Homemade condiments like from-scratch mayonnaise or mustard make sandwiches extra-special, but I have to admit I'd never thought of making my own tahini sauce — until I saw how easy it is to dress up your falafel with a quick batch of DIY tahini, via the folks at Food52. More

Do you know speculoos, the Belgian cookie that tastes like a caramelized gingerbread cookie? If you haven't yet discovered this tasty treat, stopping by Trader Joe's is a good start. They carry a miraculous spread made from speculoos cookies that's far too easy to eat straight from the jar. But we've never thought of using it to make cookie bars as Butter Me Up Brooklyn has done — read on for more! More

Any fan of the former Gourmet magazine editor Ruth Reichl knows of her kitchen staple: matzo brei. She included the recipe in Gourmet's cookbooks as well as in her own books. But have you tried it? The ultimate in simple comfort food, the dish was also one of the only foods her young son would eat growing up. More

I'm currently on the road, where nutritious, veggie-packed meals are few and far between, and wishing I had a few of these unusual samosas from Sarah of The Yellow House. Inspired by her travels in East Africa, they are baked instead of fried, made with whole wheat flour and lots of vegetables, and taste good hot or cold. It's an American twist on the African version of an Indian snack — intrigued? More

Cotton candy: Usually finding this sweet treat means you're at an amusement park. Have you ever seen a cotton candy machine? They're rather large, impractical contraptions, and tend to fill air in the room with bits of cotton candy. But what to do if you want to make some at home? Check out this cool DIY solution - at $45, why not? Well, that is, if you have a drill press. Still, fun to watch! More

What's better on a long summer afternoon than fresh, homemade ice cream? If you've been bitten by the DIY ice cream bug, it's more than likely you've considered turning just about everything in your fridge into ice cream. But have you looked to your wine rack? Check out this delicious recipe for red zinfandel gelato! More

Blue elderberry wine is every bit as good as a grape wine—or so says Hank Shaw, forager extraordinaire. When blue elderberries are picked at perfect ripeness, crushed, soaked, and fermented, he likens the result to some of the "huskier, more brooding" red grape wines like Mourvedre and Petit Verdot. If this idea intrigues you, you're in luck! Mr. Shaw has provided a step-by-step guide to making your own elderberry wine, and since the elderberry season runs from July to early October, now is the perfect time to do it. More

If you're lucky enough to find baby artichokes at the farmers' market, why not serve them the Italian way: raw. Lightly toss with lemon juice and combine them with salty olives, tender purslane (or baby spinach), and feta cheese. What results is a European-style light and positively un-boring summer salad! More

It's easy to get in a reading rut. I always gravitate to books that deal with food in some regard. (My boyfriend jokes that he may just walk in one day and find me reading "a real book.") The same thing happens with blogs: I have my tried-and-true favorites and don't often stray, for lack of time more than curiosity. But I recently researched summer salads for a writing project and discovered a few beautiful blogs I hadn't known before. These folks specialize in developing stunning salad recipes. Ready to hear more? More

What presidential candidate doesn't play up a love of a hometown favorite, from pancakes at a diner, to a cheeseburger? While these details can seem trivial, food has played a significant role in the White House throughout history. Just take First Lady Dolly Madison's famous layer cake from 1809. She used egg whites to lighten the batter, a pretty novel concept at the time. Read on for more presidential foods and even recipes. More