Editorial desk

Outspoken Digest Food Desk

Cooking, ingredients, restaurants and the economics of what ends up on the table.

Stories by Outspoken Digest Food Desk

Recipes

Braised Short Rib Grilled Cheese at Home: Fall-Apart Beef, Gruyere and Cheddar on Crisp Sourdough

Starbucks put a short rib grilled cheese on its holiday menu on 5 November. This is the version you can braise on a slow Sunday and press into a sandwich on any weeknight.

Nov 6, 2026/3 min read

A halved grilled cheese sandwich with shredded braised brisket beside a paper cone of French fries on a metal tray at a restaurant in Fairfax County, Virginia, photographed on 12 November 2024, a file photograph of a close relative of the dish (brisket rather than short rib) and not of this recipe

Recipes

Kaju Katli for Diwali: Cashew Diamonds With a One-Thread Syrup, Made at Home as Shop Prices Climb

Three ingredients and one precise stage of sugar syrup give the silver-topped Diwali classic. Make about 20 pieces yourself, with a dark chocolate twist if you want one.

Nov 6, 2026/3 min read

A woven basket piled with silver-leaf-topped diamond pieces of kaju katli, the cashew sweet, in front of a gift box, photographed on 14 May 2015, a file photograph of the sweet and not of this recipe

Recipes

Yorkshire Parkin for Bonfire Night: The Sticky Oatmeal and Treacle Ginger Cake That Gets Better for a Week

The north's Guy Fawkes cake is dense, dark and built on oats, black treacle and ginger. Here is a traditional 20 cm square version and the reason it should sit in a tin before you cut it.

Nov 5, 2026/4 min read

Dark brown squares of traditional Yorkshire parkin piled in a paper-lined tin, photographed on 11 May 2008, a file photograph of the cake and not of the recipe as cooked for this article

Recipes

Sourdough Stuffing With Mushrooms and Sage: The Thanksgiving Side Worth Planning Three Weeks Out

Tangy dried sourdough holds its shape under broth where white bread turns to paste. A 12-serving tray with buttery mushrooms and fresh sage, assembled a day ahead and baked when the turkey comes out.

Nov 4, 2026/4 min read

A tray of golden baked bread stuffing with celery and herbs in a dark enamel baking dish on a stove top, photographed on 26 November 2020, a file photograph of a Thanksgiving bread stuffing and not of this sourdough and mushroom version

Recipes

Mysore Pak for Diwali: The Ghee-Soaked Gram Flour Sweet Invented in a Palace Kitchen

Three ingredients, one sugar syrup and ten minutes of nerve: how to make Karnataka's royal sweet at home for 8 November, in a year when shop mithai costs 15 percent more.

Nov 3, 2026/4 min read

Squares of golden ghee Mysore pak on a black tray and in a wooden box beside a lit red Diwali lamp on a pink and gold sari, photographed on 13 November 2020, a file photograph of the sweet and not of this recipe as made

Recipes

Diabetes-Friendly Tandoori Chicken With Raita and Kachumber: A Carb-Counted Main for Diwali Week

Yogurt-marinated chicken roasted hot, with cucumber raita and a sharp onion salad: a festive plate that counts under 10 g of carbohydrate a serving before the bread, for Diwali and World Diabetes Day.

Nov 3, 2026/4 min read

Pieces of home-made tandoori chicken, charred red at the edges, on a wire rack over an oven tray, photographed on 14 July 2013, a file photograph of tandoori chicken and not of this recipe as cooked

Recipes

Sugar-Free Pumpkin Pie With Allulose: A Thanksgiving Custard That Browns Like the Real Thing

No sugar, honey or syrup: allulose sweetens an almond-crust pumpkin custard, caramelises at the edges and keeps the slice under 7 g of carbohydrate. Why it behaves the way it does, and how to bake it.

Nov 3, 2026/4 min read

A whole baked pumpkin pie with a crimped pastry edge cooling in its dish in New Orleans on Thanksgiving Day, photographed on 25 November 2021, a file photograph of a conventional pumpkin pie and not of the sugar-free allulose pie in this recipe

Recipes

Vegan Pozole Rojo With Oyster Mushrooms: Mexico's Hominy Stew for World Vegan Month

Shredded oyster mushrooms take the place of pork in a guajillo and ancho broth thick with hominy. A big-pot stew from Mexico for the November vegan calendar, ready in about 80 minutes.

Nov 3, 2026/4 min read

A bowl of red pozole with hominy topped with shredded cabbage and a lime wedge on a painted clay plate in Mazatlan, Mexico, photographed on 13 March 2023, a file photograph of a traditional pozole and not of the vegan mushroom version in this recipe

Recipes

Keto Mashed Cauliflower for Thanksgiving: The Low-Carb Mash That Passes for Potatoes

Steamed, not boiled, then whipped with butter, cream cheese and parmesan: a keto side for 26 November that holds gravy and comes in at about 4 g net carbs a serving.

Nov 3, 2026/3 min read

A white plate of pale mashed cauliflower on a wooden table with raw cauliflower florets on a slate beside it, photographed on 20 April 2015, a file photograph of mashed cauliflower and not of this recipe as cooked

Recipes

Toffee Apple Hand Pies for Bonfire Night: Caramelised Apple in Puff Pastry You Can Eat by the Fire

The sticky fairground apple is being rebuilt as a hand pie this Bonfire Night. Here is a pocket-sized version with a butterscotch apple filling, ready in about 90 minutes including chilling.

