Food & Drink

On June 19, 1865, General Gordon Granger arrived with federal troops at the far reaches of what was then the settled boundary of freshly united United States of America. The reading of General Order No. 3, that all enslaved persons were now free, sparked the great jubilee tradition we now know as Juneteenth. As Springfield […]

According to a recent survey, beets are the second most disliked vegetable in Am erica, second only to turnips. Even the Obamas hate beets – so much that they insisted that no beets were to be planted in the White House vegetable garden. Yet beets are one of our most nutritious vegetables and are extremely […]

Homemade dog biscuits are a fun project for owners and a delicious treat for their fur-babies. True, there are hundreds of different varieties on store shelves, but many are filled with cheap ingredients like chicken byproducts and other foods that can cause flare-ups for allergy-prone pets. “Wheat, corn, chicken and beef are the big four […]

A few years ago I was camping and I asked my companions: “Who would like grilled cheese?” The response was enthusiastic; everyone loves grilled cheese. “That sounds wonderful!” they exclaimed, “But we didn’t bring any bread.” “We don’t need bread,” I responded. “Have you heard about halloumi, the grillable cheese that doesn’t melt?” They eyed […]

Grilling season is finally upon us. Unfortunately, so is frequent sticker stock as prices continue to rise at the grocery and gas station. For those looking to celebrate the season on a budget I present three cookout menus just in time for Memorial Day. All are as delicious as they are wholesome while making good […]

It is commonly accepted that our tongues have taste receptors that allow us to perceive five primary taste modalities: salt, sweet, bitter, sour and umami. To this list, some food scientists have added a sixth taste known as kokumi. The first four tastes are pretty straightforward – the last two less so. The word umami […]

My family has a decades-old tradition of baking a three-dimensional lamb-shaped cake for Easter. It started when I was a kid and has become a tradition that I’ve enjoyed with my own children. We’d hold our breath each time we unmolded the three-dimensional cake, praying that he’d come out of the pan in one piece, […]

Tequila and I have had a somewhat complicated history. In fact, there was a time when even the very thought of having any made me ill. Since then, however, I’ve discovered that there’s a lot more to tequila than margaritas, lemons and salt. And that there are many, many kinds of tequila out there beyond […]

Primavera is the Italian word for spring – or, literally, first green. Pasta primavera is made with sautéed spring vegetables in a rich sauce of butter, cream and cheese. But pasta primavera isn’t Italian. It was conceived in Nova Scotia in the early 1970s by vacationing New Yorkers. Italian cuisine has its own dishes that […]

Whether it’s for a large gathering of friends or just as a treat for yourself, these fresh takes on classic daytime cocktails will make the most of out of brunching at home. Experiment with favorite flavors and colors to come up with a signature cocktail all your own. A Bloody Mary – spiced tomato juice […]

Fat Tuesday marks the last night of eating rich, fatty foods before beginning the Lenten ritual of self-sacrifice and fasting. In South Louisiana, Catholics go to Mass on Ash Wednesday, give up meat on Fridays and make small sacrifices until Easter to signify their piety and atone for the excesses of Mardi Gras revelry. The […]

Signs of spring are everywhere. In addition to spring flowers and chocolate, large displays of matzo have appeared in grocery stores just in time for the Passover holiday, which begins April 15 at sundown. Passover commemorates the Israelites’ exodus from slavery and lasts for eight days in the diaspora. The Seder meal is a culinary […]