I know a butter bell isn’t “exactly” cooking equipment, but... I’ve been dancing around buying one for a while now. Seems like a great idea. Then I stop and think, "Idiot! You need one more thing sitting...

Had dinner at a friend’s and saw a butter bell. Had never known what it was but loved the idea. Where could I buy one in the downtown Toronto area? I know that Trudeau manufactures this but I have never actually seen it.

I got a Butter Bell just around Christmas (one of those things that let you leave butter out at room temp by inverting a crock of butter into a container of water, thus creating a vacuum seal). I have followed the directions...

, which the cat took care of). The premise is that you spread softened butter into the bell part, put a 1/4 cup or so of cold water into a high-sided bowl, and turn the bell over into the water so the edges of the bell touch the...

Counteract cholesterol by sneaking groats into your morning eggs.

So I decided to buy a French-style butter bell, so I could keep my butter out rather than in the fridge where it gets rock hard and unspreadable and picks up all kinds of odors. After searching about a bit, I ordered from Clay...

Not too sweet, with some hominy and jalapeño to spice it up.

It depends on heat and light.

Bell pepper and shallots jazz up this breakfast standby.

Mushrooms, tofu, and chile-garlic sauce give a savory kick to fluffy eggs.

Cumin makes these flavors pop.

This vegetarian gumbo loaded with cooking greens is a New Orleans classic.

This week’s mission: superfood bars and stovetop comfort-food kits.

A nutty-flavored thickener used in gumbo and several other New Orleans–style dishes.

Kick off the summer with these easy menus.