Nov 3, 2026/4 min read

Three golden toffee apple hand pies on a dark slate board, one cut open to show the spiced apple and caramel filling, with small apples beside them, an editorial illustration generated for this recipe

Recipes

Chocolate Cake for Breakfast: A Tender Cocoa Sponge With Chocolate Buttercream, for Halloween Weekend

Practical Magic fans are baking the aunts' breakfast cake again. This tender two-layer cocoa sponge with soft chocolate buttercream needs one bowl and boiling water in the batter.

Oct 30, 2026/3 min read

A whole round chocolate cake with glossy chocolate frosting piped around the edge and topped with raspberries and blueberries, photographed in Tokyo on 17 December 2024, a file photograph of a chocolate cake and not of this exact recipe

Recipes

Witches' Cauldron Beef Stew in the Slow Cooker, for the Halloween Table

Google says searches for a cauldron crock pot are at an all-time high. Here is a dark stout and beef stew with carrots, potatoes and green peas that serves six and cooks itself while you carve.

Oct 29, 2026/4 min read

Editorial illustration of a beef stew with carrots and potatoes served in a small black cauldron-shaped pot on a dark wooden table beside small pumpkins, lit by candles

Recipes

Witches' Brew Halloween Punch: The Lime Sherbet and Ginger Ale Bowl Everyone Is Searching For

Google says witches brew punch is the top trending Halloween drink of 2026. Here is a no-cook green sherbet punch with an ice ring, for a crowd of twelve, ready in fifteen minutes plus freezing time.

Oct 28, 2026/3 min read

Editorial illustration of a witches brew Halloween punch: a glass bowl of green lime sherbet punch with foamy sherbet scoops, lime slices and a ladle on a dark table.

Recipes

Chicken Cheesesteak at Home: Seared Thigh, Sweet Onions and Melted White American on a Sesame Roll

Arby's put three chicken cheesesteaks on its menu on 12 October. This version takes 50 minutes, sears the chicken hot and fast, and keeps the cheese properly molten.

Oct 26, 2026/3 min read

Editorial illustration of a chicken cheesesteak: sliced chicken, onions, peppers and melted cheese in a toasted sesame roll, cut in half on a wooden board.

Recipes

Marry Me Chicken Pasta: Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken, Ready in 40 Minutes

The skillet dish with a marriage-proposal name is still climbing in searches and supermarket aisles. A weeknight pasta version with a sauce that clings, and no splitting.

Oct 23, 2026/4 min read

Editorial illustration of marry me chicken pasta: sliced seared chicken over rigatoni in a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce with basil, in a ceramic bowl.

Recipes

Cheesy Ramen on the Stove: Instant Noodles in a Real Cheese Sauce in Ten Minutes

Kraft Mac & Cheese announced a Cheesy Ramen line on 6 October, due in April 2027. You can have the idea tonight with a packet of noodles, stock, milk and a handful of cheddar.

Oct 18, 2026/3 min read

A generated illustration of a bowl of instant noodles coated in cheddar sauce with spring onions, not a photograph of any branded product

Recipes

Beer-Battered Jalapeno Cheese Curds: The Wisconsin Bar Snack, Fried Properly at Home

Culver's has made October Curdtoberfest, with jalapeno cheese curds back on the menu after National Cheese Curd Day on 15 October. Here is a crisp beer-batter version for the home fryer.

Oct 18, 2026/3 min read

A paper tray of golden beer-battered fried cheese curds, photographed on 17 June 2010 at the Gopher Count community festival in Viola, Minnesota, a file photograph of the dish and not of the Culver's curds

Recipes

A Thanksgiving Turkey Sub With Hot Stuffing, Cranberry and Gravy to Dip

Firehouse Subs has brought back its Thanksgiving Turkey Sub through the end of December. This home version roasts the turkey, bakes a sage stuffing and builds the whole sandwich warm.

Oct 17, 2026/3 min read

A generated illustration of a turkey, stuffing and cranberry sub cut in half on a wooden board, not a photograph of the Firehouse Subs sandwich

Recipes

Pecan Pie Bars With a Shortbread Base and a Caramel Filling That Slices Cleanly

Firehouse Subs added a house-made pecan bar this season and Starbucks has a pecan mini pie. This bake gives you the filling of a pecan pie on a crisp shortbread base, cut into squares.

Oct 17, 2026/3 min read

A square pecan bar with a glossy caramelised nut topping on a decorative plate, photographed on 22 September 2011, a file photograph of the dish and not of the Firehouse Subs bar

Recipes

Apple Crumble Mini Pies: Crisp Oat Streusel Over a Filling That Is Not Wet

Starbucks added an Apple Crumble Mini Pie to its fall lineup and reviewers have been weighing it against Trader Joe's. This muffin-tin version fixes the soggy-filling complaint.

Oct 16, 2026/3 min read

A slice of apple crumb pie with an oat streusel topping on a white plate, photographed on 14 August 2014, a file photograph of the dish and not of the Starbucks or Trader Joe's pies