1

Smoked mackerel & leek hash

Image: Denis Agati

If you have 250 grams of potatoes, two large leeks, a can of smoked mackerel, and four eggs , you can make this delicious dish.

Cook the potatoes in the microwave for five minutes. Meanwhile, heat some oil in a frying pan over medium heat, add the leeks with a pinch of salt, and cook for 10 minutes. Add the potatoes, increase the heat, and fry for a couple of minutes. Flake the mackerel into the pan. Make four indents in the leek mixture, crack an egg into each, then cover the pan and cook for 6–8 minutes, until the whites have set and the yolks remain runny.

2

Cacio e pepe

Image: Immo Wegmann

You probably have a packet of dried spaghetti in your pantry. For this recipe, you’ll need 200 grams of spaghetti , 25 grams of butter , 50 grams of finely grated pecorino or parmesan cheese , and some black pepper .

Cook the pasta for 2 minutes less than the package instructions indicate. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a medium frying pan over low heat, add the ground black pepper, and toast for a few minutes. Transfer the pasta to the pan along with 100 ml of pasta water. Toss briefly, then evenly sprinkle the cheese over the pasta—but don’t stir. Let the cheese melt for 30 seconds, then toss everything together and stir until well combined.

3

Peanut butter & jam flapjacks

Image: Towfiqu barbhuiya

Peanut butter and jelly have saved the day more than once, and they do it again in this simple recipe. You’ll need 5 tablespoons of salted butter , 250 grams of peanut butter , 8 tablespoons of strawberry or raspberry jam , and 200 grams of rolled oats .

Preheat the oven, butter a 20 cm square cake tin, and line the base and sides with baking parchment. Put 3 tablespoons each of the peanut butter and jam in separate small bowls and set aside. Put the remaining peanut butter, the rest of the jam, and the butter and sugar into a pan set over medium heat and stir. Add the oats, then leave to cool for 5 minutes. Transfer it to the prepared cake tin and gently press it down with your hands. Dot the reserved peanut butter and jam over the top, then bake for 20–25 minutes.

4

Caramelized banana & chocolate pie

Image: Mike Dorner

This is a great dessert to improvise if you have three bananas , 70 grams of hazelnuts , 150 grams of dark chocolate , a 500-gram block of puff pastry , and three tablespoons of brown sugar .

Preheat the oven. Process the hazelnuts in a small food processor, then transfer them to a bowl with the chocolate. Roll out the pastry into a 30 cm circle on a sheet of baking parchment. Sprinkle the chocolate and hazelnut mixture evenly over the pastry, leaving a 5 cm border. Arrange the bananas on top and scatter most of the remaining hazelnuts over them. Fold the pastry edges over the filling. Transfer the pie, along with the baking parchment, to a baking sheet and chill in the fridge for at least 10 minutes. Bake for 25–30 minutes.

5

Garlic chicken parcels

Image: Claudio Schwarz

You will need two chicken breasts , a 320-gram sheet of all-butter puff pastry , 150 grams of garlic and herb cream cheese , half a lemon , and 200 grams of green beans and broccoli .

Heat the oven. Cut a slit halfway into each chicken breast, then place each one between two sheets of baking parchment and flatten slightly with a rolling pin. Cut the pastry sheet in half widthwise and place both halves on a baking tray. Place a chicken breast on top of each pastry half, then fill the cavities with the cream cheese. Sprinkle with lemon zest, then fold the edges of the pastry over the chicken and pinch to seal. Flip each parcel over so the seam is on the bottom. Then bake for 30 minutes until deep golden. About 10 minutes before your parcels are ready, steam or boil the greens until tender. Toss with a little oil, season, and serve.

6

Red pepper linguine

Image: amirali mirhashemian

The second pasta recipe on our list requires one roasted red pepper , a bit of olive oil , 50 grams of walnuts , a small garlic clove , 100 grams of spaghetti or linguine , and some parmesan cheese .

