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We thought mashed potatoes' stock plummeted on Day 2—until we had these croquettes. Crispy yet creamy, potatoes might be better as leftovers.

Vibrant greens, handfuls of fresh herbs, nuts for crunch, and horseradish for bite. Ingredients are suggestions; feel free to mix it up.

A silky, subtly sweet little number that makes fall vegetables feel downright swanky.

The keys to achieving razor-edged triangles: Let the sandwiches cool slightly, then slice with a serrated knife.

Keys to great potato chips: A lower frying temp gets the moisture out; a vinegar soak ensures they're crisp.

When using preserved lemons, scoop out the insides and only use the peel.

A fun first course to serve to guests in the kitchen. By the time one batch has been devoured, the next one will be coming out of the fryer.

This recipe from Thai-Kun makes a generous amount of sauce, which you may find yourself finishing (we won’t judge). Any leftover would be great on everything from white rice to noodles to…well, more bread.

The funky flavor in these mind-altering chicken wings comes from a jarred condiment that’s pretty easy to find at Asian markets.

Rose's Luxury chef Aaron Silverman combined his buttermilk biscuit recipe with his sous chef’s to create what he says are “the best biscuits I’ve ever tasted.”

Charred to a crisp: Not a statement usually associated with salads, but delicious nonetheless in this Mexican-inspired romaine number from Rose's Luxury.

Keep summer going just a little bit longer: Serve these with a pile of steamed, buttered corn.

If you haven’t cooked with MSG before, give it a try—chef Quealy Watson, Hot Joy, San Antonio, is a big fan.

Chef Einat Admony’s keys to getting kids to eat yogurt: Make it bright red and thicker than ice cream.

Says Del Posto pastry chef Brooks Headley of these crisp, buttery-sweet biscuits, “Serving them hot is all that matters.”

Zucchini may not be the most loved vegetable, but when shallow-fried into patties, even kids will go crazy for them.

Used in place of mayonnaise, yogurt brings tang and brightness to these crostini.

Chef John Fleer, Rhubarb, Asheville, NC, and his family enjoy indoor picnics with brandade (made here with a shortcut: smoked trout) and store-bought fixings. “We just sit on the floor and chat and chew,” he says.

Chef Ryan Pera, Coltivare Pizza & Garden, Houston, learned the art of arepas from his sister-in-law. Now, this recipe is his easy Sunday meal of choice, packed with leftovers or farm-fresh produce.

The best blue cheese for this is salty but creamy, not too sharp or funky.

The flesh immediately surround-ing the seeds is the most succulent part of any melon; if you haven’t tried eating the crunchy seeds before, hold on to your hat.

Making tomato water sounds fancy, but all you’re doing is collecting the juices that weep from chopped ripe tomatoes. It’s delicious with simple seafood, or add a splash to any vinaigrette.

A super-juicy watermelon is key; it should feel heavy for its size and sound hollow when tapped.

With stretchy mozzarella inside and a coating of crunchy breadcrumbs, these squash blossoms get the creamy-crispy ratio just right.