entertaining

There’s something so meaty and more-ish about butter beans, and they look so good on the end of a toothpick that you may feel obligated to serve them when you put out a feast of small dishes for friends. This recipe also fits neatly into the category of “things that happen to be gluten-free and vegan,” which can be handy when you’re serving a group. —Christine Flynn

I do not crave salad because it’s healthy; I crave it because it tastes good. In fact, my only objective in making a salad is that it be as delicious as possible. This is the kind of salad that makes people who hate kale come back for seconds, so don’t hesitate to double the recipe. —Christine Flynn

The perfect scalloped potatoes are rich, creamy and most importantly, easy to whip up. Our recipe for easy scalloped potatoes fit all those criteria.

Here’s my recipe based on a classic one that’s been making the rounds since the 1950s, when diverse convenience foods magically combined to make brisket nirvana. Normally I wouldn’t be keen to use packaged soup mix or Coca-cola in a recipe, but in this case, a classic is always timely.

Instructions Note: We tied the legs of our hens for the photo, but the recipe turns out just as well without doing so. Get the...