Q: I bought a rather expensive hunk of cotija cheese for our Cinco de Mayo tacos. What else can I do with it besides add to salads?

Sent by Diane

If you don't have a garden, or curbside compost, you might think composting isn't for you. But guess what — you can still join the compost party, even if you're an apartment dweller or suffer from a black thumb. Read on for ways to turn your kitchen scraps into soil and make sure it's put to good use...

Wine Pairing is a more of a wine term or a concept than a wine word. It is also a term that can be controversial, ambiguous and even cause anxiety. I am not one for imposing rigid rules when it comes to wine pairing, so what I offer are tips and guidelines rather than hard and fast rules.

How would you like to come home tonight to the aroma of roasting potatoes and know that all you have to do is pull out a foil package and add the butter? Oh, yes, this kind of instant dinner gratification is totally possible. All you have to do is grab some potatoes and take your slow cooker down from the shelf.

Hello. My name is Dana and I am addicted to cookbooks. I'm only half joking here. The truth is that I have a huge cookbook collection, and try as I might, it doesn't look like I'm going to stop adding to it any time soon. What I have managed to do is learn to control it some. Read on for a few helpful hints for managing a cookbook obsession.

Q: I am planning my wedding for October and would love to have some homemade desserts. We live four hours from our wedding venue and would need dishes that can travel well and still be good up to 48 hours later. Any ideas for small desserts other than cookies that would work?

Sent by Michelle

Do you know the quickest way to dull a knife? Turns out there are three. I'm the first to admit I've done two out of three of these things at one time or another, but now I know better — and you can, too! 

No one intends to waste food, but things happen — an overenthusiastic shopping spree at the farmers' market, an unexpected string of meals eaten out instead of at home, a container of mystery leftovers lurking in the back of the fridge. Fortunately, a lot of food waste can be prevented by integrating little habits into your cooking routine. Not only will you save food, but you'll save money, too.

Q: What are the best dairy substitutes for savory recipes? As in cheese- or cream-based dishes? I've read about replacing milk with almond milk or coconut milk for baking and sweet foods, but they sound like they would be too sweet for a pasta sauce or casseroles. 

So you've scraped a vanilla bean to use in in a recipe — don't toss it! Vanilla beans or pods aren't cheap, so you might as well make the most of them. Plus they still have plenty of fragrance and flavor. How about using them to make your own vanilla extract?