Few pleasures in life are quite as delightful and fulfilling as a pie you can hold in your hand. The humble hand pie goes by many different names: Call it a pasty, a turnover, an empanada, or whatever you like — the crowd-pleasing filled pastry is always welcome on any table. Stuffed with meat, cheese, and other hearty ingredients, these savory hand pie recipes will find a permanent spot in your recipe box.
Canned tomato soup is good for more than just microwaving. The store-bought staple is wonderful for elevating casseroles, pasta sauces, stews, and so much more. You can even use it to make a super flavorful spice cake! These recipes with canned tomato soup will quickly become staples in your rotation.
Creamy, rich soups are one of winter’s best comfort foods. There are plenty of ways to thicken homemade soup, but until recently, we had never considered leftover French fries. Turns out, this method for making soup even creamier is a clever way to use those soggy fries from last night’s takeout order — and it turns any blended soup into a luxurious bowl that tastes even better.
You could certainly whip up a batch of homemade butter. But why make a mess of your kitchen when there are outstanding, easy-to-measure sticks in stock at your local supermarket? Settling on one brand is the hard part. We get it: The butter section of the dairy case can be as overwhelming as the cereal aisle. How do you even begin to narrow down the options?
To help you do just that, we reached out to chefs, bakers, cookbook authors, and culinary pros to help us hone in on the best of the best. A sneak preview of coming attractions: The victor just so happens to be Martha Stewart’s favorite butter (and Stanley Tucci’sand Bobby Flay’s... you get the idea). It’s also the brand that came out on top of the best dairy category in our 2024 Golden Cart Awards for groceries.
Read on to learn more about what food experts look for in their “best butter,” including whether salted or unsalted is your best bet. Then we’re revealing their selection for the best butter brand and are dishing about how to use it to make your sweet and savory creations richer and more delicious than ever.
Get ready to sink your teeth into a meaty masterpiece with this Maid Rite, a Midwestern favorite celebrated for its simple, savory flavors. Our version takes the loose meat sandwich up a notch by swapping the standard bun for a garlicky slice of Texas Toast, adding an extra layer of crispness and buttery goodness. Think of it as a sloppy joe with a flavor boost—this 30-minute comfort meal is sure to satisfy all your savory cravings.
“Mustard, worcestershire, and a dab of brown sugar balance the umami of the beef and make this quite addicting. I can see why it’s so popular!” said recipe developer Julia Levy. “And it’s easy as heck!”
Book Reviews by the Reluctant Retiree 