Cook's Illustrated

July/August 2010

Argentine Steaks with Chimichurri Sauce

With Argentine beef and a wood fire, cooking churrasco in the backyard would be easy. We were stuck with American supermarket steaks and a Weber kettle.

Deep-Dish Quiche Lorraine

Since the whole point of eating quiche is to indulge in the rich, creamy custard, we decided to make it more than just the backdrop to an overload of fillings.

How Cheese Melts

Cheese doesn't actually melt in the true sense-- not like an ice cube. Its melting properties are dependent on its age and moisture level.

How to Seed a Cucumber

Removing the seeds from cucumbers is a vital step toward avoiding soggy, watery salads or relishes.

How to Segment an Orange

Removing the bitter membrane from oranges is an essential step in recipes that use this citrus fruit.

Memphis-Style Barbecued Spareribs

Memphis pit masters pride themselves on pork ribs with dark, crusty bark and distinctive chew. We wanted the same bragging rights from our own backyard.

Spinach Primer

There are three main types of spinach most commonly found in the produce section of most supermarkets.

Spinach Salad with Carrot, Orange, and Sesame

While nothing could be easier to toss in a salad, mild-mannered baby spinach always seems to fall flat. What could we do to ruffle this pile of leaves?

Stir-Fried Shrimp

If meat and shrimp behave vastly differently when cooked, why are most shrimp stir-fries just a surf-for-turf protein swap?

Stuffed Chicken Breasts

Taking a stuffed chicken breast recipe and adding the smoky flavor of the grill sounds like a good idea—if you can get past the leathery exterior and oozing, flammable filling.

Supermarket Chile Primer

Endless varieties allow for confusion. We have a few guidelines on how to tell them apart.

Sweet Cherry Pie

Cherry season is a mere blip on the summer-produce radar. For a juicy pie with the best fruity flavor, we’d have to look beyond the cherry tree.

Ultimate Banana Bread

If you want to make a moist, tender loaf with over-the-top banana flavor, you need to think like a mad scientist.

 
America's Test Kitchen