Spuds in the spotlight

Family Features | May 22, 2012 - 4:57pm

Potatoes are the ultimate comfort food, but a few twists on classic side dishes such as mashed potatoes, salads and casseroles can take potatoes to a whole new level.

A little heat adds a lot of flavor to milkshake

By J.M. Hirsch | May 22, 2012 - 4:57pm

A hot skillet might seem out of place in a recipe for an icy, creamy milkshake.

Mason jar handles more than canned food

By Marialisa Calta | May 22, 2012 - 4:56pm

Mason jars, according to a recent article in The New York Times, were invented in 1858 by John Landis Mason of New Jersey, who gave away his patent and died a pauper.

Yams: Sweet and simple

Family Features | May 15, 2012 - 6:47pm

Can you really cook delicious, wholesome dishes that are also easy to make?

Don’t toss the pineapple skin; use it on the grill

By J.M. Hirsch | May 15, 2012 - 6:47pm

As I stood at the cutting board slicing slabs of thick skin off a fresh pineapple, a thought occurred to me: The strips of skin were an awful lot like the cedar planks some people use to add flavor to food on the grill.

Chinese food this good probably should be illegal

By Marialisa Calta | May 15, 2012 - 6:46pm

“Chinese Food Craving Lands Burglar in Jail,” read the headline in The Gazette newspaper in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Comfort foods offer memories of Mom

By Michele Kayal | May 8, 2012 - 5:12pm

When he was about 12, Hugh Acheson’s mom went through a cooking phase: recipes from magazines, nice pots and pans, and exciting new dishes, such as her signature chicken piccata.“It had that tenderness and crispness and this very simple, but very bouncy sauce,” Acheson said.

Vegetable dish offers Mideast flavor

By J.M. Hirsch | May 8, 2012 - 5:12pm

To enjoy authentic koshary, you’ll need to travel to Egypt. Or spend a couple hours in your kitchen.

More than poet sing parsley's praises

By Marialisa Calta | May 8, 2012 - 5:11pm

Some people think of parsley as a necessary evil, the touch of green on a bad cafeteria meal or in a 1950s-era cookbook photograph, garnishing some mystery meat or a slab of ham.

Flapjacks are loaded with flavor

By J.m. Hirsch | May 1, 2012 - 5:57pm

As pancake toppings go, maple syrup is swell and certainly traditional, if not particularly inspired.

Shortcuts make chicken enchiladas easy

By J.M. Hirsch | May 1, 2012 - 5:56pm

The goal was simple: Create a recipe for mole chicken enchiladas that tastes authentic but doesn’t take an authentic amount of time to prepare.

Curry lends spice to Sri Lankan cooking

By Marialisa Calta | May 1, 2012 - 5:56pm

I asked two friends who had traveled to Sri Lanka about the food, and I got the same answer: “It’s mostly rice and curry.

Get ready for Cinco celebration

Family Features | April 24, 2012 - 4:00pm

Over the years, Cinco de Mayo has become a great way to cel­ebrate the flavors of Mexico.

Awaken Mom with homemade pastry on Mother's Day

By J.M. Hirsch | April 24, 2012 - 4:00pm

No matter how much she would appreciate it – and no matter how much you love your mom or the mother of your children – you aren’t likely to make her croissants from scratch.

You have to love recipes that work

By Marialisa Calta | April 24, 2012 - 4:00pm

Fans of reliable, understandable, well-tested recipes have been following Marie Simmons for several decades.

‘Steak’ and eggs come from garden

By J.m. Hirsch | April 17, 2012 - 5:00pm

Much as I love a big, beefy steak, sometimes I need something on the lighter side.

Tart, fresh rhubarb tastes like spring

By Marialisa Calta | April 17, 2012 - 5:00pm

Think of a long, bleak, 19th-century New England winter, when food was running low and a typical meal might be salt pork, milk gravy and, if you had “put by” enough in the fall, some pickles.

Tomatoes make entertaining easier

Family Features | April 17, 2012 - 5:00pm

Whether you’re having a friend or two over for a casual lunch or hosting a weekend party, you want to serve great tasting food that’s easy to make.

Make time to cook – your family is worth it

By Marialisa Calta | April 10, 2012 - 8:33pm

It’s easy to dislike Kelsey Banfield, aka the Naptime Chef.

Timely and tasty desserts

Family Features | April 10, 2012 - 8:18pm

Are you hungry for a sweet treat but don’t have the time or energy to create something from scratch?

Cooking dinner is time to go nuts

By J.M. Hirsch | April 10, 2012 - 8:17pm

Ground seeds and nuts are a weeknight cook’s dream ingredients.

Food comes fresh from family farms

Family Features | April 3, 2012 - 5:04pm

Over the last few years, there’s been a growing awareness that it really matters how food moves from the farm to the table.

Simple, speedy dessert is right for spring

By J.M. Hirsch | April 3, 2012 - 5:00pm

Dessert is an uncommon offering in my house, though not due to a we’re-too-healthy-for-that ethic.

Spring is seasonal crunch time for meals

By Marialisa Calta | April 3, 2012 - 11:21am

We are heading into the time of year when push comes to shove for family dinners.

Ham is star of Easter lunch

Family Features | March 27, 2012 - 6:51pm

Ham long ago found a role in Easter alongside religious services and the Easter bunny.