Do you have leftover apple peels from making sauce, pie, and other seasonal apple dishes? Instead of tossing them in the compost, simmer the peels on the stove for a sweet scented tea. More

Many times I've wanted to buy funky, specialty pieces of glassware from major retailers, but I always tell myself that it's silly to spend the money when they won't be everyday cups. But if I could make them for less, then maybe the thrifty devil inside of me could cut loose a little. Oh look, here's a tutorial that tells you how to make them! More

Q: I'm a college student with a college apartment kitchen, but my cooking style is a bit more sophisticated than my peers. I unfortunately can't always have all of the ingredients I'd like on hand, but I'm trying to keep a fully stocked shelf of staples for healthy, quick, yet creative and fun meals. Do you have a list of must-haves? More

Looking for an easy, budget-friendly decor idea for your table this Fall? Take a few empty jars, wrap them with twine, and pop in a few plant cuttings! It's a little bit rustic, a little bit romantic. Try eucalyptus or evergreen branches, or even a small gathering of herbs. So pretty! More

How do you find a good wine that's also a good deal? You could go off the recommendation of your local wine store (that's usually what I do), or you could refer to Wine Enthusiast's just-released 2012 Best Buys list. All of the wines on the list have high rankings and—get this—they're all $15 or less! More

Young and tender chard stems require little extra thought, but when the stalks turn thick, and perhaps stringy, it's usually best to trim them from the leaves. That doesn't mean you should toss them in the compost or garbage bin, though. Treat them as another vegetable and you have an ingredient for pickles, gratins, and more. More

I never realized how much I relied on my freezer until I lost it. When I moved to Germany a couple months ago, I was prepared for life with a small, European-style refrigerator. Visions of farmers' markets and straw baskets and homemade ice cream danced through my jet-lag-addled brain, and I was convinced I could cook just like Julia Child. But then I saw the freezer. Somehow I had not made the connection that a miniature refrigerator would of course have only a tiny, baby-sized, vestigial freezer. My ice cream dreams melted. More

I admit that I'm coveting one of those gorgeous ceramic fermentation crocks, either a classic old-school model from Germany or a pretty handmade version from a local potter. But we're talking a major investment here, somewhere around $175-$200. It's a lifetime investment purchase, I know, but I just don't have that kind of cash. So I was thrilled when I discovered that Erica of Northwest Edible came with an alternative plan that comes in at around $10. More

The freezer might be my best friend in the kitchen. I freeze beans, brown rice and cooked leafy greens for quick, healthy meals. I freeze bananas. I freeze calzones. I even freeze whole unbaked pies. All this freezing saves a lot of time and money, but my poor freezer is stuffed — and there's still more I want to freeze! That's why, even though I live in an apartment, I'm seriously considering buying a chest freezer. More

Looking for an easy, reusable solution to labeling foods before you freeze them? Try a dry erase crayon! It's a cheap and washable way to label lids. More