The merits of making pickles, jams and tomato sauce are manifold. But the factors of reality — time, inclinations, lack of distractions and the harvest schedule — don’t often align to make massive canning sessions possible. I can what I can when I can, but when I can’t, I don’t feel guilty anymore because the freezer is my friend.

Here are five things you can easily freeze, without too much of a degradation of quality, even if you don’t have one of those fancy cryovac bag sealers. When winter hits and most indoor farmers’ markets are flooded with kale and root veggies, you’ll be pulling little bits of sunshine out of the deep freeze.

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When I was home in Kansas City a few weeks ago I commented on my parents’ new spice rack. I noticed it sitting on my mother’s countertop, holding just the handful of spices she uses most often.

But when I asked about it, I got a surprise — this “spice rack” was something I already owned!

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When your friends or family members move into a new home, you want to celebrate with them. And while you can go the practical route (cleaning supplies or pantry staples they might have tossed are always appreciated), it is also nice to warm their home with a splurge that they wouldn’t buy for themselves.

Need some ideas? Here are 12 good-for-everyone gifts that will add a touch of homey luxury to their new kitchen.

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This is a straightforward pasta — my favorite kind — with mostly basic pantry ingredients and a couple of things to wow it up. The breadcrumbs (poor man’s parmesan!) might seem trivial, but don’t skip them. They add a wonderful, crunchy texture that really makes the dish. So grab your can opener — this pasta is dead-simple and it will feed a crowd!

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Oatmeal is healthy, inexpensive, and as versatile as it gets. It’s a satisfying morning breakfast that’s filling without being too heavy. We love oatmeal because you can make a large batch but personalize each bowl to your mood or what’s in your pantry: brown sugar and cinnamon for a cold winter day, juicy stone fruit in the summer, or even cheese and a soft-poached egg for a savory twist.

Here’s everything you need to know about oatmeal, from the different varieties to tips and techniques that will help you take your oatmeal game to a whole new level! Now you have no excuse not to bring oatmeal back to the breakfast table.

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