Pears are the royalty of fruit

November 26, 2016 by
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In his book Sweet Simplicity, Jacques Pépin praises pears, noting that in his native France, "pears are the king of fruits." There are thousands of varieties of pears, although supermarkets usually only stock a handful of the most popular. Pears are wonderful in a variety of desserts, and they also enhance everything from roasts to salads. The editors at indexed magazine Saveur… read more

A new way to make Swiss meringue

November 23, 2016 by
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  Meringue is a pastry kitchen staple. Not only is it good as a topping for pie, it's also the foundation for many other sweets, including pavlova, macarons, and buttercream icing. There are three basic types of meringue: French, Italian, and Swiss. Pastry chef Stella Parks (aka bravetart) explains the difference between them and tells us why we should rethink… read more

Get to know nigella seeds

November 21, 2016 by
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  Have you ever purchased a spice for a recipe, then wonder what to do with the remainder of the package? That has happened to me on more than one occasion, most recently with nigella seeds that I purchased for a dish that will not be repeated. Therefore I was happy to find a post on Food Republic that promised… read more

You say potato…

November 14, 2016 by
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  While exotic, expensive ingredients can make a dish shine, some mundane, even cheap, foodstuffs transcend their humble origins. Take the potato, for example. It's equally at home in breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and the forms it can take are myriad. You can dress potatoes up for the fanciest dinner party, but a simple baked potato also pleases the palate.… read more

Supersize your pies

November 11, 2016 by
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  When planning a holiday dinner, it's often difficult to settle on a dessert. Pies are traditional, but if you have a large crowd gathering around your dinner table it can be a chore to make enough of them to ensure everyone gets a piece. There is a solution to this dilemma: slab pies. Forget about round pans and use… read more

White truffle bonanza

November 10, 2016 by
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White truffle fans, rejoice. An excellent growing season with plenty of rain has created a bumper crop of white truffles in Italy's Tanaro river basin, home to the famous Alba variety of the truffle. Not only is the yield up, chefs say the quality is top notch too. All this means the wholesale price is down about 30% over 2015.… read more

In a pickle: a guide to resources for fermenting and pickling

November 7, 2016 by
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The art of curing and pickling foods is more popular now than any time since prior to the advent of refrigeration. Finding good sources to begin either of the two processes can be confusing, but luckily Food Republic has done the hard work for us. They've produced a guide of their 40 favorite print and online resources for fermenting and pickling.… read more

Eastern European food gets a fresh look

November 4, 2016 by
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When you hear the phrase "Eastern European cuisine", what images come to mind? For many people, the first thoughts they conjure include meaty stews, doughy dumplings, and overcooked vegetables. Recently a new generation of chefs is reinvigorating the cuisine, riding on growing trends that embrace many Eastern European traditions like pickling and smoking. The Wall Street Journal explores the growing… read more

When it’s good to get into hot water

October 30, 2016 by
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  When my husband and I were traveling through England on our anniversary trip last month, we enjoyed a few meat pies. My husband remarked that the crust was interesting and very different from the flaky pot pie crusts that I made. He wondered if I could learn to make something like the sturdy yet tender package that we experienced.… read more

You’ve got to know when to hold ’em

October 27, 2016 by
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The days are getting shorter and colder in much of the Northern Hemisphere right now, and that means winter squash are coming into the markets and finding their way to our dinner tables. Although many different varieties are lumped together under the term "winter squash", they are not all created equal. Julia Rosen of NPR's The Salt describes how different varieties of squash ripen at different… read more

How to cook with pumpkin seeds

October 25, 2016 by
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  This fall, millions of pumpkins will be carved for Halloween or seasonal decorations. Most people will dispose of the seeds and strings they scrape out of the inside. That's a shame, say Nick Kindelsperger and Joseph Hernandez of The Chicago Tribune, as they discuss several uses for often overlooked pumpkin seeds.  If you don't want to spend the time removing the… read more

Celebrate National Pasta Day

October 17, 2016 by
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  Today is National Pasta Day in the US. The "official" Pasta Day website contains several interesting facts about our favorite carbohydrate. Although Marco Polo has long been credited with "discovering" pasta in Asia and bringing it back to his native Italy, documents describing what appears to be pasta have been found that pre-date Marco's travels to the Far East.… read more

Shining the spotlight on tahini

October 10, 2016 by
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  When someone mentions tahini, you probably think hummus. While that is a great use for the sesame seed butter, tahini is certainly not a one hit wonder. Cooking Light Magazine explores the many ways to use the paste in a primer on tahini. The article extols the many virtues of tahini before getting to recipes highlighting the ingredient. For… read more