In a food processor, blend the roasted red pepper with the olive oil, walnuts, and garlic until smooth. Season well and set aside. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil, add the pasta, and cook for 1 minute less than the package instructions indicate. Drain, reserving a bit of the cooking water. Return the pasta to the pan, add the reserved cooking water and red pepper sauce, and warm through over low heat. Serve in a bowl, topped with parmesan and some chopped toasted walnuts.

7

Creamy tomato courgetti

Image: Caroline Attwood

The original recipe calls for Parma ham, but any ham you have in your fridge will do. You will need four slices of ham , half a pack of basil , 350 grams of tomato and mascarpone sauce , and a 250-gram pack of courgetti .

Tear the ham and basil into coarse pieces. Heat a frying pan over medium heat and dry-fry the ham until crisp. Transfer the ham and basil to a plate, then add the sauce to the same pan. Cook for 1–2 minutes, then stir in the courgetti. Cook for 1 more minute until warmed through. Divide between bowls and top with the ham and basil.

8

Jerk prawn & coconut rice bowls

Image: blackieshoot

If you have a 150-gram pack of peeled prawns , a bit of jerk seasoning , a 400-gram can of kidney beans in chili sauce , and a 250-gram pouch of ready-cooked coconut rice , you can make this quick and flavorful dish.

Heat a bit of oil in a large frying pan, add the prawns and jerk seasoning, and cook for two minutes. Drain the beans, reserving three tablespoons of the chili sauce. Add the beans to the pan along with the reserved sauce and coconut rice. Fry for 3–4 minutes, then season with salt to taste.

9

Sweet potatoes with mushrooms & rosemary

Image: Louis Hansel

If you have sweet potatoes lying around and aren’t sure what to make, here’s an idea. You’ll need two sweet potatoes , 200 grams of halved chestnut mushrooms , a bit of freshly chopped rosemary , and some Parmesan cheese .

Preheat the oven. Prick the sweet potatoes several times with a fork, then microwave them for 8–10 minutes until tender. Meanwhile, heat a bit of oil in a non-stick pan, add the mushrooms and rosemary, and cook over medium-high heat, stirring, until the mushrooms are tender and lightly browned. Season to taste. Transfer the potatoes to the oven and roast for 15 minutes until the skins start to crisp. Split them open, top with the mushrooms, and sprinkle with Parmesan before serving.

10

Sweet chili dogs

Image: American Heritage Chocolate

Who doesn’t love hot dogs? Or chili? This extra-simple recipe combines both. You’ll need four fat sausages , two onions , a bit of chili sauce , four hot dog buns , and two tablespoons of tomato purée .

Preheat the oven. Place the sausages in a roasting tin and cook for 20–25 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden and cooked through. Meanwhile, fry the onions in a bit of oil until softened. Stir in the chili sauce and tomato purée, season to taste, and cook for 1 minute more. Split the hot dog buns, add a spoonful of the sweet chili onions, place a sausage in each, then top with another spoonful of onions. Enjoy!

1

Grilling dates back to ancient civilizations

Ancient civilizations were the first to master the art of cooking meat over open flames. Archaeological digs across the Mediterranean, Asia, and Mesoamerica have unearthed primitive clay braziers, iron grates, and roasting pits dating back thousands of years.

Ancient Greeks and Romans cooked meat on iron grids elevated over hot embers, while ancient Asian cultures used portable ceramic cookers like the Japanese Kamado. The fundamental principle, direct heat transforming raw meat into a charred meal, has remained unchanged for millennia.

2

Caribbean roots of modern barbecue

The word "barbecue" traces back to the Indigenous Taíno and Arawak peoples of the Caribbean. When Spanish explorers arrived in the West Indies during the 15th and 16th centuries, they observed native inhabitants drying and slow-smoking meat over raised wooden frameworks built from green timber.

The Arawak called this elevated rack a barabicu . Spaniards adapted the term to barbacoa and eventually made its way into English as "barbecue".

