Eating

Get a really ripe melon. So sweet you won't even think about adding sugar. Not even to offset the kick of the ginger and the cool of the mint. A truly sweet and wonderfully refreshing Way to end a meal-on-a-stick on a hot day.

This savory popsicle may not qualify as a complete meal, but it's a thoroughly tasty, refreshing vegetable course. A convenient, hand-held soup and salad on a stick. Great for parties. Easy for everybody, like a hot dog. But with a sense of humor. And great ingredients.

Thinking about firing up the grill for some burgers but can't remember who eats what? Here's the answer: an unconstructed grilled fish or steak salad that's a real mouthful for an omnivore. And the best salad a vegan ever had.

Break it open while it's still warm and you'll want to bury your nose in it. Which is not the same as the Strawberry Rhubarb stew. You'll just lick that off your plate. Less than a buck for a great little breakfast.

A perfectly delicious Way to get a perfectly healthy meal into your diet. High-protein whole grain. Barely cooked vegetables. Almost makes itself in 25 minutes. Light, bright, satisfying meal with big flavors. Five dollars for two of you.

The already rich and delicious brioche bread absorbs so much of the milk, egg and cheese mixture that the French toast looks, feels and tastes like a cheese souffle. That goes perfectly with early Spring asparagus, leeks and radishes. $2.50 per serving.

Homemade buns for hamburgers and hot dogs. So much Better than those artificially moist things in plastic bags you think they'd be twice the price. No. They're half the price. They're airy and flavorful. So good you could skip the burger and have one for breakfast.

A perfect meal in a pan. Early Spring asparagus and onions. Really fresh eggs and goat cheese. For dinner on a still cool night, eat it warm. For lunch, let it cool to room temperature. A few minutes of chopping and stirring. One suspenseful second of flipping.

Looks too beautiful to eat. Tastes even Better. Maybe the best under-$2 pizza ever. The crust is light and crisp, just faintly salty and sweet at the same time. The onions are very sweet, almost caramelized. Required kitchen skills: stirring, slicing.