I’m all about healthy 30 minute meals like this Pasta with Sun Dried Tomato and Almond Pesto that come together from the pantry without a trip to the store. It’s frugal eating…
Cranberry Relish with Horseradish and Sour Cream is an adaptation of a 1959 Craig Claiborne recipe made famous as Mama Stamberg’s cranberry relish on NPR’s All Things Considered. It’s a fabulously…
My Quick Rainbow Giardiniera is a colorful riff on the classic Italian relish ~ my vibrant version makes use of some of the more unique veggies in the produce aisle. Enjoy…
Quick Pickled Rainbow Carrots ~ these refrigerator pickles, or ‘quickles’, are ready in 24 hours ~ they make a colorful side dish, they perk up salads, and make the healthiest, crunchiest…
Are you ready for some instant pickle gratification? My Quick and Spicy Refrigerator Pickles are ready in under an hour ~ and because they’re not processed in a hot water bath,…
This 20 Minute Pink Applesauce recipe adds the perfect hint of sweetness to every meal, whether it’s a holiday feast or simple weeknight dinner ~ and just look at that pretty…
Everything Croutons will take your salad from bunny food to bodacious with their big bold crunch and outrageous flavor. Everybody loves everything!…
New Potato Salad with 30 Second Aioli is the potato salad of your dreams, made with an extraordinary creamy and garlicky aioli, from scratch. Summer is about to get a whole…
Perfect Gravy Without the Bird ~ this is an amazing hack for making gravy without any drippings, so no need for a bird or a roast in the oven. With this…
This unique Shrimp Salad with Grapefruit Mayonnaise is light and refreshing, and full of zesty flavor ~ the grapefruit mayonnaise is one of my 30 second miracle recipes!…
Homemade Clotted Cream ~ (aka Devonshire or Cornish Cream) this luxurious spreadable cream is a must for afternoon tea and scones, but no need to buy those pricey little imported bottles,…
How to Make Homemade Old Fashioned Relish ~ I say old fashioned, but of course this homemade pickle relish has been Great Island-ized with some hot peppers, and a little bit…
Yes, you read that right. Gin and Tonic Refrigerator Pickles ~ alcoholic pickles! Beautiful little Persian cucumbers basically pickled in a giant G&T. Gin, (I like Hendrick’s) tonic water, lime, and…
30 Second Caesar Salad Dressing— this creamy, rich salad dressing comes together almost instantly using your immersion blender…it’s a real game changer! The creamy dressing can be used on salads, as…
This White Grapefruit Vinegar is a flavor bomb. You will love using it in so many ways. It’s the same basic formula as my BLOOD ORANGE VINEGAR, but now that the…
It might surprise you to know that some of my biggest thrills here at TVFGI have involved vinegar. Making fruit vinegars, to be exact, and the revelation that they can be…
Crock Pot Cranberry Butter is an impossibly silky, tangy fruit butter that is made right in the slow cooker ~ you’ll want to slather this easy cranberry jam on toast, scones,…
Homemade Steak Sauce ~ a creative way to make your own custom steak sauce at home, in your own kitchen! This diy steak sauce makes the perfect holiday gift.…
Wild Porcini Salt Recipe ~ this simple homemade finishing salt will take so many of your recipes to the next level, it makes a great host gift, too!…
Homemade Green Tabasco Sauce & a Green Martini ~ make your own spicy green Tabasco style hot sauce and use it to make a fabulous cocktail, then put it on all…
Quick and Easy Pickled Red Onions are a simple easy refrigerator pickle project to add to your repertoire ~ they’re not only beautiful, they’re a workhorse when it comes to jazzing…
Fresh Raspberry Vinegar ~ the intense fresh berry flavor of this homemade vinegar is going to wake up your salads, and so much more!…
5 Fruity Salad Dressing Recipes ~ a great salad dressing can make even a pile of lettuce exciting, and these dressings are so good you almost want to eat them on…
30-Second Mayonnaise is the perfect storm of recipes. Just 2 ingredients, 30 seconds, and you have one of the great sauces in culinary history.…
8 Fresh Salsas for Cinco de Mayo ~ celebrate the season with these fresh juicy salsas, just add friends, margaritas, and plenty of chips!…
Fried Green Heirloom Tomatoes with Saffron Aioli ~ traditional Southern fried green tomatoes are made with tart, unripe green tomatoes, but I’m using beautiful green heirloom tomatoes instead. …
How to Preserve Lemons ~ Moroccan preserved lemons is a unique condiment that brightens up a lot of Middle Eastern recipes but can be hard to find in stores ~ I’ll…
Homemade Caribbean Habanero Hot Sauce ~ this homemade hot sauce is the real deal, and easy to make in your own kitchen, if you dare!…
Walnuts and pears say classic English Christmas to me. I envision this Spiced Pear and Walnut Chutney served along with some sharp farmhouse cheddar and oat biscuits, or spooned on top…
How to Make Pomegranate Molasses ~ an easy method for making this authentic classic Middle Eastern condiment right in your own kitchen with pomegranate juice!…
A Trio of Finishing Salts makes a super fun diy project for the holidays ~ who wouldn’t want these vibrant flavor boosters in their kitchen? Do your friends a favor, put…
Mini Corn Dogs with Onion Sauce ~ just like the ones that come from the street carts on the streets of New York City, only in miniature!…
Hot Pepper Honey ~ an easy recipe that infuses the hot kick of spicy peppers into sweet honey for a fabulous pairing with cheese and crackers. This spicy honey is an…
How to Make Homemade Mustard ~ my version is hot, sweet, and smokey! This is a homemade recipe for one of the most beloved condiments…and you can customize it in endless…
Spiked Cranberry Sauce with Hard Cider and Spiced Rum ~ better set aside a few of grandma’s crystal bowls for this sauce, it’s going to be popular. It looks like ordinary…
Chimichurri Sauce is a glorious, garlicky herb sauce meant for slathering over grilled meats. It’s the Argentinian version of a pesto, and it’s fabulous! Use it with chicken, fish, tacos, and…
This Spicy Mango Persimmon Chutney is an authentic Indian style condiment made to go alongside a wonderful curry, but it’s equally at home as an appetizer with cheese and crackers, or…
How to Make Flower Infused Vinegars ~ infused vinegars are fun to make, and so pretty. These delicate floral infusions can be used to make subtly flavored dressings for all kinds…
Ketchup is a complex and venerable old sauce with a ton of fascinating ingredients — no one is quite sure where it originated, but everybody agrees it’s an absolute necessity in…
Cantaloupe Habanero Salsa ~ this unique salsa is delightful ~ I used a juicy ripe melon, lots of colorful veggies, fresh cilantro, and a super fiery habanero pepper for a powerhouse…
I think we can all agree that basil pesto is one of the world’s great foods. It’s so great that it’s easy to forget about all the other interesting variations of…
Hearts of Lettuce with Thousand Island Dressing is a delicious salad with tons of vintage charm. The homemade Thousand Island Dressing recipe is one you’ll use over and over.…
Roasted Purple Potatoes with Pesto ~ a no-recipe recipe for a colorful and healthy side dish!…
This Artichoke Lemon Pesto is made quickly and easily in the food processor. It’s the perfect accompaniment to a simple pasta dish or on bruschetta!…
Easy DIY Spice Blends ~ this fun project involves blending together your own custom spice mixes and packaging them up for fabulous holiday food gifts. Just be sure to make enough…
Great Island Spice Blend ~ a blend of spices you can make yourself to use in all kinds of recipes. Grind it right into some fabulous olive oil for an easy…