Blog Posts by Food52

When you're in the mood to treat yourself -- or cooking a dinner to impress -- a good, hearty steak always does the trick. Here are 7 recipes for the superlatives of steak; 7 recipes to do your piece of meat proud. You deserve it -- and a glass of red, to boot.

• See our entries for Your Best Broiled Steak Contest.

• Check out 8 awesome side dishes for your steak dinner.

• Got a question in the kitchen? The FOOD52 Hotline is here to help!

What's the best part of Labor Day weekend? We say: dessert. Here are 10 desserts that will make your celebration even sweeter -- and will let you taste the last that summer has to offer.

• Check out 10 Desserts with 5 Ingredients or Fewer.

• See our 10 Drinks for Labor Day to celebrate the holiday weekend.

• Got a question in the kitchen? The FOOD52 Hotline is here to help!

It's late summer and you've tried everything. You've made batch after batch of gazpacho and eaten so many caprese salads, you're surprised you haven't turned into a tomato. It's time to keep your passion for cooking alive -- what better way to spice it up than by preparing a veritable Indian weeknight feast? Eat this tomato biryani and eggplant and tomato curry together to celebrate the best of summer.

The Menu

Purnima Garg's Eggplant and Tomato Curry by luvcookbooks

This recipe serves 4-6

1 tablespoon canola oil
1 teaspoon brown mustard seeds
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 onion, sliced
4 Japanese (long and thin) eggplants, sliced 1/2 inch thick
1 serrano chile, seeded and chopped fine
1 teaspoon coriander
14 ounces canned diced tomatoes, with juice
1/4 teaspoon garam masala
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1. Heat oil in a large frying pan until it shimmers. Add the mustard seeds and cumin seeds and heat

For most children, Labor Day is a bittersweet holiday; it is a last hurrah that signals summer's impending end. For grown-ups, however, this holiday is much more exciting. It promises a day off, a cold cocktail, and a chance to shine at the grill. Whether you're a novice griller or a seasoned professional, here are 10 fresh ideas for putting your grill to good use and throwing your most impressive backyard barbecue to date.

• Cool off with one of these summery non-alcoholic drinks!

• Looking for the ultimate BBQ side dishes? Look no further.

• Got a question? Ask the experts on the Food52 Hotline.

What's the only way to make laying by the pool -- or on a beach, for that matter -- taste even sweeter? Well, with a drink, of course. Here are 10 ideas for poolside or beachside sipping -- both with booze and without. So you can even take one to the office -- the weekend will be here, soon enough!

• See our entries for Your Best Poolside Cocktail contest.

• Check out a recipe for our favorite iced coffee.

• Got a question in the kitchen? The FOOD52 Hotline is here to help!

Our co-founder Amanda's delicate touch pervades this dinner, as it pervades this site. She just can't stop herself from making little refinements here and there, like an herb-infused oil drizzle that adds just the right glint of charm to her take on cream of tomato soup. Lightly dressed and zucchini-dotted, her couscous is a crowd-pleasing, hassle-free side. Together, they make a rather splendid summertime couple; deeply flavored and light all at once, the meal is a study in Amanda's uniquely restrained and oh-so-elegant touch. And, as always, a magnificient meal on the table in about an hour!

The Menu

Cream of Roasted Tomato Soup by amanda

Serves 4

8 medium beefsteak tomatoes, cored and quartered
4 cloves garlic
1/4 cup olive oil, plus more for the tomatoes
Salt
1 sprig rosemary
3 sprigs thyme
6 tablespoons heavy cream
Sugar, if needed
Coarsely ground black pepper
4 thick slices country bread, toasted and brushed with olive oil, for

When it comes to ice cream, we know we've got you covered. But how about other summer-friendly desserts? Enter the wonderful world of no-bake desserts, where you can have an elegant, indulgent treat after just minutes by the stovetop -- or, with some recipes, none at all.

• See a step-by-step tutorial for how to make our favorite ice cream at home.

• Check out our ideas for 10 Desserts with 5 Ingredients or Less.

• Got a question in the kitchen? The Food52 Hotline is here to help!

Every week on Food52.com, we share tips and tricks that make navigating our kitchens easier and more fun. This week, we asked a pro baker for her tips on the best ever birthday cake.

Have you ever considered buying a pre-made layer cake and pretending you made it? Or maybe you've just written off making them altogether, explaining that you're just "not a baker."

We've seen this behavior before, and we're here to tell you that you can do better. And that layer cakes are easier than you think. We asked our friend Dana Loia, owner of Dana's Bakery, to give us a step-by-step tutorial. Now you can have your (perfect) layer cake and eat it, too.