Julie Van Rosendaal

A Dutch baby—a crunchy-edged pancake that rises dramatically in the oven as it bakes—is a high-reward, low-effort dish. Essentially a giant Yorkshire pudding, it’s the ultimate delivery vehicle for saucy leftovers.

This holiday, we’re celebrating by sharing the load of making the feast. Everyone brings their best dish—and everyone digs in.

Eton mess—kind of a cross between trifle and pavlova—makes the perfect sweet-tart-creamy-crunchy ending to a festive meal. Both the meringues and the saucy fruit can be made days ahead, so all you need to do is whip your cream and assemble your mess—either in individual bowls or glasses or on a platter, family-style—when you’re ready for it. 

Add to the joy of cooking for others by cooking with them instead—and get dinner on the table faster in the process.

A refreshing cocktail that can easily be made boozy or not is perfect for gatherings with kids and those who prefer non-alcoholic drinks.

Roasted apples are a simple dessert and will make your house smell wonderful when you slide them into the oven before sitting down to dinner. If you don’t have five-spice powder, substitute with cinnamon or another warm-spice blend—or make a mix of your own.

A stir-fry is a simple and versatile dish that can be made with any number of veggies. Prep everything in advance—once you start, it comes together quickly.

A crunchy cucumber salad is a perfect pairing for noodles and dumplings. This creamy cilantro-jalapeno dressing is a great way to make use of that wilting half bunch of cilantro in your crisper—even if it’s just the stems.

Dumplings are a perfect dish to make when you have extra hands around to fill and pinch. Ground pork is a common protein for jiaozi, but you could use ground turkey, shrimp or tofu, too.

Your mission: To enjoy as much corn on the cob, straight from the field, as possible.

For ten days in July, no matter where you are, there’s country music playing somewhere in the distance—and free pancakes on offer.