Hi Reader,

I have a confession. Sometimes I snoop.
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Not through The One's phone. Not through the neighbors' windows. (Although if they're cooking something good, all bets are off.)
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I snoop through the traffic reports for Leite's Culinaria.
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And after all these years of writing, testing, photographing, and occasionally swearing at recipes, I still get a kick out of seeing which ones you visit most.
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Some make perfect sense. A slow-roasted pork butt with a crackling crust? Of course. Marcella Hazan's Bolognese? Naturally. Julia Child's coq au vin? The woman knew her way around a chicken and a bottle of wine.
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But then there's Coca-Cola brisket. Spaghetti with butter and cheese. A loaf of bread that requires practically no kneading whatsoever.
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And I love that.
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Because your favorites tell me something about how you cook. You appreciate a classic, but you're not above taking a shortcut. You'll spend hours coaxing flavor out of a pot of sauce, then happily make dinner with three ingredients the next night.
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You're my kind of people.
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So today, I'm handing the reins over to you. These eight recipes are among the ones you return to again and again.
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And if you haven't tried them yet, well, consider this your invitation to see what all the fuss is about.

What Your Favorites Share

• Patience pays off. Roast pork butt, Bolognese, and coq au vin prove that some of the best cooking happens when you stop fussing and let time do the heavy lifting. Low heat, a sturdy pot, and a little faith. That's often all it takes.
• Simple doesn't mean second-rate. Spaghetti with butter and cheese is proof that a handful of good ingredients can make a spectacular meal. The trick is paying attention to the details: proper seasoning, good cheese, and pasta cooked just right.
• A little ingenuity goes a long way. Coca-Cola brisket might raise a few eyebrows, but that combination of sweetness, acidity, and slow cooking works. And Jim Lahey's no-knead bread? Proof that sometimes the smartest thing you can do in the kitchen is less.
• Tradition deserves a place at the table. Portuguese bifanas, bacalhau à Brás, and pastéis de nata aren't just recipes to me. They're connections to a culture and a way of cooking that's been feeding people beautifully for generations. And I'm delighted you've made room for them in your kitchens, too.
• Never underestimate the power of dessert. A properly made chocolate chip cookie or a warm Portuguese custard tart can turn an ordinary afternoon into something you'll remember. Besides, life without dessert? What kind of nonsense is that?

Below are ten of your most-visited recipes, from hearty Sunday suppers to cookies you'll want to hide from the rest of the household. Pick an old favorite or discover a new one.
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And keep cooking, my friends. I'll keep snooping.

WHAT'S INSIDE...

• ​Roast Pork Butt​
• ​Marcella Hazan’s Bolognese Sauce​
• ​Julia Child's Coq Au Vin​
• ​Coca Cola Brisket​
• ​Bacalhau A Bras ~ Salt Cod, Potatoes & Eggs​
• ​Bifanas ~ Portuguese Pork Sandwiches​
• ​Pasta With Butter & Parmesan​
• ​Jim Lahey’s No-Knead Bread​

​Roast Pork Butt​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.8 from 454 votes

This roast pork butt, coated in a simple rub of brown sugar, paprika, cumin, and red pepper flakes, is an easy to make and yields enough pulled pork to feed a small army. Perfect for Super Bowl, weekend bashes, and weeknight dinners. Best of all, it can be roasted in the oven.

​☞ ​Try this recipe​

​Marcella Hazan’s Bolognese Sauce​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.8 from 316 votes

Marcella Hazan's Bolognese sauce is as authentic as can be. Simple, everyday ingredients—beef, onions, carrot, celery, milk, wine, and cheese—come together in a pot, simmering for hours, what can only be described as heaven on a plate.

​☞ ​Try this recipe​

​Julia Child's Coq Au Vin​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.74 from 67 votes

This coq au vin strays a little from the original but I don't think that's to its detriment. This updated version of the simple French chicken stew uses a robust brown chicken stock, mushrooms, onions, bacon, and red wine.

​☞ ​Try this recipe​

​Coca Cola Brisket​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.81 from 83 votes

This knee-wobbling tender Coca cola brisket is as easy as tossing brisket and Coca cola, onion soup mix, and chili sauce into the oven or slow cooker and walking away.

​☞ ​Try this recipe​

​Bacalhau A Bras ~ Salt Cod, Potatoes & Eggs​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.81 from 36 votes

This delicious lunch, dinner, or even brunch dish is from the classic restaurant Bota Alta, in Lisbon's Bairro Alto district.

​☞ ​Try this recipe​

​Bifanas ~ Portuguese Pork Sandwiches​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.88 from 55 votes

Bifanas are traditional Portuguese sandwiches made with thin slices of pork that are marinated and simmered in a sauce of white wine, garlic, and paprika and served on soft rolls with plenty of mustard and piri-piri sauce.

​☞ ​Try this recipe​

​Pasta With Butter & Parmesan​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.83 from 23 votes

Pasta with butter and Parmesan appeals to nearly everyone. This pasta's brilliance lies in it's simplicity, universal appeal, and endless add-in options.

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​Jim Lahey’s No-Knead Bread​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.88 from 175 votes

Jim Lahey's no-knead bread turned traditional bread making upside down for all of us. Made with just flour, yeast, salt, and water, the bread is the fastest, easiest, and best you may ever make.

​☞ ​Try this recipe​