3

Henry Ford patented the first charcoal briquette

In one of history’s most surprising industrial crossovers, the charcoal briquette exists thanks to the Model T car. In the 1920s, Henry Ford realized his automotive plants were generating tons of scrap wood and sawdust. Looking for a profitable way to repurpose the waste, Ford consulted inventor Thomas Edison.

Together they developed a process to compress powdered charcoal mixed with starch binders into dense pillows. Ford established a charcoal plant and sold "Ford Charcoal" at his car dealerships, encouraging motorists to explore the countryside on weekend camping trips. After Ford sold the operation, it was renamed Kingsford Charcoal, which remains a dominant brand today.

4

Weber invented the iconic kettle grill

Before the 1950s, backyard outdoor cooking was an irritating chore conducted over open brick pits or shallow metal brasero pans. Rain, wind, ash, and sudden grease flare-ups frequently ruined meals.

Frustrated by open grills, a welder at Weber Brothers Metal Works in Chicago took a hollow metal buoy used for lake navigation, cut it in half, added legs, and punched ventilation holes in the top dome. The enclosed sphere created a convection oven effect, giving cooks control over oxygen, heat, and smoke while protecting food from the elements. Released in 1952 as the "Weber Kettle," it revolutionized backyard cooking forever.

5

The rise of the gas grill

Charcoal provided a delicious smoky flavor, but it required patience and cleanup. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, natural gas companies looked for new ways to promote gas consumption during warm summer months when home heating demands dropped.

In 1960, Walter Coleman and William G. Wepfer of the Arkansas-Louisiana Gas Company modified a charcoal grill to run on liquid propane bottled in portable tanks. Shortly thereafter, companies like Chicago Combustion Corporation introduced the LazyMen gas grill. The promise of turning a knob and cooking within minutes opened up weeknight outdoor dining to busy families.

6

Backyard grilling became a post-war tradition

The end of World War II sparked an unprecedented housing boom across North America, giving rise to suburban neighborhoods. Suburban homes featured private yards, paved patios, and sliding doors that blurred the line between indoor and outdoor.

Grilling became a symbol of leisure and hospitality. Pop culture reinforced this trend, positioning suburban fathers as the "pitmasters" of the backyard.

7

Grilling goes global: international influences

20th-century travel and immigration made suburban pitmasters incorporate global traditions into their setups. These diverse techniques, such as Japanese Hibachi & Yakitori, South African Braai, Korean Gogi-gui, and Brazilian Churrasco, enriched backyard menus, elevating simple burgers and hot dogs into a world of complex marinades and skewered meats.

8

The first barbecue cookbook

As outdoor cooking conquered the backyards, home cooks needed help beyond basic grilling. In 1939, Sunset Magazine published Sunset’s Barbecue Book , considered the first dedicated barbecue cookbook.

Written specifically for suburban homeowners, the book included blueprints for building stone or brick backyard pits, alongside recipes for marinades, basting mops, and dry rubs. In just a few years, pit cooking became a domestic culinary art form.

9

Grill competitions spark a culinary movement

In the late 1970s and 1980s, casual regional rivalries blossomed into competition circuits like the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest and the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS).

These events brought together backyard enthusiasts, commercial pitmasters, and scientists to debate the precise mathematics of internal meat temperatures, smoke rings, and wood choices.

10

Tailgating perfected the portability of grills

The growth of American college football and professional sports stadiums during the mid-20th century gave birth to a unique pre-game tradition: tailgating. Fans realized that portable propane units and mini kettle grills could turn stadium parking lots into outdoor kitchens. Grill manufacturers responded by designing lightweight and folding models, solidifying the grill as an essential tool for community gathering.

1

Printer and newspaper editor

Image: Denny Müller

Benjamin Franklin wanted to be a sailor when he grew up. But his father had lost an older son of his at sea, so he sent him off to learn from his older brother, who was in the printing business. After learning the craft, he left Boston for Philadelphia at age 17 where he became a well-known printer of newspapers and an almanac full of wit and wisdom called Poor Richard’s Almanac , still in print to this day.

Franklin was a prolific author who wrote under several pseudonyms, including Silence Dogood, Polly Baker, and Richard Saunders.

