A day of lazy dipping in Gulf Coast waters calls for a cold bowl of cooked shrimp dipped in a sweetsavory sauce. That’s what my mom thought, anyway, and she always had cold shrimp on hand when we stayed at the beach. I love it, too, and it’s a great do-ahead that lets you set out something for your hungry guests as soon as you step inside after a day of sand and sun. I cook the shrimp and make the dipping sauces the day before and stick ’em all in the fridge. When I pull them out, everyone thinks I’m an organized genius. (Naturally, I politely demur.) Snacking on shrimp, nobody notices if I disappear into the kitchen for a little main-course prep work. I usually figure about one-third pound per person. The shrimp usually runs out before anyone’s hunger does, but that works for me. I want my friends to have room for dinner and dessert. If I don’t feel much like cooking, I allow about one-half pound of shrimp per person for a hands-on main course. Of course, I always offer dessert, often as simple as cookies (like Vanilla Sand Dollars, page 83) and ice cream.
This classic carbonara traps crispy pancetta and all that silky sauce in big tubes of rigatoni.
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
The silky French vanilla sauce that goes with everything.
Your new house dressing: creamy, herby, and dangerously dippable.
All the cozy vibes of the classic gooey-cheesy dish, made into a 20-minute meal.
This piquant French sauce comes together in the blender in just five minutes.
This flexible recipe is all you need to bring this iconic Provençal seafood stew to your table.
This flavorful fish stock is your secret weapon for bouillabaisse, shrimp risotto, clam chowder, and more.