Bacon

One Pan, Two Plates is our favorite new book for easy weeknight dinners. Carla Snyder's recipes are fast, flavorful and minimal on the clean-up (which is always okay by us). First up, use those first tomatoes of the summer right!

A staff meal at one of Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group restaurants is a far cry from pasta and "leftover whatever." We're crazy about Family Table, a new cookbook we hope will popularize the trend of feeding staff well and reaping the benefits. First up, an any-time-of-day dish we're digging for brunch.

Creamed corn itself can be made as partner to a hot stew or braised chicken thighs, but with a dash of cream and a grating of nutmeg, we find it is best friends of all with salty, crisped bacon and chewy, toasted bread. Wash down with a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice and a strong coffee at the weekend.