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Unlike hard shell clams (known here as quahogs, cherry stones, or little necks, depending on their size), steamers have rather thin, brittle shells, so you have to be gentle with them. The two sides of the shell don’t close all the way. Instead, protruding from the shell is a long foot, or siphon. It’s what the soft shell clam uses to filter the sea water and eat. While hard shell clams stay close to the surface of the sea floor, steamer clams bury themselves more deeply and extend their long siphons to the seafloor surface....

I first came up with this combination of stir-fried squash, tomatoes, and chiles years ago for a vegetarian taco filling, one of my all time favorite recipes on the site. In this version we’ve added corn and removed the cheese, so it’s no longer a filling, but side dish that practically shouts summer garden. Cumin and oregano are the spices that bring all the vegetables together. A dash of lime juice at the end adds a perfect acidic note to brighten up the squash....

That’s when I scramble to make cherry recipes to use up these cherries. I end up making cherry pie, cherry cobbler, and cherry clafoutis along with adding cherries to my yogurt and breakfast cereal. And when I can’t eat any more cherries, I freeze the fruit for later use. But the biggest difficulty in using cherries in recipes and freezing them is having to pit them. And though there are hacks and ways to pit cherries without a specialized piece of equipment, if you like cherries as much as I do, it’s worth investing in a cherry pitter....

Though many of us sometimes take them for granted, countertop microwaves are actually a helpful addition to your kitchen. They do more than just heat food; they can defrost, keep food warm, and are programmed to cook certain foods easily, like popcorn, leftovers, and frozen meals. When looking for a countertop microwave, there are a few features to consider. On the technical side, the size of your microwave matters—anything too big or small may not work in your kitchen....

When considering the drinking glasses for your home, glass versus plastic is an important debate. Are there children in the house that may benefit from an acrylic tumbler, is there a budding mixologist looking to add a versatile glass set for their experimental libations? There are also maintenance and storage concerns. Should it be dishwasher safe for ultimate convenience, or do you have a small apartment where storage space is premium, and you need something that stacks?...

“When choosing a pan, try and choose one you love, or at least like, because the two of you will probably be spending a lot of time together,” Tangorra adds. You’ll want to consider size, material, budget, weight, portability, and how well it handles temperature highs and lows. Plus, versatility: A good lasagna pan can handle many other cooking jobs, like casseroles, roasted vegetables (or meat or poultry), meatloaf, au gratins, and even cake....

Even if you’re not a big panini person, though, it may be worth considering. A panini press is essentially just an electric grill with two sides, meaning it makes many cooking tasks easier, not just panini. You can grill burgers or veggies or chicken breasts, cook a quick round of hash browns, or even make small desserts. And, when that grilled cheese craving hits, you are always prepared. It’s important to keep in mind that not all sandwich presses are the same....

Refrigerators are a major appliance investment so make sure you are looking at a retailer’s product selection, availability, delivery options and cost, warranties, and if it doesn’t work out, return policies. Whatever your priorities are, there is a retailer to match them. From popular national chains to budget-friendly direct-to-consumer retailers, these are the best places to buy a refrigerator. What We Don’t Love: Only brick and mortar store is in Illinois Known for its 7-day-a-week, friendly customer service, ABT provides a very personalized buying experience even though the bulk of its business is done online....

I love keeping a few cans on hand in the pantry, usually for whipping up the occasional tuna salad sandwich. Tuna also works with pasta, quite well actually (check out tuna pasta with capers in white wine sauce). But I had no idea it also worked with pasta and tomato sauce and cheese until this dish, recommended to us by a reader (thank you Audrey), a favorite of hers from the 1967 classic Mama Leone’s Italian Cookbook....

Waste not, want not, love! I’m here for you. Here are a bunch recipes to use up that bag of spinach or box of greens, saving you from accidental fridge-created lettuce soup! Keep in mind that greens are incredibly versatile. If a recipe calls for Swiss chard, feel free to substitute spinach. If it calls for spinach, see how baby kale works! You can swap out just about any kind of green for the specific ones called for in these recipes....

