Online Recipes

February 12, 2005 9:34 AM

Anyone have any trustworthy online sources for recipes? Right now, I'm looking for a good baked ziti recipe, but I'm also looking for recommendations for the future. (more inside)

I’ve misplaced my favorite baked ziti recipe, and I was planning on making one for dinner tomorrow night. I think I originally found it on HBO’s website, as “Carmella Soprano’s Baked Ziti”. Since then, HBO has put out the Soprano’s Family Cookbook, but I searched the book on Amazon.com, and that’s not the same ziti recipe. I’ve looked at recipes on The Food Network, Cooking Light, and Gourmet Magazine, but can’t find one that suits my needs. I’m looking for a recipe that includes sausage, ricotta cheese along with the mozzarella and doesn’t use pasta sauce from a jar.

posted by amarynth to Food & Drink (17 answers total)

Best answer: I always use Epicurious.com for my recipes.

As for the ziti recipe, I recently tried this one from Fine Cooking Magazine. It was simple to make and delicious. Hope it is what you're looking for.
posted by amelliferae at 9:47 AM on February 12, 2005

I use allrecipes all the time.
Check the reviews for great hints to make the recipes even better.
posted by j at 9:49 AM on February 12, 2005

allrecipes is awesome. the search by ingredients feature is a key feature.
posted by whatzit at 9:56 AM on February 12, 2005

I'm partial to Recipe Source, formerly SOAR. They have 12 entries for "baked ziti."
posted by QIbHom at 10:34 AM on February 12, 2005

Saveur

The most authentic, the best of the best. Epicurious is the best for quantity of recipes, Saveur for quality and Food Network for specific chefs' recipes.
posted by scazza at 10:38 AM on February 12, 2005

I've been using epicurious and all recipes (both are good.) but I'm planning to try the recipe files at my two favorite PBS cooking shows: Jacques Pepin, Fast Food my Way and America's Test Kitchen.
posted by sophie at 11:21 AM on February 12, 2005

Take a look at Cook's Illustrated (it costs money though).
posted by fourstar at 11:56 AM on February 12, 2005

Best answer: I'll second (third?) AllRecipes. They not only have plenty of recipes, but the ratings & reviews are invaluable. You'll also notice that some of the recipes are highlighted as appearing in their recipe books -- I find that these are especially foolproof (and delicious) and I usually go for these if I'm undecided among several recipes for the same dish.
posted by Handcoding at 12:13 PM on February 12, 2005

Recipe*zaar (baked ziti) and Food Network (baked ziti).
posted by quam at 12:24 PM on February 12, 2005

Recipe Source is my go-to.
posted by CunningLinguist at 2:20 PM on February 12, 2005

I like Recipezaar and Recipe Source, but the first place I search is most often Usenet via Google.
posted by Utilitaritron at 3:43 PM on February 12, 2005

Well, it's new, but you might want to hit up the recipe wiki, Wikipes and maybe contribute a little yeself.

When you find out the full recipe, write up something and submit it, maybe.
posted by Lockeownzj00 at 5:06 PM on February 12, 2005

Google. Just put in what you're looking for, and it will give you direct links to all the recipe sites listed here. Never fails me. Baked Ziti. If necessary, you can search for Baked Ziti Recipes.
posted by jewishbuddha at 10:07 PM on February 12, 2005

Response by poster: Google does get a lot of results, but it's too many. I feel overwhelmed trying to sort out which recipe sounds like a good one.

Thanks, everyone. I have a lot of new bookmarks. I had looked at AllRecipes, but somehow missed the ratings and reviews, which are really helpful. I just got back from Whole Foods, where I bought everything I needed for the Fine Cooking ziti recipe. I'll let you know how it turns out.
posted by amarynth at 10:24 AM on February 13, 2005

I know you asked for websites, but I wanted to mention how much I love The New Best Recipe by Cooks Illustrated.

"A literal encyclopedia of recipes (culled from the magazine) ... known for careful (some would say compulsive) testing of recipes with a focus on foolproof technique; detailed line drawings that take readers step-by-step through recipes; and opinionated guides that assert that their way is the best way. This methodology appeals particularly to a specific kind of cook, one with a primarily scientific rather than artistic or intuitive approach to cooking. ... Even the simplest tasks, such as blanching vegetables or peeling an egg, are explained and illustrated in detail. More involved techniques include brining poultry and roasting a turkey."

Before I cook anything new I'll read about it in this book, and then also scan the Joy of Cooking.

I hope this is at least somewhat helpful.
posted by fourstar at 7:30 PM on February 13, 2005

Response by poster: The ziti was delicious, but when they say that it serves 4, they must mean 4 lumberjacks.

"The New Best Recipe" seems right up my alley. Thanks, fourstar!
posted by amarynth at 9:48 AM on February 14, 2005

Hm. I think you and I have used the same recipe (from the HBO page that's no longer available) and I don't remember sausage in the ingredient list (if you want it, my e-mail is in my profile). I do, however, second the recommendation for Epicurious, and encourage you to Google around not just for "baked ziti" but "world's best" "baked ziti" recipe or something similar. I've narrowed the field effectively that way for common dishes - people who boast about their recipes are more often than not better cooks than average.
posted by deliriouscool at 6:44 AM on February 16, 2005