Potato, Quinoa, and Cumin Hash Browns

Cacio e pepe is a social media sensation. Everywhere you look, there are live-action pasta lifts of creamy, pepper-flecked, twirl-worthy mounds of this classic pasta dish. But this "new" foodie fodder is actually rooted in ancient Roman cuisine. To learn how to make this marvel from scratch, Guillermo travels to New York’s Seaport district to meet with world renowned chef Jordan Frosolone, and learn how he makes his “Best of NYC” (an honor bestowed by New York Magazine) dish. Chef Jordan is currently the executive chef at 10 Corso Como, an imported Italian restaurant/gallery concept that has become a celebrity darling since its opening last year. From its kitchen he shows Guillermo how to make pasta from scratch the traditional way, and how to successfully make this incredibly simple dish, that just requires precision and attention to detail.

These colorful little sandwich cookies turn us all into kids in a candy store. They’re so perfect that the idea of making them is intimidating — but fear not! To learn how to make them, Guillermo met with master pâtissier Jayce Baudry, the executive pastry chef for Daniel Boulud's Épiceries. The chef taught us tricks and techniques to make the process manageable, even for an amateur baker at home.

Store-bought hummus is convenient but you haven't lived until you've made your own. For this episode of Chow-To, we visit chef Eden Grinshpan at her Middle Eastern-inspired restaurant DEZ in New York City to find out how to make hummus that is way better than the kind you'll find in a store. Guillermo and Eden make a traditional version, and then, to make things more interesting, they take it to the next level with Eden’s signature Beet Meze. This delicious vegan, gluten-free, protein-packed base is easier to make than most people think.

A hearty, flavorful hash should be in every Southern cook’s repertoire. And this recipe, made with russet potatoes, bell peppers, onions, and thick-cut bacon, is so easy to make that you’ll have it memorized in no time.

Quinoa holds strong as one of our favorite ingredients for the healthy cook: a quick-cooking, gluten-free whole grain that’s also a good source of protein. Quinoa is ideal in soups and stews because the grains don’t soak up too much liquid.

This salad is the antidote to an indulgent, holiday food hangover. Crisp greens and bright parsley add much-needed freshness to leftover roasted vegetables, and quinoa as a grain base makes this a filling, protein-packed meal that can stand alone.