Frugal Kitchen

[Editor's Note: Many people feel strongly about eggplant—I happen to be one of the people who feels strongly in favor of it. This recipe highlights it well, but uses cumin and smoked paprika for a slightly Middle Eastern, smoky edge to the dish. Plus, I love adding dishes to my repertoire that can be on the table quickly on busy weeknights, and this definitely qualifies! --Genie]  Read more

This week, Mario Batali made news as he announced how hungry he has been while taking the Food Stamp Challenge, an effort to make it through the week while spending no more than $31 total for all 21 meals and any snacks. Batali and his family are discovering how hard it is to fit meat into one's diet at the low price-per-meal covered by food stamps, and they're reportedly eating lots of rice and beans and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. But Rachel Bolden-Kramer of Hip Dhamma is also taking the challenge alongside Batali and his family, I love her approach, which focuses on whole and healthy foods, as well as on guaranteed money-savers like looking beyond the grocery store.  Read more

[Editor's Note: Like A Sweet Spoonful's Megan Gordon, I was quite taken with Tamar Adler's recent book, An Everlasting Meal. Though this simple breakfast dish is not inspired by the book itself, it's certainly inspired by its philosophy of economy and simplicity when it comes to food. It doesn't hurt that it's delicious and quite healthy, too. --Genie]  Read more

Canned and fresh tuna is something a lot of us take for granted, but the fact is, this big game fish may not be found in our oceans much longer. Overfishing has threatened the world's tuna population and now scientists are scrambling to figure out how best to save the stock that's left. It's a precious fish, one that should be eaten thoughtfully and, if you happen upon more than you can eat, preserved for later.  Read more

[Editor's Note: Lesley of Recipe for Crazy had one wish: To be able to make the same kind of white queso dip she found at Mexican restaurants at home. After a lot of research and experimentation, she managed to figure out the secret, and now we're lucky enough to get the benefit of her new-found knowledge! Read on to learn the secrets to making this cheesy dip right in your own kitchen. --Genie]  Read more

[Editor's Note: One of my favorite go-to, easy dishes when I want something quick and satisfying is pasta tossed with butter, salt and parsley. The flavor combination is comforting, yet bright (thanks to the parsley). But I love this variation on that theme—browning the butter deepens the flavor and makes the dish a little richer (and a little more grown up), and the crunch of bread crumbs adds texture to the dish. --Genie]  Read more