Budget Wine: NV Vilarnau Cava
Region: Penèdes, Spain
Average Price: $15

Deliciously crisp and refreshing with a lively persistent mousse, this great value Cava from Vilarnau is definitely worth seeking out. More

It has been a while since I did a review of Trader Joe's wine offerings. Excited to see what 'spring picks' I could get for circa $10 / bottle I headed off to the New York City store. Overall I was pretty happy with my findings! Here are seven great spring wines, each for a very budget-friendly price. (There's even a print-out guide to take to the store with you!) More

Budget Wine: 2008 Jacob's Creek Reserve Shiraz
Region: Barossa Valley, Australia
Average Price: $10

I first tasted the Jacob's Creek wines about 20 years ago. And I have to say, that for consistency and quality the brand has definitely stood the test of time. More

Our love of meals in jars is no secret, but with their versatility and good looks, jars are useful for holding more than just food on the table. And if a plain glass isn't your thing, we have a few ways to dress up even humble old spaghetti sauce jars. More

Party season is coming up — weddings, graduations, Mother's Day brunch, picnics in the park, and just good old-fashioned dinner parties seem to enjoy their full glory in the springtime. We love having people over to dinner, but the costs can rack up. How do you keep budgetary concerns from blowing your party spirit? Come see some of our favorite posts on the topic, and please — share your own tips and good ideas! More

Budget Wine: 2010 Sepp Moser Zweigelt
Region: Burgenland, Austria
Average Price: $15

A delicious, fresh and fruity, unoaked, Austrian red wine, made from the local Zweigelt grape.

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Budget Wine: 2010 Elios Mediterranean White
Region: Peloponnese, Greece
Average Price: $10

I discovered this gem of a wine about a month ago. Refreshing, crisp, lively, dry, easy- drinking and a steal at about $10. More

We all know the hardships of cooking and eating alone. It can be hard to make an effort to cook a full meal and eat it gracefully, sitting at a table with a napkin and a fork. But the rewards are great; some of my favorite cooking memories were formed in my tiny solo kitchen. And there are other advantages as well: Luxury dinners that we think of as expensive are actually quite economical when cooking for just one. Here are five of my own favorites. More

Katy is an old friend based in Santa Barbara, California. Last year, she shared her cooperative kitchen in Isla Vista, where she cooked dinner for about 30 people each night that she was on cooking duty. Today, Katy and her boyfriend Cassidy invite us to peek into an entirely different kitchen; their tiny cooking spot in their sailboat. This is a creative space where fresh meals are being served up by a gourmand couple who see possibilities within limitations. All aboard!

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Budget Wine: Voveti DOC Prosecco, NV
Average Price: $17

Prosecco: Delicious bubbles for everyday. I am a huge fan of bubbly wine, both for special celebratory occasions and everyday triumphs, like getting through a tough week, finishing an assignment, or just because I feel like having a glass of bubbly!

While Champagne will remain the ultimate sparkling wine of choice for me, it is expensive to drink everyday. Prosecco is one of the most affordable and popular non-Champagne sparkling wines on the market, and who isn't charmed by its delicate floral aromas and alluring gentle mousse? More