Tag: Food & Dining

Wild Mushroom Butter

Wild mushrooms are delicious but can be hard to come by, and this recipe makes a little go a long way. Boletes, chanterelle, and oyster mushrooms are a natural fit, but you might also use the woodsy Hawk’s wings or vibrant red lobster mushrooms. If you can’t find wild mushrooms, cultivated varieties from any grocery…


Wild Mushroom Soup

Mushrooms have a deep savory flavor that blends beautifully with thyme and cream. If you can’t find wild mushrooms, you can use cultivated mushrooms. The trick is to use a variety of them, which gives the soup its best flavor. Serves 6 2 tablespoons butter 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 1 medium shallot, coarsely…


One Step to Better Pumpkin Bread

Quick breads should be moist but not soggy, so we often need to get rid of extra liquid in the batter. In some recipes, like zucchini bread, we squeeze all the excess water out of the shredded zucchini to avoid a soggy loaf. We can’t squeeze our pumpkin puree (that would be messy!), but cooking…


Tarte Normande: A Classic French Apple Tart With Local Flavor

Famous for its bucolic villages, lush apple orchards, and storied dairy farms, Normandy is a northern French region that produces exceptional apples, Calvados, butter, and crème fraîche—all of which collide in the delicious Tarte Normande. This iconic regional dessert features a sandy, buttery crust filled with juicy apple wedges, nestled in a Calvados-infused custard. It’s…


A Back-Pocket Pasta Recipe

If you’re looking for a pasta dish that’s comforting and easy to make, look no further. This features a traditional pasta sauce recipe found in most Italian cookbooks, made by simmering garlic in olive oil to make a simple sauce known as aglio e olio. Serve with a basic green salad or sautéed greens, such…


The Best Sweet Corn Tricks Ever—Plus More Great Reader Tips

Last week’s mail certainly proved my theory that we have the best expert community going on here at Everyday Cheapskate. Even better, we’re willing to share. Microwave Corn on the Cob Dear Mary: I wish to share a sweet corn trick with you and your readers that allows you to cook fresh corn in the…


Edible Vessels: Decorative and Delicious

There is something supremely satisfying about consuming an entire dish, including, well, the dish itself. Presenting food in food, or edible vessels, isn’t only efficient and no-waste, but it’s often highly decorative. Certain foods lend themselves to standing in for a bowl or a container. A prime example is winter squash. These hardy vegetables have…


Wine Waiters: Tales and Tips

As we resume dining out, a few things might have changed during the pandemic shutdowns, and one of them is wine service. When people who are skilled in serving wine in restaurants are laid off for 18 months, many end up taking positions in other fields, leaving some restaurants with inexperienced servers. Experienced wine servers…


Start Your Morning Right With Berry Chia Pudding

Chia seeds are a good source of healthy omega-3 fatty acids, plus they have fiber, iron, and calcium. Here, they’re mixed with a fruity base and refrigerated until the chia seeds expand to form a thick, creamy texture similar to tapioca. Berry Chia Pudding Active Time: 5 minutes Total Time: 8 hours, 5 minutes Serves…


Brown Butter Zucchini Bread Is an Autumnal Delight

This version of zucchini bread is by far my favorite. Brown butter kicks up the flavor a few notches, and the crusty sugar topping adds an additional surprise. To me, this bread signals that autumn is upon us. It’s also a yummy way to use up any surplus summer squash. There is no need to…