ArcaMax

New diets seem to pop up every week, often promising fast weight loss, better health or “detox” benefits. While some eating plans are helpful,manyarefaddietsthataren’tsustainable—or healthy.

One major red flag is big promises with little effort, such as losing a large amount of weight in a short time or “resetting” your metabolism. ...Read more

There’s nothing I love more than a dinner salad. To me, that means a salad that encompasses all the essential parts of a meal (and then some) in one hearty dish. As the weather gets warmer, I’m turning my attention to steak salad, filled with the season’s ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota asparagus stands tall each spring, as if it’s proud to have made it through another winter.

It’s one of the earliest vegetables ready each spring and — along with rhubarb, radishes, spinach and green onions — it signals that the delicious growing season is upon us.

Asparagus season typically begins in early- ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Wait — $55 for a slice of pizza?

What is it, topped with caviar?

Actually, yes. Starting Friday, Mason Lesser of Marina’s Pizza in Philadelphia will sell slices of white pizza topped with an ounce of golden osetra caviar from CaviarXS, served with a mother-of-pearl caviar spoon that customers can keep, on an antique gold ...Read more

LOS ANGELES -- The best ice cream is often the ice cream you're eating. It could be the chalky layers of vanilla and strawberry beneath the cake crumbs of a Good Humor bar. The stabilizer-filled soft serve from a fast food restaurant. The fast-melting cone of chocolate malted krunch from your local pharmacy. But if you were to press me for the ...Read more

This strawberry caprese salad is a fruity twist on the classic Italian dish, with juicy, ripe strawberries standing in for tomatoes. The sweet-tart flavor of strawberries goes beautifully with fresh mozzarella, basil and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. This colorful salad is perfect as an appetizer, side dish or light lunch. To make it a main ...Read more

The first glimpse of rhubarb at my local farmers market brings me nothing but pure joy. The tart ruby stalks are a nostalgic reminder of the long-awaited springs I pined for in New England, where I spent my childhood. Although I don’t have to wait quite as long for the season to start these days (I now live in North Carolina), bringing ...Read more

A friend of mine recently remarked that it looks like I am having fun when I cook. She admits cooking is not for her.

That’s fine, I’ll bring the salads, dessert, whatever to her house. My pleasure. Truly. Especially now that we are entering peak local produce season. The perfect time to offer to contribute to a potluck.

Vegetable salads ...Read more

When you’re choosing pizza for dinner, sometimes it’s nice to have a little something extra. The usual options include various types of bread and meatballs. Sometimes you can find more variety including fried mozzarella, poppers or fries. The addition of garlic butter and cheese is common as well. Basically, the majority of pizza sides are ...Read more

There are times for a big, juicy pub burger — and that’s totally great. But most of the time what I’m yearning for is a thin, crispy patty with lacy edges and a perfectly melty layer of American cheese (deli-sliced, not plastic-wrapped!). All ...Read more

Roasted shrimp and corn make this seafood salad especially fresh and flavorful. Start with raw, peeled, deveined shrimp and roast them with corn kernels until just cooked through; the shrimp stay juicy and the corn turns sweet and tender. These are a far cry from the overcooked rubbery shrimp you will find at the market.

Use any lettuce you ...Read more

Pork tenderloin is the star of this quick dinner. True to its name, it’s naturally tender and juicy, and because it’s so lean it cooks in just a few minutes. The pork is served over a bed of spaghetti tossed with fresh arugula, whose peppery bite adds a bright, fresh contrast. Thin slices of Parmesan melt gently over the pork, adding a rich,...Read more