Eating

Balsamic "Caviar". Glistening, pearl-like spheres of flavor. On strawberry slices. Sounds romantic. Looks cool. Tastes great. Definitely a conversation piece. Perfect for Valentine's Day. A Cheaper Way to achieve a Better Slower ... experience.

Rich, juicy papaya and tart, spicy lime juice. An amazing two-ingredient fruit ceviche. Three days' worth of Vitamin C and a day's of Vitamin A. Near-zero glycemic load. 110 calories. C'mon, that's ten minutes of touch football.

Just three grocery shopping days left to Game Day. So I'm here right now to help you munch Better and Cheaper during halftime. Heavy on flavor. Light on calories. Super light on fat. Ultra light on salt. No sugar. Minimal preparation.

This is a great way to make a meal. You do next to nothing. Cook the vegetables right in the pan with the grains. It's all in the timing. $2 per person. Fragrant, delicious, satisfying. Satisfies more than your daily need for Vitamin C.

Good lookin'. Easy cookin'. For a beautiful dish, this has to be the easiest, quickest, cheapest thing going. Delicious, too. Whole grain corn and a big, meaty mushroom. Required skills: stirring, slicing. Not much of either.

A splendid snack that tastes as good with a double axel as it does with a double reverse. Salsa Verde Bean Dip. No, don't just sit there watching and munching. But between stretches, eat something really good. Like this. $1.25 for more than you can eat.

Not your inner farmer. A real farmer. Who grows dozens of great crops so you - yeah, you - can eat Better and Cheaper. Now's the time to find a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) group near you. The best deal in the universe of Eating.

Maybe you'll like it better if we just say risotto with haricots verts. Or rice and green beans. You'll definitely like it when it's in your mouth. You can make a great version of risotto in 30 minutes. Required kitchen skill: stirring.

A wonderful combination of flavors. Sweet, earthy corn from the tortillas. A bright, tart, spicy sauce. Richness, but not heaviness, from fresh ricotta cheese. More fresh-and-bright from the tomatoes and squash. Delights three for $4.50.

If these two words fill you with visions of Big Macs, you're excused. Here's a better vision: Michelin 3-star chef Daniel Boulud's Sauce Diable. Made from ketchup, mustard, A1, Worcestershire and Tabasco. Really. Tasting is believing.