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Admit it—you take American food for granted. You've been guilty of huffing down questionable hot dogs and have made Easy Mac on more than one occasion. Shame on you.
Go back to your roots with these classic American recipes from Food52. Because, really, you have no business trying to attempt Thai food if you haven't mastered these simple staples. Get to it.
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Virginia Willis' Deviled Eggs
A perfectly hard-boiled egg filled with a swirl of creamy yolk makes for an incredible appetizer or snack. Put these herb-flecked devils out a double batch at a time, or be prepared to fight over them. Get the recipe at Food52.
Brown Butter and Cheddar Apple Pie
Take classic apple pie filling and tuck it into a unique cheddar crust that's good enough to eat on its own. Warning: once you add cheese to your crust, all other regular-crusted pies and tarts will just seem boring. Get the recipe at Food52.
Grilled Aged Cheddar Cheese Sandwich with Pastachio Sage Pesto
Growing up, grilled cheeses were one of the first meals we could make for ourselves. Nothing evokes nostalgia or feelings of comfort quite like crispy bread and oozing cheese. This version loads on the cheddar and adds even more flavor with a dose of pesto. Get the recipe at Food52.
Michael Ruhlman's Rosemary-Brined, Buttermilk Fried Chicken
Fried chicken is the golden, crispy treasure of our country. It practically deserves a place on our flag. A crisp exterior and juicy interior are musts, and this recipe has them both. Get the recipe at Food52.
Not Your Cafeteria Meatloaf
The name of this recipe sums it up: this isn't the terrifying meatloaf you know from your childhood. Layered with flavors and packed with bacon, it will turn anybody with bad meatloaf memories into a loaf lover. Get the recipe at Food52.
Burger with Spicy Slaw
There's nothing more American than a burger, and it would be pretty lame to sit around while your friends grill up burgers better than yours. This burger is stacked with a chipotle slaw and goat cheese, plus it has a sweet and spicy glaze. It's a burger trump card if we ever saw one. Get the recipe at Food52.
4. Marcella Hazan's Tomato Sauce with Onion and Butter
A great tomato sauce can be eaten plain like soup, or sopped up with bread, tossed with pasta, or used to sauce fish, chicken or meats. This 3-ingredient tomato sauce will be your go-to red sauce recipe, whether you're in a pinch or planning to spend all day at the stove. Get the recipe at Food52.
Alice Medrich's Best Cocoa Brownies
These cocoa powder-based brownies are an absolute show stopper. Bring these out at the end of a meal and every female heart in the vicinity will melt. Get the recipe at Food52.
Wishbone Roast Chicken with Herb Butter
A roast chicken dinner is the definition of classic comfort food. Now it's possible to get crispy skin and juicy meat with only 5 ingredients. Get the recipe at Food52.
Martha Stewart's Macaroni and Cheese
Having an amazing recipe for a perfectly creamy mac and cheese in your back pocket is a must. This recipe is topped with toasted bread cubes that deliver a crunch and wow factor, putting any boxed mac to shame. Get the recipe at Food52.
