When autumn in New England is in full swing, our lives are awash in cider. The days in our small orchard fall into a rhythm: a few days of picking apples and putting them into 600-pound bins, and then a few days spent squeezing those apples on a century-old Mt. Gilead hydraulic apple press. ...
To the uninitiated, the various winter squashes can cause a person to scratch her head and wonder “What in the world do you do with that?” Those odd-shaped, odd-colored, hard-as-a-rock orbs found in the produce aisle at this time of year are actually culinary gems and garden superstars. ...
The Christmas holiday season lends itself to all sorts of delicious sweets, and many recipes make an appearance only once a year. Maybe that explains why most cakes we enjoy during the holidays have such decadent ingredients: dates, lots of nuts and candied fruits. History generally reports ...
Persimmons are low in calories and high in fiber – a combination that makes them a good choice for weight control. Their mix of antioxidants and nutrients – including vitamins A and C – makes them ideal for a healthy diet. But for all of the benefits that come in these colorful, ...
A pot of ham and beans simmers on the back burner of your stove. Salad fixin’s are in the fridge just waiting for dinnertime. You stand back and think, “Wait, something’s missing.” That missing guest at your dinner feast is cornbread. Many people take a hunk of cornbread, break it ...
In England back in the 1700s, most cakes were simply breads sweetened with whatever was available. Then along came the pound cake. Since most of the population was unable to read, the recipe for pound cake was an easy one to pass on verbally: 1 pound of flour, 1 pound of butter, 1 pound of ...
Fall is a time of rejuvenation after the busy summer and spring seasons. Everything slows down in preparation for winter, from the garden to time spent outside and how we cook. We’re eager to have a simmering pot of stew on the stove, warming both heart and home. Slow-cooking allows for ...
As the leaves change color and the first day of fall looms on our calendars, our thoughts of food turn to dishes more suited to colder temperatures. One kitchen gadget that comes in handy during this time of year is the slow cooker. In my kitchen cabinets you can find two slow cookers—a ...
Some historians claim that hamburgers come from Germany. Others suggest the ancient Egyptians enjoyed beef patties. There’s also the story about the Mongols packing beef to travel and unwittingly inventing hamburgers because the meat was squashed from being packed so tightly beneath their ...
Fall is almost here, and even if it doesn’t yet feel like it in your neck of the woods, now is as good a time as any to start celebrating. There’s so much to love about fall—summer’s oppressive heat is finally subsiding in the wake of beautifully crisp days, made even more spectacular ...
The fall season brings with it excitement for multiple things: cooler weather, putting up vegetables and meat for winter, and hunting season, to name a few. Hunting season, for many, comes with much anticipation. Each year is another chance to bag the big one, try out your new gear and ...
In normal times, food trends often started in restaurants, with top chefs. Maybe they got written up in food magazines or blogs. After some time, you could find the trending ingredients on grocery store shelves. These days, the pandemic is determining how and what we eat, from quick shortcuts ...
As a child, I looked forward to winter mornings when Mom took the special æbleskiver pan from the cupboard. The kitchen soon filled with the delicious aroma of the sweet, round treats that connected me to my ancestors. Æbleskive are a tasty tradition in my family, offering a glimpse into ...
If you are a teacher or a parent, back-to-school season can mean a ramped-up schedule with less time to cook. If you’re a college student in your first apartment or dorm room, you might be cooking for yourself for the first time. And no matter who you are, the pandemic means you’re probably ...
In colloquial English, the word “smorgasbord” is used to describe “a delightful (if not overwhelming) array of choices,” and rightly so. The true and original meaning of the word relates to the traditional Scandinavian smörgåsbord that originated in Sweden, where myriad dishes were ...
If my house was burning down, the one item I’d grab would be a cookbook. But not just any cookbook — my great-grandmother’s handwritten recipes in an aged, olive-green, water-stained binder simply titled “Receipts,” the old-fashioned word for recipes. This binder represents my ...
A picnic is a great way to make the most of warm temperatures while they last. And what picnic would be complete without a pile of crispy fried chicken? Perfect Fried Chicken Ingredients: 1 broiler-fryer chicken, cut into serving pieces 1⁄2 cup flour 1 teaspoon salt 1⁄4 teaspoon ...
Starving for that delicious-looking appetizer, you reach for those crispy little nuggets of deep-fried mushrooms, but … What the heck? Golden and delectable, those morsels turn out to be tasty little dandelion flower buds that have been fried up soft, tender, and reminiscent of wild morel ...
If you happen to be one of the growing number of people who own chickens, sooner or later you’ll be faced with the task of figuring out what to do when your hens have been particularly generous. How about trying a few new and different recipes that feature the very thing you need to use up? ...
Chicken is one of those versatile foods that delivers comfort in a multitude of ways. Hungry for Italian or Tex-Mex? How about Chinese? No problem; chicken fits the bill. Chicken is economical and readily available, and it cooks quickly and with ease. It’s good for any occasion, be it a ...