These spiced pecans are sweet, salty, and just spicy enough to keep you reaching back into the bowl. Egg whites whipped to soft peaks act as the glue for a mix of sugar, cayenne, paprika, and a hit of Worcestershire sauce that coats every bit of the nuts before they bake. The result is crunchy, not sticky, with a flat tap when you hit them with a spoon—that's how you know they're done. They keep for a month in a sealed container, which means you can make them ahead for parties, pack them for gifts, or just keep them around for when you need something more interesting than plain nuts. They're good on salads, with cheese, or straight out of the jar when no one's looking.
recipes,ThisWillMakeItTasteGood
Baked Figs and Goat Cheese with Caramelized Onions and Pecans
This is what happens when fresh figs meet caramelized onions, goat cheese, and a little brown sugar and orange. The figs get tossed with orange zest and juice, then stirred into those R-Rated Onions before getting topped with crumbled goat cheese and baked until everything's warm and bubbling. The goat cheese stays creamy and distinct rather than melting into oblivion, which is exactly what you want. Finish it with roasted pecans and let it cool just enough so you don't burn your mouth scooping it onto the best crostini you can toast. And if you really want to go for it, toast those crostini in bacon fat.
People Pleaser Party Dip
This is the dip that made upstairs parties at Chef and the Farmer less of a headache and more of a reason to smile. It starts with those R-Rated Onions you just made, then gets a hit of balsamic vinegar and Worcestershire sauce for tang and depth. Mixed into cream cheese, sour cream, and mayo, it becomes something lighter and more addictive than that French onion packet dip we all grew up with. The best part? It tastes even better the next day, so make it ahead and let it hang out in the fridge until you're ready to serve. Crown it with fresh chives and grab your favorite potato chips—this one disappears fast.
R-Rated Onions
The secret to truly caramelized onions isn't a secret at all—it's time and the right setup. You need a heavy-bottomed skillet, a good amount of onions to create steam and prevent burning, and about an hour of gentle cooking. Slice them with the grain from root to stem, then let them move through their stages: raw, wilted, sweaty, soft, light brown, and finally that deep mahogany color. You don't have to babysit them the entire time—just stir occasionally, scrape up those caramelized bits, and resist cranking up the heat. When you're left with a soft, creamy, fragrant pile of deeply browned onions, you'll understand why they're worth the wait.
Smoked Corn Mayo Recipe
This smoked corn mayo started as the secret weapon on my Elbow-Lick Tomato Sandwich, but it's become something I keep on hand all summer long. Blanched corn gets smoked until it's honey-colored in spots, then half of it goes into the blender with egg yolks, lemon juice, garlic, and a touch of cayenne to make a smooth, emulsified mayo. The rest gets stirred in for texture and bursts of sweet, smoky corn flavor. It's perfect slathered on a tomato sandwich, served with sweet potato fries, or thinned out with buttermilk and mixed with fresh corn to make a dip. Once you make it, you'll find excuses to put it on everything.
Grape-Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Sausage
Roasted grapes were one of the first things that made me realize the oven could transform something sweet into something savory. I'd been roasting regular grapes for years before I finally tried it with muscadines, thinking the skins would be too tough and tannic. I was wrong. The skin holds its shape but loses its chew, and the flesh becomes pure jammy muscadine essence. Paired with caramelized Brussels sprouts, link sausage, and a bright Dijon-lemon dressing, this sheet pan dinner hits every taste we have—sweet, salty, bitter, sour, umami. It's perfect in early fall with roast meats, on its own, or next to a bowl of greens. Just don't skip scraping up all that caramelized goodness from the pan.
It's Cliché for a Reason | Party Magnet Cheeseball
The cheese ball is such a cliché that it's actually become cool again—right up there with pigs in a blanket and baked potatoes. And whether it's socially acceptable or not, when you put one out at a party, people hover over it like it's a crystal ball. This version combines blue cheese, goat cheese, cream cheese, and butter with chopped dates, scallions, and hot sauce, then gets rolled in salt-and-butter-roasted pecans and fresh parsley. The key is bringing it out at least thirty minutes before serving so it's spreadable and all those flavors can really come through. Keep your crackers simple—sea salt or plain is the way to go. And consider doubling the recipe because a fully formed cheese ball freezes and travels beautifully.
Food & Wine recognizes This Will Make It Taste Good
“Howard brings that same storyteller sensibility—paired with serious restaurant-honed kitchen chops—to teach home cooks easily achievable building block recipes and techniques that lend an extra level of pleasure to the simplest dishes, while letting the ingredients shine through.”
Publisher's Weekly's Review of This Will Make It Taste Good
“Howard’s enthusiastic exploration of her life in and out of the kitchen shows her at her best and most delightful.”
Eater recognizes This Will Make It Taste Good
“I’ve been mentioned in the same sentence as Ina Garten and finally feel like I’ve made it,” said Vivian.