Ask the person to your left and the person to your right how to make fettuccine Alfredo, and you’ll get two different (and equally passionate) responses. At least, that’ll be the case if you sit at the editorial team table at Food52. Some of us are purists, preferring a lighter version that more closely mirrors the original dish. (Fettuccine Alfredo is said to have originated in the 20th century in Rome, at a restaurant run by Italian Alfredo di Lelio. It was a riff on fettuccine al burro: warm noodles, tossed with Parmigiano-Reggiano and butter until emulsified.) Others root for creaminess at every turn. This is a fettuccine Alfredo recipe for that second group. Its sauce is thick, buttery, and sharply salty (thanks, Locatelli Pecorino!). Strictly classic fettuccine Alfredo it is not—but we can safely say you just might love it even more.

This is a riff on a spinach and oyster soup that my dad used to make for himself on Friday night after a 12-hour day at our market. He'd always bring in any leftovers for my brother and me to share the next day. I added potatoes to make it a little heartier, and swapped baby spinach leaves for the regular spinach he would use.

Recipe excerpted with permission from Vegetarian Party Food by Jessica Oldfield, published by

I might be revealing a bit too much about what generation I'm in when I confess: I adore oat milk. Or "milk," I should say. It took me—like the rest of the tristate area—by storm, when it arrived in New York City a few years back. And then things took a turn when an Oatly shortage befell the city earlier this year. I had to take matters into my own hands.

Most people think of okra as being slimy and stewed, but when cooked quickly over high heat, it has a delightful texture without any of the sliminess. In this recipe, the okra is grilled, then added to a pasta salad with smoked mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, and fresh basil. The pasta salad gets tossed with garlic-infused olive oil and fresh lemon juice. It's bright and acidic, yet deeply savory and very satisfying.

Transcend good ol' raisins and peanuts. And if you want to try a trail less traveled, here's a handy formula: 2 cups nuts, 1 cup crunch (seeds or grains or cereal), 1 cup dried fruit, 1 cup surprise, such as cacao nibs, candied ginger, or edible gold flakes.

The tomato sandwich is, in my opinion, both under and over-appreciated, depending on the camp you fall into. Some just don't appreciate the magic of a perfect tomato sandwich, while others, like me, think about it more often than is technically healthy. (I figure if fantasizing about tomato sandwiches is among the worst of my vices, I’m probably okay.) When tomato season is in full swing I tend to have a tomato sandwich for lunch at least three days a week.

During my senior year of college, I lived off campus with two of my best friends, and for the first time, we all completely signed off the campus meal plan. At the beginning of the year, I was given a copy of Joy of Cooking—I think by my mother, who has been responsible for some of my most formative kitchen gear. And thus began my first official foray into the kitchen. I often found myself drawn to the Quick Breads section, especially when there was an exam to study for or a final paper to write. This section contained a well-rounded selection of both savory and sweet breads, all without yeast—perfect for instant gratification on those late, late nights. My favorite was a tender, crumbly olive loaf flecked with rosemary that could be thrown together in mere minutes. The original recipe called for walnuts, which I omitted, opting instead to up the chopped olives a bit. I’m happy to say it’s just as good as I remembered. What's more, it keeps for a few days if it's wrapped well, and it makes excellent toast. —

An easy dish to prepare, this chicken piccata still makes a presentation elegant enough for company.