Meal Kits: From Good to Worse

This week’s mission: Just add chicken to two different premade dinners.

Chicken in a Burger Suit

This week’s mission: preseasoned, grillable chicken patties and fancified crackers.

The Basics: How to Make Chicken Quesadillas

A simple Mexican appetizer or light meal.

Mum's the Velveeta

Keep your secret ingredients secret.

Alluring Burger King Apple "Fries"

This week’s mission: low-fat prepackaged ice cream cones, and a healthier Burger King kids' meal.

Cheap, Good Frozen Lasagne

This week’s mission: Healthier breakfast junk food and decent frozen Italian entrées.

2009 Presidential Inauguration Menu

Celebrate with food inspired by Barack Obama’s favorites.

Shelf-Stable Ice Cream Float Disaster

This week’s mission: a fake prefab float, and a better-quality Nestlé Crunch bar.

The Basics: How to Make Lasagne

The tried-and-true recipe you’ll hang onto forever.

Even Real Cooks Cheat Sometimes

This week’s mission: frozen food with highfalutin notions.

Enough with the Workplace Candy!

Is it OK to tell people to stop bringing in sweets?

The CHOW 13

Our first annual awards, presenting a baker’s dozen of provocateurs, trendsetters, and rabble-rousers.

The Basics: How to Make a Philly Cheesesteak

Minus the Cheez Whiz.

Bailing Before the Host Notices

The infamous "French leave."

10 Mail-Order Gifts for 2009

Send a boozy, chocolaty, or meaty present this holiday season.