Karen Stabiner

Rice sticks are a magic trick in a bag:Crumble them into hot oil and they poof instantly into crispy, twisty little morsels of browned, puffed rice—ready in seconds to serve as a crunchy topping for bite-sized pieces of quick-cooked chicken, broccoli, and almonds.

The secret ingredient in this satisfying soupis a small amount of cornmeal (polenta), just enough to thicken the broth slightly. It balances the substantial sausage and greens for a soothing cold-weather dish. Aleppo pepper comes from the town of Aleppo in northern Syria; the flaky crushed sun-dried pepper has a slightly smoky flavor. It's become easier to find in gourmet markets, but if necessary, you can substitute red pepper flakes.

White miso might sound likethe kind of ingredient that sends you in search of a specialty store, but in fact it is the most common type of miso paste, and you're likely to find it in the international or Asian food section of the supermarket. It's a lighter, sweeter alternative to dark miso, which is generally used in soup, and it often appears in dressings like the one for this easy Japanese noodle salad. You can make the dressing in the time it takes to cook the soba, and if you add some thinly sliced cooked chicken, beef, or shrimp, you'll have a one-dish meal.

Everything is approximate with brisket and tzimmes, since some people can't stand prunes and others want nothing but. The amounts listed below are estimates; feel free to change them. Though Karen Stabiner calls for first-cut brisket, which is relatively lean, we prefer the more evenly marbled second cut for moister, more succulent meat.

I had heard that some people were making a delicious snack with leftover cheese rind, and I was puzzled by the idea. I called Antonio Santini, owner of Dal Pescatore, one of three three-star restaurants in Italy, and he gave me his interpretation, where you practically grill the rind. Luciano Pellegrini, the chef at Posto, and I decided to experiment. We weren't satisfied, because the rind was kind of chewy. So we decided to try the cheese in a nonstick pan. The cheese is so oily and full of flavor, I thought, let's just stick it in the pan and see what happens. That turned out to be the key to success. The traditionalfricois a Friulian dish made with Montasio, a creamier cheese that is very hard to find in America. That's fried cheese, almost like a pancake topped with meat or vegetables. This is flakier and softer. Serve it when people walk in the door.