Weekly Wrap-Up: 10/7-10/13

In case you missed them, here’s a wrap up of our favorite blog posts of the week. Read, get inspired, and start cooking!

 

Roasted Squash Salad with Dates and Spicy Pecans This rich salad of bright yellow squash, honey-and-spice pecans, sweet dates and peppery curly endive makes a great side dish, but it’s also a wonderful light main course on its own.

Ingredient Spotlight: Potatoes The humble potato signals comfort — and it can also be a true workhorse in the kitchen. Here are a few of our best tips for choosing and working with potatoes, plus delicious new ways to prepare them from the Williams-Sonoma Test Kitchen.

Recipe Roundup: Our Spookiest Snacks Halloween is all about theatrics — crazy costumes, eerie decorations and, of course, plenty of festive foods. Get into the spirit with these homemade snacks and sweet treats!

Braised Chicken Thighs with Carrots, Potatoes and Thyme Fresh herbs and sweet carrots update this old-fashioned skillet dinner. Serve with a side of homemade cornbread for a meal that feels homey and special — perfect for fall.

Introducing the Williams-Sonoma Smart Thermometer This week, we are thrilled to announce the launch of the Williams-Sonoma Smart Thermometer, a tool that takes all the guesswork out of perfectly cooked meals. Our product development team worked for more than two years to create the first Wi-Fi-enabled kitchen thermometer in the world — read on to learn how it works!

Q&A with Sorella’s Emma Hearst & Sarah Krathen Famous for authentic northern Italian fare, family-style spirit and old-world glamour, Manhattan’s Sorella is a neighborhood restaurant that has garnered legions of admirers who come for the inspired homemade pastas, creative cocktails and easy conviviality. We talked with owners Emma Hearst and Sarah Krathen about their cooking philosophies, where they find inspiration and their cocktail-naming prowess.

Pumpkin Possibilities: 8 Ways to Use Our Favorite Fall Products Subtly sweet and perfectly spiced, pumpkin is the signature flavor of fall! This year, we looked to some of our best pumpkin food products to bake an array of autumnal treats. Read on for creative ways to use our classics and bring a taste of the season to your table.

Weekend Project: Make Your Own Hard Cider The apple harvest is here! Here, we share our step-by-step guide to making your own hard cider using our kit, developed for us by Elizabeth Ryan of Hudson Valley Farmhouse.

Crunchy Toffee Triangles Chewy and moist on the inside, these indulgent bars get crunch from toffee pieces mixed into the dough and a generous sprinkling of almonds on top. Great for dessert or afternoon tea, these treats also pack well in lunch boxes.

Ham and Gruyere Croque Madame A croque madame is so much more than a grilled ham and cheese. In signature French fashion, this otherwise humble sandwich is drenched in a decadent, cheesy sauce, then broiled in the oven until bubbling and golden. A fried egg on top is the crowning glory.

Pork Rib Ragu with Polenta A bowl of rich, creamy polenta and hearty braised pork ribs suits an leisurely autumn night to perfection. Feel free to make the pork ahead if you’re short on time — it’s even better the next day.