paired with crisp leaf lettuce, salty Parmesan cheese, and a medley of sweet roasted vegetables that’s perfect for a light summer dinner.

Crispy roasted potatoes with crunchy edges and a soft, fluffy center tossed with a savory Caesar dressing–inspired infused oil. Serve them as a side with a roast or offer them as a starter or party snack alongside a creamy dip for dunking.

Top your salads and soups with these croutons—or keep them in a bowl and eat them like popcorn.

All the components of a BLT paired with briny anchovies, salty-sweet Parmigiano-Reggiano, and lots of black pepper reach imperial levels of flavor.

For an utterly summery first course, consider this shaved zucchini salad The idea is very thinly sliced, very fresh zucchini or other summer squash, lightly dressed with salt, lime juice and olive oil, with lots of basil and mint and crumbly creamy feta on top It’s extremely refreshing and takes no time to make

Convenient and tender rotisserie chicken, sautéed scallions and garlic, vinegar-soaked currants and a couple big handfuls of peppery arugula make up this simple yet very flavorful sandwich Inspired by the wood-oven-roasted chicken and bread salad from Zuni Café in San Francisco, this is a take on that famed dish in sandwich form Parmesan and toasted nuts add texture, depth and a hit of umami

On a hot day, a sip of this Thai iced tea—which gets its creaminess from evaporated milk and sweetness from condensed milk—feels like a luxury.

This tangy-savory Caesar seasoning blend comes together in under 10 minutes, and is great dusted over just about everything. Sprinkle it over popcorn or hard-boiled eggs. Pour it into a bag of kettle chips and give it a shake, or toss with sturdy veggies before roasting.

With a chocolatey coconut base, a creamy custard icing in the middle, and more chocolate on top, Nanaimo bars are an iconic Canadian treat.

Learning how to dry brine shrimp is key to achieving juicy, snappy results.

Harness the crowd-pleasing power of dumplings in this hearty yet light main course salad The base is simple and summery: Ripe tomatoes are lightly touched with salt, garlic and basil, providing a perfectly fragrant canvas for pan-fried potsticker dumplings Salting intensifies the tanginess and fruitiness of tomatoes, while also coaxing out some of the juice, which becomes a light sauce for the dumplings

Coconut milk does double duty here in this light yet hearty rice dish that straddles the line between side salad and pilaf-like main First the rice is simmered in creamy coconut milk, then the remaining milk is used to make a soothing dressing spiked with lime juice, peanut butter, toasted peanuts and garlic, with a little added heat from chile sauce Fresh cherry tomatoes and chopped herbs turn it all into a rice salad that can be a flavorful side for grilled chicken or the base for fried eggs.