Travel around the world in a sweet way

October 9, 2016 by
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  When people talk about virtually traveling around the world by making dishes from various cuisines, savory foods generally get the spotlight. But we shouldn't forget about dessert, says indexed magazine Saveur. They examine 22 different dessert recipes from across the globe.  Some of the recipes are familiar, like French eclairs and chocolate chip cookies. But if you are in… read more

Ottolenghi moves peppers to the forefront of the meal

October 8, 2016 by
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  Peppers are a staple in most cooks' kitchens. They are so often used in supporting roles that they can be ignored when it comes to the starrring role in dishes. Instead of relegating them to background props, chef Yotam Ottolenghi says they deserve to be the stars of the dish. The popular chef notes that peppers "do a lot… read more

No aged balsamic? No problem

October 7, 2016 by
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  Aged balsamic vinegar (aceto balsamico tradizionale) - syrupy, rich, complex and just a little sweet - is a decadent splurge. When you're on a budget, it can be a bit too much of a splurge.  If you can't afford to spend the big bucks on a 25-year aged balsamic, the editors at America's Test Kitchen have created a cheat that is almost… read more

Pairing whisky with food

September 28, 2016 by
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We've long been familiar with wine pairings on menus, and in recent years beer pairings have become commonplace as well. Now chef Marcus Samuelsson is adding another category: pairing food with Scotch whisky. Working with iconic distiller Glenmorangie, Samuelsson brings his knack of blending different cultures and cuisines to bear on pairing foods with spirits. In his year-long partnership with… read more

Dumplings pack flavor in a small package

September 24, 2016 by
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  It seems that almost every culture enjoys dumplings, whether filled or just pillowy clouds of deliciousness. What's not to love? Today we'll focus on the filled variety; petite packages containing a variety of savory (and even a few sweet) fillings that liven up a meal, whether you find them in a soup or on your dinner or dessert plate.… read more

A look at online cookbook clubs

September 21, 2016 by
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Many cookbook lovers attempt to start a cookbook club but discover that schedules are difficult to coordinate, folks back out at the last minute and unless you can develop a core group of committed individuals, it becomes more of a headache than a delicious experience. One of the ways to lessen the headache and still enjoy the camaraderie of discussing… read more

The rise of the veggie burger

September 7, 2016 by
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  Not too long ago, you might see the occasional veggie burger on a menu as a half-hearted attempt to appease vegetarians in an establishment that was heavy on the meat offerings. Usually there wasn't much thought put into the patty; it was likely a frozen commercial product. These days chefs are not only revisiting the veggie burger, they are… read more

Low and slow isn’t just for meat

August 31, 2016 by
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  We all have our favorite long-cooked stews and braises that transform tough cuts of meat into silky, lush dishes. We shouldn't save this technique just for meat, though, says Emily Horton of The Washington Post. She suggests that many vegetables can also shine when cooked low and slow. Horton says that while we may automatically revert to salads and… read more

For better pie, add flavor to the crust

August 28, 2016 by
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When we bake pies, we usually focus on adding flavor by tinkering with the filling. Spices and aromatics like ginger and cinnamon boost the flavor impact. By only concentrating on the filling, however, we are missing a great opportunity, says Bon Appétit magazine. They explain why we should be flavoring our pie crusts. Bon Appétit  was inspired by Ashley Capps,… read more

Savory jams surge in popularity

August 23, 2016 by
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When you think of jam, you probably have something sweet in mind. One of the fastest growing condiment segments, however, is full of low- and no-sugar products: savory jams are on the rise in stores and eateries all over, according to NPR's The Salt. These jams utilize familiar products like berries, onions, and tomatoes in less traditional ways. The trend… read more

The savory side of yogurt

August 18, 2016 by
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  Despite being a fermented product, which inherently means it has a sour base, yogurt has developed a reputation for being on the sweet side. That's because we are most familiar with the highly-sweetened, fruit-enriched product often served for breakfast. But as Tasting Table points out, yogurt has a place in savory applications - even for breakfast. Many of us… read more

Using dried vs. fresh herbs

August 17, 2016 by
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Plenty of recipes call for fresh herbs, but in others you'll see dried herbs specified. You might be tempted to substitute fresh for dried whenever possible, but you shouldn't just do it reflexively, according to J. Kenji López-Alt of The Food Lab. In many cases you are better off with dried herbs, he says. The reason that some herbs are just… read more
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