To find the best bottles, get to know your wine store inside and out.

There's no reason not to grow your own fresh herbs and use them generously (with help from Tom's 5 Herb Tips). 

How to make fresh marinara in 20 minutes flat -- you'll never want to buy the jarred stuff again.

Soup doesn't have to be fancy, or take all day -- just follow Tom's 6 Soup Rules.

With a can of tomatoes -- or a stack of them -- the pantry can be a place of exploration: an easy path to a burden-free dinner, just as exciting as one after a trip to the market.

When spring is slow to arrive, Tom takes matters into his own hands. (Don't miss his 6 tips for growing sprouts at home.)

A tale of culinary instruction gone wrong (plus five ways to make yourself a better cook).

Tom Hirschfeld teaches us how to make stir-fried noodles with whatever's in the fridge -- and not a takeout box in sight.

How to make your own sausage with just a sharp knife, in step-by-step photos. (Then use it to season everything in sight, starting with polenta.)