Beef stroganoff is one of my husband’s favorites, so I make it as a treat for him—and one of my early readers, Dave, says his mother made it for him growing up. It’s a classic winter meal from Eastern Europe that warms up a cold house and fills the air with rich aroma. You can use any cut of beef; just adjust the cooking time based on the toughness. Dave’s mom made it with red pepper instead of carrot, so feel free to do the same if you can get red peppers at a good price.
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This wonderful Ginger and Mushroom Tofu Hot Pot is inspired by my brilliant friend Iva. I was so excited when she asked me to create something that featured the Chinese flavors she grew up with. After all, Chinese cooking depends on the same general principles as Good and Cheap: build bright flavors from a few key ingredients; use lots of veggies and just a little meat or fish. The ginger-garlic broth in this hot pot is spectacular! You can use whatever vegetables you have around, but mushrooms help create an earthy broth. The effect of such a small amount of toasted sesame oil is remarkable, too—an investment, but a transformative flavor.
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Egg sandwiches are a mainstay of every corner deli in NYC, and for good reason: they’re cheap and easy, fast and delicious. Like most sandwiches, this recipe is really flexible. In particular, you can change the hash to use whatever you have around. You can also cook the egg like an omelette and fold it over with cheese wrapped in the centre if you really want this to mimic the classic deli egg sandwich. So if you don’t feel like venturing from your cozy nest this morning, try making this at home out of what you have in the fridge. Sad leftovers can take on new life when turned into a hash and matched with the rich fattiness of a morning egg.
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