Budget Recipes

Edna Lewis was loved for many reasons. Her spare prose. Her soulful recipes. Her kitchen frugality. Her endless wisdom. All attributes that are apparent in her famous brisket.

Is there anything that screams spring more than lightly buttered peas with a wee bit of mint on top? We think not.

The perfect base for so many dishes, Italian or otherwise. Sprinkle with cheese, top with sauce or meat, drizzle with honey or maple syrup, let it cool and fry it...shall we go on?

The slope and size of a wok lend popcorn kernels ample room to do their thing as they dance in hot oil and burst into fluffy perfection. (Sorta sheepish this didn't occur to us sooner.)

Never give zucchini away again with these equally tempting yet uniquely different slaws. You get to choose—rich and creamy or tart and sweet.

Pasta made fresh according to Italian tradition is unspeakably more supple, satisfying, and gratifying than the dried-out store-bought stuff and will make your mouth water. Here's how to make it at home.

These sweet and spicy nuts are addictive, so serve with care. The sweet comes from sugar, the spicy is the result of red pepper flakes. Use any kind of nut.

We're not kidding about these being perfect French fries. We're also not going to lie to you. Perfection takes time. We swear it's worth the wait.

A superlative version of the classic American quick bread that everyone loves. And that everyone pretty much always has the ingredients for on hand.

Dinner doesn't get any easier or more elegant than pasta tossed with butter, olive oil, Parmesan and pecorino Romano cheeses, and dusted with lots of black pepper.