Ode to My… Category

Ode to My Houdini Wine Preserver

In: Kitchen Tools, Ode to My…

I love cooking with wine, but neither my husband nor I are big wine drinkers, and we rarely finish a bottle at a sitting. So when we saw the Houdini Wine Preserver on super sale last Black Friday, we were really excited.
The rubber stoppers seal the wine, and the vacuum pump easily pumps out excess [...]

About twice a year our favorite local grocer goes nuts and cuts meat prices down to ridiculous levels. A pork tenderloin for $2, boneless skinless chicken breasts for $1 a pound. Before the FoodSaver, we cursed our inability to stock up on such deals because everything would just freezerburn. Now, however, we’ll invest nearly 2 [...]

Ode to My DaVinci EVOO

In: Food Products, Ode to My…

When America’s Test Kitchen recommends a product, I tend to listen. So when I was trying to decide whether to spend a great deal of money on an olive oil or to go with a basic one, I turned to them for help. And hallelujah, did they deliver.
I’ve tried a number of “whatever’s on sale” [...]

No more excuses. You need a garlic press and you need to crush your own garlic. Seriously, it’s not that hard.

I Confess…

All my cakes come from boxes. My spaghetti sauce isn't from scratch, and I think making my own pasta and bread (unless it comes from a mix…) is rarely worth the effort. I believe individually frozen chicken breasts and ready-made pie crusts are among the best inventions ever. Through these menus, recipes, tips and recommendations, I hope to show that the options for creative cooking are limitless, even when time and money are not.

Flickr PhotoStream

    Chicken Molé EnchiladasCornbread CrabcakesChili MacCornbread CrabcakesSpicy Eggplant Stir FryPan-Seared Tuna with SushiJamaican Jerk TurkeySteak Pasta with Basil Cream Sauce