Some people see vacation as an escape from cooking, but I often find that time in the kitchen is much more relaxing when I'm on a trip. Unfortunately, most rental kitchens aren't stocked with the right tools and ingredients to make vacation cooking what it should be: simple, flexible and above all, pleasurable. But you can ensure your own happiness by packing these ten items on your next trip.

Even though you can ask your guests to bring alcohol, I always feel a little lame asking folks to contribute, especially when I can throw a great feast on my own. Alcohol can be a large expense, so if you're looking to cut costs and spend your dough on the food, try this simple formula for a refreshing dinner party sipper. 

This week we're sharing the second party in our Gatherings from The Kitchn series, an elegant, make-ahead spring brunch I hosted for my book club. I often admire the intricately-styled table settings on design and wedding blogs, but they rarely seem realistic for my budget or styling capabilities. My goal for this party was to create a table that was inspirational, not just aspirational; in other words, a table that could move from Pinterest to reality without requiring a degree in design or hundreds of dollars. Here are four concrete tips for putting together a special, stylish table on a small budget.

How do you store your fresh herbs? Do you ever find them getting slimy in the back of the crisper drawer? Reader Jess just sent us this great tip for keeping herbs fresh for a long time. We've seen this before, but she illustrated it really well — take a look! More

If you are cooking your meals instead of eating out, you are already saving a lot of money — but these 15 tips offer ways to save even more. This year we showed you how to extend the life of delicate (and pricey!) summer berries, instantly improve the taste of inexpensive balsamic vinegar, vacuum seal without any special equipment, preserve fresh herbs by freezing them in olive oil, and more money-saving tricks to make the most of your grocery shopping budget. More

We talk often enough about buying from bulk bins that you probably know the drill by now: buy in bulk, save some pennies, and forgo all the packaging. And yes, the term "bulk" implies that you should stock up and fill all your bags to the brim. But here's the thing, you don't have to. More

Holiday baking doesn't have to be a big, expensive production. With a little planning and some careful shopping, you can turn out a generous parade of cakes, cookies and candies on a less-than-generous budget. Here are five tips for baking up a storm without breaking the bank: More

The cost of a good steak has gone up in recent years. So we are here to offer an alternative — beef heart. What? Cooking beef heart at home sounds scary and a little weird? The folks at NPR say you can do it! More

Nutty, nourishing brown rice is a great addition to rice bowls and the perfect accompaniment to stir-fries, but its long cooking time makes it a tough sell for busy weeknight dinners. Packaged, precooked brown rice from the frozen section of the supermarket makes preparation quick and foolproof enough for last-minute meals — but why pay extra when it is so simple to freeze your own portioned brown rice at home? More

I love beans. They're an inexpensive, healthy and tasty protein that I eat at least a couple times a week. But I don't love canned beans, which I find flavorless and mushy compared to beans cooked from scratch. So instead of relying on canned beans for quick weeknight meals, I've started cooking big batches of from-scratch beans and freezing them, so I always have perfectly cooked beans on hand and ready to thaw for dinner. More