When I first started making creamy tomato sauces, I could never figure out why the cream didn’t blend in properly. Then I learned what really happens: when cold cream meets the acidity of tomatoes, it reacts and separates. The trick is simple. Let the cream come to room temperature before adding it, and balance the sauce with a small pinch of sugar. Ever since I started doing that, the sauce turns out silky and smooth every time. This version has become my weeknight staple. J

Some recipes just become part of the rhythm of your kitchen. This creamy garlic chicken pasta is exactly that for us. It’s cozy, rich, and full of flavor, yet so simple to throw together on a weeknight. The juicy seared chicken pairs perfectly with the silky crème fraîche sauce, infused with garlic and topped off with plenty of parmesan. Every time we make it, someone asks for seconds—and that’s when you know you’ve got a keeper. If crème fraîche isn’t available where you are

If there’s one dinner that’s guaranteed to make everyone at the table happy, it’s a bowl of creamy orzo loaded with juicy meatballs and...