Skip to main content

Ian Knauer

Honey "Tree Bark" Biscuits

The trees of Hansel and Gretel's forest surely had bark like this, sparkling with sugar crystals and tasting of sylvan honey. Though the biscuits pair wonderfully with blueberries in gin syrup, they also make an excellent accompaniment to a cheese course—particularly with a nice triple-crème.

Stuffed Pork Tenderloin with Mustard-Caper Sauce

Channel your inner charcuterie artisan with this rolled pork, which is stuffed with garlic, spinach, and bacon and served in thin slices, either cold or at room temperature. The end result is a sort of fancy cold cut that will have the guests at your next picnic raving.

Deviled Chicken Drumsticks

Though they're quite irresistible right out of the oven, these moist and juicy drumsticks (with a slight kick) are perfect picnic food, since they're also terrific cold or at room temperature

Blueberries in Gin Syrup

An aromatic syrup that calls to mind the clean smell of the forest enhances the flavor of fresh blueberries. Also, since it's poured over the berries while hot, it colors them a gorgeous sapphire and softens them, making their burst in the mouth even more intense.

Jalapeño Poppers

A double layer of bread crumbs is the key to these extra-crispy homemade bar snacks.

Salt and Pepper Crusted Rib Roast

Rib roast is everything you want in a cut of beef: It is impressively sized and naturally flavorful, and it pretty much takes care of itself (leaving plenty of time for side dishes).

Tabbouleh

Grilled Marinated Sirloin Flap Steaks

We make this super-easy, super-tasty dish all year long. The bold combination of soy sauce, balsamic, and maple syrup works its magic on the meat quickly, so it only needs to marinate for as long as it takes to get your grill fired up. In the fall and winter, we pair this steak with maple-sweetened butternut squash. Come summer, it's a natural with a tomato salad and corn on the cob.

Grilled Skirt Steaks with Tomatillos Two Ways

Rich skirt steak begs for an assertive, acidic accompaniment. The tomatillo twofer showcases the fruit’s different personalities: In the cooked salsa, its flavor is round and lemony; in the salad, fresh lime juice sharpens the tomatillos’ raw brightness.

Tri-Tip Roast with Sun-Dried Tomato and Roasted-Pepper Relish

Tri-tip is flavorful and well-marbled, but because it’s really a roast rather than a steak, salt and seasonings don’t affect it the same way they do a thinner cut. That’s where this Mediterranean-inspired relish comes in. The combination of roasted red pepper, sun-dried tomatoes, and capers adds savor to every bite.

Six-Spice Hanger Steak

A Chinese-inspired five-spice blend amps up a simply broiled hanger steak.

Top Butt Steak with Whiskey Mustard Sauce

Everyone—not just whiskey fans and pyromaniacs—will love this steak and its rich, tangy sauce. The type of whiskey you use will leave its own imprint on the sauce: Bourbon will make for a sweeter sauce, while rye will add some nice yeasty notes. Scotch will take it in a smokier direction. Do be careful when flambéing: Because this recipe calls for a generous amount of whiskey, the flames may shoot quite high (it’s a necessary step to take the edge off the alcohol).