2

Founding father

Image: Dan Mall

A well-known fact about Franklin is his role in the Nation’s foundation. He is the only person in history to have signed all four documents that helped to create the U.S. : the Declaration of Independence, The Treaty of Alliance, Amity, and Commerce with France, the Treaty of Peace between England, France, and the U.S., and the U.S. Constitution.

He famously quipped after signing the Constitution to the people that they had created a republic but warned it would only be one "if you can keep it."

3

American representative abroad

Image: Brett Wharton

A major player abroad, Benjamin Franklin spent years representing the colony of Pennsylvania in England and then later representing the U. S. in France . For his actions abroad, he became universally admired and renowned, playing an important role in securing a French alliance during the Revolutionary War. He also helped to negotiate the Treaty of Paris that officially ended the Revolutionary War.

4

Inventor

Image: AbsolutVision

His restless mind urged Franklin to be on the constant lookout for ways to improve the world through new inventions. His most famous creations were the bifocal glasses and the Franklin stove, but he also invented a pair of swim fins for his hands at age 11, and he was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1968 for his many contributions to the sport.

As for the bifocals, when his vision worsened as he got older, he cut lenses from a pair of glasses that allowed him to see things close up and lenses from another pair of glasses that allowed him to see things far away. He put half of each lens in a single frame to invent bifocals.

5

Scientist

Image: NOAA

The immortal image of Franklin pulling a kite with a key attached to it, while in the middle of a thunderstorm brings us to probably the most famous of all his scientific discoveries: the realization that lightning was an electrical phenomenon . Benjamin Franklin didn’t discover electricity, as some people think, but proved the connection between electricity and lightning.

The whole key-kite-thunderstorm experiment led to his invention of lightning rods for buildings.

6

Musician

Image: Dominik Scythe

Few people know that Benjamin Franklin played several instruments , including the violin, harp, and guitar. He invented the glass armonica after seeing performers make music with glasses of water, which he played by touching the edge of the spinning glass with damp fingers.

In his letters, Franklin recounts many happy evenings playing the armonica alongside his daughter, Sally. "Of all my inventions," Franklin wrote, "the glass armonica has given me the most personal satisfaction."

7

Volunteer Fire Company creator

Image: Sandie Clarke

Worried by the fires that broke out constantly in the area, Franklin founded the Union Fire Company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1736. This fire company was the first volunteer fire company of its kind in the U.S.

Soon after this volunteer fire company appeared, more and more fire companies spread across the city and soon all over the country, leading to a safer environment in relation to fires.

8

Postmaster

Image: Joanna Kosinska

Franklin was appointed postmaster of Philadelphia in 1737, holding the office until 1753, when he was named deputy postmaster–general of British North America , the first to hold the office. Franklin reorganized the service's accounting system and improved the speed of delivery between Philadelphia, New York, and Boston.

On July 26, 1775, the Second Continental Congress established the United States Post Office and named Franklin as the first United States postmaster general . He had been a postmaster for decades and was a natural choice for the position.

9

Gulf Stream charterer

Image: Max Okhrimenko

Although it was first observed in 1513 by Ponce de Leon, the Gulf Stream was not charted until 1769 by our friend, Benjamin Franklin . Alexander Agassiz, a preeminent oceanographer of the 19th century, attributed the first scientific basis for exploring this stream to Franklin, who had published a map of the Gulf Stream in the previously mentioned year, 200 years before a submersible named after him drifted below the surface to study this river in the ocean.

10

Ben Franklin Effect

Image: Chris Liverani

The final entry on this list is dedicated to a psychological phenomenon known as the Ben Franklin effect. The basic concept behind this phenomenon is that people like someone more after doing a favor for them , and the reasoning is that people believe that they help others because they like them, even if they do not because their minds struggle to maintain logical consistency between their actions and perceptions.

Benjamin quoted what he described as an "old maxim" in his autobiography: "He that has once done you a kindness will be more ready to do you another, than he whom you yourself have obliged."