“What do you want to do for dinner?” I haven’t had to think about that since I got a subscription to Bon Appétit as a gift this year. Here’s are my favorite recipes for the first six months of 2024, with notes on modifications and whether the effort is worth it or not.

January

Gnocchi-Leek Soup with Greens (Feb. 2024) The light lemon broth is really nice with the dense gnocchi. Frying the shallots for crispy toppings seems like a pain but it’s worth it.

Double Pepper Diavolo with Shrimp (Feb. 2024) I would have liked more of the roasted red pepper and anchovy flavors to come through. Overall it’s just another basic red sauce.

Broccolini and Walnut Pesto Pasta (Feb. 2024) One of the best pesto recipes I’ve tried! Don’t go overboard and double the garlic like usual.

February

French Onion Tart (Feb. 2024) Any recipe that says it takes 15 minutes to caramelize onions should be regarded with suspicion. The tart was delicious but probably not worth the effort.

One-Pot Broccoli Mac and Cheese (Mar. 2024) I was surprised how well this recipe worked with just one pot. I added more cheese at the end to thicken it.

Elote-Style Corn Soup (Mar. 2024) A light and creamy corn chowder, super easy to make. I used scorpion pepper sea salt instead of chili powder and regular salt.

March

Walnut Pesto (Feb. 2024) I made a double batch of this pesto again, it makes a great base for pizza and it freezes well.

Cajun Shrimp Fried Rice (Mar. 2024) I added some chopped celery and hot sauce. This will definitely get made again, it makes a great filling for shrimp burritos.

Kimchi Udon with Scallions (Mar. 2024) You probably don’t need the last 3 tablespoons of butter. I served it with some grilled marinated tofu on top.

Cherry-Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies (Mar. 2024) Unless you specifically need them to be gluten-free, these cookies are extra work. I’ll definitely make these again but use regular flour next time.

Roasted Cauliflower with Turmeric Sauce (Mar. 2024) The sauce was super easy to make and can be paired with a number of other vegetables besides cauliflower.

Everyone’s Favorite Gado-Gado (Apr. 2024) The tofu soy glaze is great, but otherwise it’s just another basic dish with peanut sauce and vegetables.

April

Gochujang-Butter-Braised Tofu (Apr. 2024) The recipe was a little vague and it looked nothing like the photograph, but it turned out great. It received the household’s highest honor: no leftovers.

Lentil Soup with Greens and Rice (Apr. 2024) A hearty soup that can be customized with a variety of green herbs, I used parsley.

One-Pot Pantry Orzo with Chickpeas (Apr. 2024) This is delicious pot of cheesy tomato goodness (minus the olives). One big pot will feed an entire family, or 2 people for several days.

Cajun Shrimp Fried Rice (Mar. 2024) Added extra sautéed vegetables to make more Cajun shrimp burritos.

May

Green Ribollita (May 2024) A standard white bean vegetable soup, although the bread disintegrates quickly; either eat it all at once or add the bread as needed.

Pecan Sandie Wedges (May 2024) Honestly the easiest shortbread recipe ever! The wedges came out perfectly, even though I used a larger springform pan so they were thinner but still didn’t crumble into pieces.

Broccoli Spoon Salad with Warm Vinaigrette (May 2024) Delicious crunchy salad of raw broccoli with a hint of sweetness. Unlike lettuce salads, it’s still crispy and not wilted the day after adding the dressing.

One-Pot Pantry Orzo with Chickpeas (Apr. 2024) I should just start keeping orzo, capers, tomato paste, and chickpeas in my kitchen at all times.

Egg Drop Dumpling Soup (May 2024) Why have I never put frozen dumplings in a soup before? The “egg drop” part was a bit tricky, I would probably just use miso paste in the future.

June

Broccoli Spoon Salad with Warm Vinaigrette (May 2024) I made this salad for my seven-course Hobbit Feast because I could assemble it ahead of time (and it’s delicious).

Sulguk (Alcohol Stew) (May 2024) This ramen contains zero alcohol but apparently is a great Korean hangover cure. I used Field Roast spicy chipotle sausages and vegetable broth.

Broccolini and Walnut Pesto Pasta (Feb. 2024) Made the full recipe again with pasta and vegetables, not just the pesto.

Ginger Fried Rice (June/July 2024) Simple fried rice recipe that’s not much different than any other. I won’t save this specific recipe, but I may start adding ginger to my rice in the future.

Gochujang-Butter- Braised Tofu (Apr. 2024) I made this again to serve with the ginger fried rice – delicious.

One-Pot Pantry Orzo with Chickpeas (Apr. 2024) – All the ingredients are shelf-stable for at least a week and it makes a lot of food, so it’s great for when you have visitors or are coming home from a trip.

Crab Cake Sandwiches (June/July 2024) These were good, but more basic than the Thai crab cakes I’ve made before. The sauce was too salty, I recommend starting with half the seasoning and adjust to taste. And the leftovers make a great crab salad.

Stay tuned for Part Two of testing Bon Appetit recipes!

Plus a list of the top new dishes that I made again and again in 2024.