My first time eating smoked mackerel is one of those Proustian memories: It was Father’s Day, and we were in Cornwall, England, for a family trip. The village we were staying in had one of those classic, large, white plastered buildings with a big smokestack, … Read More

The Grill Table Using a grill table is the most bare-bones way of smoking meat and the most reminiscent of the barabicu of the West Indies. This is still the preferred technique for smoking meats in most Asian and South American traditions. It is one … Read More

Fresh cheeses like mozzarella require little equipment and are excellent choices for beginning cheese makers, as they are quick, delicious, and easy to make — no fermenting or aging required. Many of these high-moisture cheeses are called bag cheeses because the curds are drained in … Read More

The first rule of foraging for edible plants is never, ever, eat anything you’re not 100 percent sure of. This applies whether you’re picking in the wild or in your own backyard. “Foraging in your own backyard!” you say. “I thought you had to wander … Read More

Salt preserves food, fats included. Chances are our ancestors first salted meats — and fats — just to preserve them, then they found that salting transformed the flavor of those foods, improving them. They created the art of charcuterie or salumi, along with hundreds of … Read More

At farmers’ markets and tastings, we are forever answering the question, “Cider syrup? What do you do with that?” People seem intrigued when presented with a list of ways to use it in savory dishes. “Glazed pork” leads them to nod, “drizzled over roasted Brussels … Read More

When you have a supply of delicious home-dried fruits, vegetables, and meats, you can whip up combinations and meals that will make hearty entrees, soups, side dishes, snacks, and even desserts. A selection of these mixes is a tremendous boon in the pantry because you … Read More

As a key source of complex carbohydrates and protein, grains have been at the root of human evolution since we discovered agriculture about 10,000 years ago. Quinoa* is considered one of the “ancient grains,” meaning it is largely untouched by selective breeding and has hardly changed … Read More

Many a home cheese maker started off with cultured dairy products such as butter, sour cream, yogurt, and crème fraîche. The methods used to produce them are simple and straightforward, and you can use almost any type of milk, including dried milk powder, low-fat milk, … Read More

Designing a cornucopian cheese board to celebrate the start of a festive dinner can be a most creative and satisfying endeavor. At its simplest, the cheese plate is a humble gift before the main course unfolds. Or it can be the meal itself. On many … Read More