Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

oops. Make that Fast, Easy, Fresh...the one in the green cover.

My local grocery store, which sells some convenience/prepared foods (made there) sells peeled garlic in the produce section in half pint containers. For just a dollar or so...it's more economical than heads with 67 dried out tiny cloves (@chiff: lolol) and I find I use it all before it spoils.

A little tangent here for all the garlic lovers...I recently read that the nutritional value of garlic increases if you let it sit for a few minutes on the cutting board before adding it to the pan. (akin to spinach having more nutritional value once cooked vs raw).

tarragon chicken salad (I use the Silver Palate recipe combined with Ina's suggestion of roasting bone -in, skin-on breasts for the meat and threw in some craisins as my own twist) on cucumber rounds went over well at some parties I had over the winter months . And the Polish girl in me always has at least one kielbasa in the freezer, which works well and is fine at room temp, just slice and stick with tooth picks.

I, too, wear black pants all the time and hate being attacked by white napkin lint. I usually ask but am not always accomodated, so I have finally geared up with lint brushes: one for my purse and one in my car.

I have tried to respond as well...and offered to get my mother's recipe if the MS couldn't be found...

Yay for Trader Joe's. Most things are well priced and good quality; here are some faves...I love their tomato-less corn salsa, and their version of pirate's booty is great. I can't live without a bag of their frozen haricot vert in the freezer, and their grozen gyoza makes a quick snack or nice addition to a simple soup.

I'm so glad I asked! Thanks!

Bitter: Save your money. Try websites first!...(although I am a sucker for beautiful cookbooks to browse through.)

You guys are great! Years ago I used to make hummus in my blender, then I got lazy, and..well...I made it again in my new FP and loved it. I had forgotten how much better/fresher/more economical than store bought homemade hummus is . I also made homemade mac and cheese--Ina's grown up version (didn't love it), and bread crumbs, and now I can't wait to make salsa and some of the other suggestions you've all given--biscuits, pie dough, carrot cake, etc. ! I don't need to leave the house for weeks...other than to go to the grocery store....

I second Progresso soups. They're filling and calorie friendly. I also keep a box of Boca Burgers in the freezer at work, as well as English muffins or rolls. Of course you'd need a toaster as well as a microwave...