TODAY on MHTV: I came home to find some beautiful fresh eggplants on the counter, so those are going into one of my recent inventions — eggplant Parm stacks. Think of it as deconstructed eggplant Parmesan, ready in half the time with twice the flavor. I’m rounding out my Italian vegetarian dinner with ricotta bruschetta,… View Article

TODAY on MHTV: In the morning rush of to-dos, breakfast is often the first thing dropped from the list. But it doesn’t take more than a few minutes to whip up my nutritious “milk and cookies” smoothie, swirled with crushed English biscuits and peanut butter. My creamy spiced oatmeal is ready in 15, and if… View Article

TODAY on MHTV: Whenever someone asks for an entertaining idea that’s simple, sophisticated, and budget-friendly, I usually think mussels. My brother David is here and we’re baking the dark-blue mollusks inside a parchment pocket with white wine and a tomato-parsley sauce. Eggplant dip with warm flatbread and crisp veggies is a no-fail appetizer, and fresh… View Article

TODAY on MHTV: One of the perks of my job is traveling and tasting the local specialties. But nothing beats a good old-fashioned road trip with my family — or good old-fashioned road food. Today, Calder, Luca, and I are re-creating some of our faves: crispy onion rings, chocolate malts, and warm, melty French dip sandwiches… View Article

TODAY on MHTV: When the weather gets cooler, I start to crave hearty, meaty dishes like this Latin-style skirt steak marinated with garlic and lime, grilled onions and peppers, a watercress-radish salad, and two no-cook sides: smashed tomatoes and deconstructed guacamole. More from the Show. Get the recipes: Grilled Latin-Style Skirt Steak Grilled Onions and… View Article

TODAY on MHTV: My quick-cooking chicken paillard has layers and layers of flavor: garlic, lemon, thyme, and pepper. Pair it with a crisp arugula-and-radicchio salad, and you’ve got yourself a light and healthy dinner — with plenty of room for dessert! For something sweet, I’m making homemade raspberry sauce to pour over store-bought Italian ices. More… View Article

TODAY on MHTV: There’s no better time than now to try a new vegetarian dish, and you won’t miss the meat one bit in this hearty pumpkin vegetable curry stew. On the side, coconut milk and minced chili pepper add a little sugar and spice to cornmeal fritters. More from the show. Get the recipes from… View Article

TODAY on MHTV: I’m sharing a recipe for Italian meat loaf, aka polpette. This version has a few secret ingredients that add tremendous depth of flavor. Chunky ricotta mashed potatoes and steamed spinach make no-fail sides, and my Great-Aunt Carolina’s taralli cookies have a touch of Marsala wine and a light lemon glaze. It’s comfort food… View Article

TODAY on MHTV: I’m always on the lookout for new ways to prepare roast chicken, and this lemon-herb version is one of my all-time favorites. On the side, I’m making collard greens with bacon and my husband’s specialty, rice and noodle pilaf. For dessert, broiled grapefruit halves with a touch of brown sugar are the… View Article

TODAY on MHTV: I’m sharing my take on a tried-and-true dinner classic — spaghetti and meatballs. A refreshing crisp romaine salad balances out the hearty main course, and for dessert, a simple, no-cook platter of sweetened ricotta with chocolate plus biscotti and fresh fruit. Think of it as a deconstructed cannoli. Yum! More from the… View Article

TODAY on MHTV: I’m going to show you the simplest, tastiest, easiest-to-manage pizza dough ever. Then comes the really fun part — DIY toppings! You could make my personal favorites, pizza margherita and escarole pizza, or invent your own. On the side, I’m making a light arugula salad with shaved Parmesan. And for dessert, pizza… View Article

TODAY on MHTV: How do you make a good meal even better? Put an egg on it! CQ’s here and we’re topping pecan pancakes with a perfect, protein-packed egg. Add bacon and syrup and you’re in sweet-and-savory heaven. Then, we crown the ultimate ham-and-cheese sandwich (aka, a croque madame) with a fried egg. Finally, spicy… View Article

TODAY on MHTV: I’m marinating inexpensive top round in garlic and soy sauce and braising it in stout beer for a big, classic pot roast dinner. All the late-summer fruit is starting to show up at the farmer’s market, and I’m celebrating with a no-fuss pear crisp that’s gooey on the inside and crunchy on… View Article

TODAY on MHTV: We always have bananas in our house, in varying states of ripeness. I’ve been known to add some mashed-up banana to chocolate chip cookie dough, the egg mixture for french toast, you name it. But bananas are tops in each of the recipes I’m making today: a thick and frothy old-fashioned milk… View Article

TODAY on MHTV: My easy yet elegant vinegar-glossed chicken is great for entertaining guests or a weeknight family dinner and is always a big hit. I use a marinade of red-wine vinegar, rosemary, and garlic to add flavor and create a beautiful gloss on the meat, and then serve the chicken with a side of… View Article

TODAY on MHTV: I am a big fan of Jamaican flavors, and I absolutely love jerk chicken. I’m adding a garlic-and-scallion marinade and an extra helping of spicy jerk sauce to my version. To cool things down a bit, I’m serving festival, a lightly fried sweet cornmeal bread with hints of vanilla and allspice, and… View Article

TODAY on MHTV: I’m letting you in one of my biggest cooking secrets: Mortadella, the cured Italian deli meat with pistachios, adds so much flavor to meat sauce, it’ll taste like it’s been cooking forever. (It does wonders for meatloaf too.) I’m serving this rapid ragu with rigatoni and shaved and steamed broccoli on the side,… View Article

TODAY on MHTV: There’s always time for breakfast when it can be taken with you. Sweet blueberry bran muffins, slices of Spanish frittata, and my PB&J pancake sandwiches can be wrapped up in parchment for on-the-go eating. And all the nutritional benefits of oatmeal and fruit can be found in my quick, no-cook rolled oat… View Article

TODAY on MHTV: You know those days when you can’t tell if you’re coming or going? Well, nothing beats pulling a pan of homemade lasagna out of the freezer and having dinner on the table in 20 minutes. Big batches of freezer-friendly lentil soup work too — my hardcore meat-eating sons love the stuff. And my… View Article

TODAY on MHTV: Here’s a perfect menu for celebrating the last long weekend of summer. My friend Virginia Willis’s classic Southern dishes will be the hit of any picnic or alfresco feast. We’re taking deviled eggs to the next level with a little butter, broiled chicken wings get a Coca-Cola glaze, and for dessert: The… View Article