Kendra Vaculin
Test Kitchen Editor
Originally from the San Francisco East Bay, Kendra has worked in food media (Epicurious, Eater, Food52) and test kitchens (Blue Apron) across New York City since 2014, as a writer, recipe developer, food stylist, and producer. At BA, she thinks a lot about what you should make for dinner tonight, developing recipes for her monthly column Speedy Does It and overseeing the Dinner Is Served section of the print magazine. Outside of weeknight cooking, she loves back-pocket desserts, produce-centric picnic food, and stuff to make for a party. She likes ice cream more than vegetables, but it's much closer than you'd think.
The Gooiest Baked Mac and Cheese
This easy, no-roux mac and cheese recipe is made almost entirely on the stovetop and then gets transferred to the oven to melt the cheesy topping.
Festive Red Cabbage and Radicchio Salad
This monochromatic mix of radicchio, cabbage, red onion, and cold weather citrus is bright, crunchy, and fresh—just what your holiday table requires.
Tadka Turkey and Gravy
Thanks to its high smoke point, ghee is an ideal fat for basting your holiday turkey; pair the perfectly burnished bird with a duo of sauces for maximum flavor.
Baked Sweet Potato Chaat
Forget regular baked potatoes—these tender sweets loaded with chaat-inspired toppings make for a bright and flavorful vegetarian main (or colorful side dish).
Miso-mayo Chicken Bowl
This sheet pan dinner taps savory miso mayo for richness and flavor—as a coating for roast chicken and a finishing drizzle.
Pumpkin Basque Cheesecake
This twist on burnt cheesecake integrates a can of pumpkin purée and a handful of warming spices—perfect for a holiday table or any chilly fall day.
Kung Pao Tempeh
This plant-based twist on the classic Chinese chicken dish swaps in crisped crumbled tempeh and fresh fresno chiles.
Pastrami Salmon With Fennel Slaw
Salmon is given the weeknight-friendly pastrami treatment with a sugar-and-spice blend that creates a smoky crust reminiscent of the cured meat.
Pork Chops With Green Chiles and Apples
Thick chops get all dressed up in this easy-impressive dinner, ready in 30 minutes.
The Best NYC Date? It’s Just a Cocktail and an Ice Cream Cone
Skip dinner—a cocktail and a scoop is a low-key combination with high-key returns.
My Husband Begged Me to Create This Recipe for 10 Years
Mapo chili mac is just what it sounds like—a marriage of two of the best comfort foods on earth.
Garlic-Coconut Shrimp and Green Beans
Every stir-fry needs a star to keep you coming back. In this speedy shrimp recipe, it’s a crispy coconut and garlic topping you’ll want to eat by the spoonful.
Weeknight Harissa Eggplant Parm
No coating or frying here! Toasted breadcrumbs and a blanket of melty cheese replicate the flavors and textures of eggplant parm in a fraction of the time.
Basil Fried Rice
With minimal prep time and a faster cook, this basil fried rice recipe with crispy onions, ginger, and fresh chiles should be in your weekly summer rotation.
Grilled Arayes with Creamy Cucumber Salad
These Middle Eastern meat-stuffed pitas get their earthy, spiced flavor from baharat, a blend typically comprised of cumin, allspice, black pepper, and more.
Preserved Lemon and Tomato Chicken
This simple recipe pairs salty preserved lemon with sweet-bright cherry tomatoes to form a sauce you’ll spoon up until the last drop.
Cold Soy Milk Noodles With Chili Crisp
This spin on Korean kongguksu is a lightning-fast dinner for hot nights.