When you work in an office where your colleagues feel more like friends, conversations occasionally veer into non-work topics. At ATK, they’re still almost always related to food.

Recently, the question going around the office was a particularly fun one: If you had only five ATK recipes on a desert island to eat for the rest of your life, which would you include?

This is a tough call. Magically, I assume this island has appliances, my favorite chef’s knife, and all the other gear I need, from a Dutch oven to a 12-inch stainless steel skillet. Plus all the ingredients.

Since I plan to take my husband along, Steak Frites is essential. French fries are secretly his favorite food, and this is a brilliant, compact recipe with perfect results. Even if we’re deserted on an island, we’ll always have Paris. 

For variety, and because it always comes out exactly as gorgeous as the photos and twice as delicious, Chicken Shawarma is on my list. It’s colorful, delightful, and comforting at the same time. 

I’ll never get tired of Vietnamese Summer Rolls. When I order them in a restaurant, there are never quite enough because suddenly everybody wants to share. Make them yourself, and that’s not a problem. Plus, there’s no delivery on this island, I’m pretty sure. This recipe is beautiful, fresh, cool, and satisfying. 

Fougasse hits all the buttons in my lifelong bread affair, so it’ll do for eternity. Especially as someone who is mostly here for the crust, its crisp chewiness is my dream come true. 

For dessert, I’ll always have a stash of Fairy Gingerbread Cookies. This recipe was developed many years ago, but the memory has never faded. There’s simply nothing like them. Delicate, extremely crisp, with just enough sweetness. (Though I will insist that my island supplies tea and coffee to enjoy with them.)

Finally, I’m going to cheat and make a sixth choice. If I’m stranded on a desert island, I’m going to want a cocktail at sunset. I love the smooth, icy-cold herb-and-citrus sensation of a Basil Daiquiri.

You know what? This is actually a pretty awesome meal plan. Anchors aweigh! I’m ready.