The heart of Vegetarian French Onion Soup is deeply caramelized onions, which are concentrated savory onions that melt into the soup. As they caramelized, the onions lose their pungency, become sweeter, and are the perfect base for the mushroom broth and seasonings. The soup is simply seasoned with fresh thyme, bay leaves, salt, and black pepper. The mushroom broth adds a meaty and earthy flavor. A splash of vegan Worcestershire sauce and balsamic vinegar at the end add even more umami and depth of flavor....

What is a Pescatarian? According to the ever-reliable Merriam-Webster dictionary, the term pescatarian (also called pesco-vegetarian) was coined in 1993 to indicate “those who eat fish but no other meat.” In other words, the sole defining characteristic of a pescatarian diet is that it eliminates any animal protein other than what comes from the sea, namely beef, poultry, lamb, pork, and game. The Pescatarian Diet Beyond the exclusion of meat and poultry, the make-up of a pescatarian diet can vary widely....

Indeed there is! If you’re looking for the savory, umami-ness you get from traditional soy sauce, but without the soy part, try one of these: Soy Sauce Substitutes Coconut aminos is made from the fermented sap of the coconut palm tree, and it makes a fine soy sauce substitute. It contains no wheat or soy, and it’s quite a bit sweeter than soy sauce, but less salty. You may find you need to add a little more salt to the dish if you use coconut aminos instead of traditional soy sauce....

This one-skillet dish confirms the adage of “what grows together, goes together.” Add some shrimp to the mix, and you have a substantial meal that comes together easily and all in one pan! Think of this as a filling stew. For extra credit and texture, make some toasted breadcrumbs to sprinkle on top, and it’s like a seafood cassoulet! Shrimp and vegetables are a meal on their own, but to make dinner even more robust, serve it with a green salad and a baguette....

What’s best about spring salads is their ease. They demand little of the cook. Add a drizzle of olive oil, a squeeze of lemon, and flash of fresh herbs to nearly any spring vegetable, whether raw or cooked, and you have a fine plate of food on your hands. Scatter on toasted nuts or crumbled cheese to elevate things further with little effort. Below you’ll find 21 salad recipes that feature the finest that spring has to offer including asparagus, artichokes, radishes, snap peas, strawberries, watercress, arugula, favas, English peas, and leeks....

A hearty meal is what makes things feel right in my world. It gives me a deep sense of appreciation because I know I’m making good use of the bounty I’ve received. I’m hoping the same is true for you. This year has been one for the record books. I know I’ve been consumed with thoughts of others: Is my family safe? How are my neighbors holding up? What’s going to happen to our community?...

To spice up winter in the humble environs here at Chez Bir, we try to think of dinners we’d normally save for special occasions, then bust them out on, say, a Wednesday. There’s no occasion like the present, right? It turns out in my family, most of our favorite meals are not labor-intensive at all. So why not load them into one fabulous week? Splurge on a steak dinner, anticipate pizza night, cook up some wings, make takeout at home—sometimes it’s the attitude that makes something special....

1. Add an Extra Egg If you only use one tip from this story, this one should be it. Most cake mixes call for two to three eggs. Just one more egg will add extra moisture, fat, and a little protein, which means the cake will be softer and less likely to overbake and dry out in the oven. 2. Add Milk, Coffee, or Soda Boxed cakes often call for water, but swapping it out for equal amounts of milk, coffee, or even soda will give you a moister, more tender, and flavorful cake....

It should come as no shock to you that kids find it amazing and hilarious. (Marshmallows in salad?! What!?) But, adults love it too. After some light joke-making at the expense of the ambrosia bowl, they will dig in, and leftovers will be sparse. What Is Ambrosia Salad? Ambrosia salad can be many things, but it’s essentially a fruit salad with whipped cream as a “dressing” to hold the ingredients together....

This apple cranberry chutney would work even better with turkey, and I could see it with pork as well. The chutney will vary in texture depending on the cooking time and the type of apples you use (our Granny Smiths turn to mush pretty quickly). I like this version with a bit of structure, but you could easily cook it longer and have it be more sauce-like. For more information on apple varieties, check out our Guide to Apples....