Each time I take a vacation I promise myself that I "won't work" and then, at a certain point, I remember that my work is about food, which means life, which means that in a sense, I am always working. With every bite, every inhale and exhale. And blissfully.

So it was when I traveled to Turkey this month. As I write this, I'm still fighting jet-lag and finding bits of pistachio in my pockets. More

Q: We're renting a vacation condo for 4 days — I know nothing about the kitchen or how it is stocked. I'm wondering what ingredients/utensils/cookware I should bring for cooking and eating? And how do you transport these items? We're on a budget so I'm trying to decide what's best to bring from my own pantry rather than buy at an expensive little vacation-town grocery store. We're driving, so space isn't an issue but at the same time I don't want to lug my whole kitchen!

Sent by Jennifer More

This is definitely not your average barbecue shrimp dish. Not only are these jumbo shrimp served with the heads on (don't worry, you don't eat them) and swimming in a bowl of spicy melted butter, but they've never even been near the grate of a grill. They do things a little different in Louisiana. I say, bring it on and pass the bread! More

With the first tomatoes just now showing up in farmers markets, we're more than ready to get our gazpacho on. This summer, there's a new kid in our reportoire: this thick, creamy, ham-topped Salmorejo Cordobés. Ever tried it? More

If you're traveling to an international destination this summer and want to research the local cuisine before you go, check out My City Cuisine, a Wiki project that catalogs regional food specialties from around the world. More

Saturday evening we celebrated another Independence Day. This one was in honor of the first Independence Day for the people of South Sudan, and it was observed with a communal thieboudiene dish prepared by my brother: More

You've been invited to a friend's home for the weekend and promised to cook a welcome dinner in exchange for your host's hospitality. You've picked up all the ingredients on the way and planned the menu, only to realize upon arrival that the kitchen lacks everything you need. Been there? I have! Here are a few tips to survive the forced experience in cooking improv. More

Ever heard of a cranachan? Neither had I before coming across a recipe for one in the new River Cottage Every Day cookbook. But now I can't get this layered dessert of toasted oats, fresh summer fruit, and boozy whipped cream out of my head. More

For anyone who's ever cradled a cake in their lap on a three-hour road trip or struggled to pack a dozen cupcakes without smearing the frosting, these handy carriers are for you. More

Are you traveling this summer? Taking a jet plane to faraway places? Nourishment often collapses as you step onto the jet bridge; food onboard is expensive and rarely worth eating, and airports offer their own torturous temptations of buttery Auntie Anne's pretzels and overpriced beer. But a day spent in Air World doesn't have to be an undernourished one. The New York Times offered some tips today for packing your own picnic for plane travel, and inspired by their ideas, here are a few specific recipes that will make it through security and onto the plane with you. More