OK, so we’re not teenagers anymore. Burnt toast and takeout pizza just won’t cut it now that we’re proper adults and expected to do proper adult things, like throwing dinner parties. Here’s the good news: we don’t need a fancy menu or the culinary skills of a Michelin star chef to cook our guests delicious food. Often, the best dishes are the simplest ones (and those Michelin star chefs would probably agree).
By the age of 30, we should all have some basic, fundamental recipes in our skill set — for ourselves, our families and those last-minute dinner guests. The key is to start with recipes we love to eat, like a really great pasta dish, an exquisite chocolate cake or a stack of buttery pancakes. We’ll love them even more once we’ve made them ourselves. And once we’ve mastered those, well, the sky’s the limit.
This post is sponsored by Red Gold Tomatoes.
Pancakes
Master pancakes and save a fortune at IHOP.
Salsa
Whip up salsa year-round with this easy recipe that mixes diced canned tomatoes, cilantro and lime juice with a few other choice ingredients
Basil pesto
Keep a jar of homemade pesto in the fridge to liven up pasta, noodles, pizza, sandwiches and salads.
Tomato soup
Brown sugar brings a whole new dimension to this roasted tomato soup.
Grown-up grilled cheese
Finely diced jalapenos add heat to this gooey grilled cheese. Pair it with the roasted tomato soup on the previous slide for a full-on meal.
Pasta carbonara
You need at least one creamy, decadent pasta recipe in your tool kit, so how about pasta carbonara?
Fish tacos
These fish tacos with lime and cilantro aioli made with canned petite diced tomatoes will quickly become your go-to dinner.
Baked salmon
Baked salmon in only 20 minutes, with minimal cleanup? Pass the parchment paper.
Spaghetti and meatballs
It’s hard to go wrong with the comfort of spaghetti and meatballs, especially when served with homemade sauce.
Mac & cheese
The ultimate comfort dish: mac and cheese.
Curry
Cooking a curry is simpler than you think, and a slow cooker makes it even easier.
Lasagna
A go-to lasagna recipe like this one with meat sauce never gets old.
Chocolate cake
Birthdays, anniversaries, Tuesdays… there’s always an occasion for a homemade chocolate cake.
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