When one of my followers threw down the gauntlet on social media, challenging me to help them master onion bhaji in an air fryer, I couldn’t resist a callback to  …

  Air Fry, Cheap, Indian, Snack, Vegan, Vegetarian

The first real cold snap of the season has arrived, bringing with it that primal craving for something warm, hearty, and deeply satisfying. When the temperature drops and you need  …

  Autumn, Bean, Cheap, Indian, InstaPot, Soup, Stew, Vegetarian, Winter

When Code Calls for Comfort: Garlic Noodles for the Technical Soul There’s a moment in every deep work session when your brain starts to fog, your eyes burn from staring  …

  American, Asian, Cheap, Cultural-Misappropriation, Pasta, Quick, Stolen from the Net, Vegetarian

In Memoriam: Carlos Dominguez, Friend, pack member, and apprentice. Mornings in the Mid-Hudson valley are getting crisp. I see hints of frost on the grass; all this tells me that  …

  American, Autumn, Cheap, InstaPot, Slow Cook, Stew, Winter

Every party needs its signature dish, and at Bad Wolf birthday celebrations, nothing draws a crowd quite like our trio of mini smoked sausages. These bite-sized powerhouses have become legendary  …

  American, Autumn, Barbecue, InstaPot, Pub Food, Slow Cook, Snack

There I was, prowling through the not-so-mega mart when those bright green Granny Smith apples caught my eye. “What have we here?” I growled with delight. “These tart little beauties  …

  American, Autumn, Bread, Breakfast, Cast Iron, Fried, Fruit, Quick, Snack, Vegetarian, Winter

Wandering the local not-so-mega mart, (Wh*le F**ds, Please come to the Mid-Hudson Valley), I note a 2 for one sale on mega family packs of chicken. Now, what to do  …

  Asian, Cheap, Cultural-Misappropriation, Follow On, Gravy, Indo-Chinese, Slow Cook, Stew

Madam BadWolf and I have lived in the Mid-Hudson Valley for close to 40 years. We’ve seen ice storms, heavy snow, high winds, and the occasional fool doing 70 on  …

  Autumn, General, Global, Preservation, Winter

As spoken prior in this series, “As the great social intelligence test and herd culling experiment continues, I find myself considering the wisdom my grandparents displayed in a well stocked  …

  General, Global, Pantry

Why do people in upstate New York lock their car doors in September? To keep people from putting zucchini in the car. If you’ve ever grown zucchini — or had  …

  Asian, Autumn, Cast Iron, Cheap, Stir-Fry, Summer, Vegetarian

As fall and winter start to creep around the corner, I have an urge to stock up on staples, beans, rice, pasta, and the all-time teenage go-to Ramen. (No, I’m  …

  American, Asian, Cheap, Cultural-Misappropriation, Global, Quick, Soup, Winter

LS;NT (Long Story; No Time) – I needed an impressive dish that was fast, good, and cheap. So I waylaid three of my favorite cuisines in a dark kitchen cabinet,  …

  Asian, Cast Iron, Cheap, Cultural-Misappropriation, Indian, Indo-Chinese, Thai, Vegetarian

For over a century, the U.S. Senate restaurant has served navy bean soup daily. This tradition reportedly began in the early 1900s when Senator Fred Dubois of Idaho requested it  …

  American, Autumn, Basics, Bean, Cheap, Pantry, Winter

Whilst at the not-so-mega-mart, I walked by the meat counter, thinking I would pick up a ribeye and have an old-fashioned steakhouse-style meal. That was until I saw the costs  …

  American, Braise, Cheap, German, Global, Gravy, Simmer, Slow Cook

It is late summer, Madam BadWolf and I stopped at the farm stand for one last grasp of summer goodness. Standing alone was a display of peaches. Walking up to  …

  American, Autumn, Dessert, Fruit, Southern