Steaming a whole fish is an easy way to create an impressive centerpiece that looks beautiful and cooks quickly—often in under 15 minutes. Steamed Pompano makes a gorgeous focal dish for Lunar New Year and other celebrations. The fish steams until tender and flaky, then is finished with an aromatic ginger-scallion topping and sizzling hot … Read more

I resisted using a slow cooker for a long time. It wasn’t that everyone who loves them was wrong — I simply assumed they were mainly for soups, and I didn’t care enough about soup to add another appliance. Then I made these carnitas and changed my mind. These gluten-free Mexican carnitas are intensely flavorful, … Read more

Juicy, tender, sweet-and-salty goodness: sticky soy and sweet chili glazed skewers loaded with chicken, bell peppers, red onion, and fresh pineapple. Serve over white rice or enjoy as-is for a low-carb option. Marinade can be made a day ahead so dinner comes together in under 10 minutes. With a few summer heat waves hitting New … Read more

Smoked Beer Can Chicken – A tender, juicy whole chicken made on your smoker. The beer steams the bird from the inside, helping keep the meat moist and adding subtle flavor. Beer-can chicken has long been a favorite for good reason: it produces juicy, flavorful results with minimal fuss. The can of beer creates steam … Read more

Today I’m pleased to share my Mary’s Nest 2024 channel update video. In the video I outline plans for the Mary’s Nest YouTube channel and website, share a few updates, and mention a conference I’ll be speaking at this summer. As I noted in previous newsletters, I delayed my 2024 kickoff video earlier this month … Read more

This Peach Cobbler with Buttermilk Biscuits is one of the best summer desserts you can make: crisp, sweet, and tender biscuits baked on a bed of juicy fresh peaches. Sweet, ripe peaches and buttery homemade buttermilk biscuits combine for a classic yet fresh take on peach cobbler. The peaches provide bright, juicy flavor while the … Read more

Homemade Sloppy Joes from scratch, made with ground beef and pork breakfast sausage — like mom made growing up but even better. Easy weeknight comfort food! Do people still make sloppy joes like my mom did? Back when Manwich came out she sometimes used it, but over the years my mom passed along several homemade … Read more

Sometimes it doesn’t matter what you decide to cook for lunch or dinner as long as it’s quick, reasonably healthy, and tastes great. This curried chicken and green beans couscous ticks all those boxes—fast to prepare, full of flavour, and satisfying. After a long day at work you might be tempted to order a takeaway, … Read more

Joyeaux Mardi Gras! This recipe is perfect for “non-bakers” because it uses ready-made crescent roll dough, making it quick and approachable. Cupcake-style king cakes are a great shortcut when you want the festive flavors without waiting for yeast to rise. They’re small, convenient, and ready when you need them. Last year at the bakery I … Read more

Make perfectly tender, juicy air fryer chicken thighs in under 20 minutes. With a few pantry staples and a simple seasoning rub, these bone-in, skin-on thighs deliver crisp skin and moist, flavorful meat—no dried-out chicken here. Quick, easy, and family-friendly, this recipe is perfect for busy weeknights. The Best Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Chicken thighs … Read more