ArcaMax

LOS ANGELES — When an elderly woman walked into Mate Conmigo on a recent Saturday morning, she let out a sigh of comfort. Gabriela Simoni, owner of the Northridge cafe, had spoken to the retirement home resident on several occasions. The woman usually introduces herself politely and grabs a seat to listen to the whistle of hot water pouring ...Read more

A friend recently returned from a trip to Sicily and raved about the region's incredible pistachios. I decided to use them as a crunchy crust for salmon fillets.

To make dinner even easier, I arranged the salmon and fresh asparagus on a baking sheet and roasted them together in a 400 degree oven for just 10 minutes. It’s a simple, flavorful ...Read more

The first time I picked sweet corn was on a friend’s farm in Wisconsin. It was at least 80 degrees the morning we spent hours snapping the ears off their tall stalks to fill sacks slung over our shoulders. I’d never eaten raw corn before, nor had I slugged icy cold water pumped into a tin cup. The experience was a revelation.

Truly fresh, ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — One of the best parts of summer are the long and short car trips that get you out of town and into nature.

Even better: The family-run farm stands featuring flowers, eggs, jams and seasonal fruit and veggies — sometimes sold from the back of a pickup truck or small shelter at the end of a dirt driveway leading back to the farm....Read more

Embrace the morning with a Morning Melody Avocado and Egg Toast. The combination of creamy avocado, runny egg, and crunchy toast sings a melody as delightful as the morning chorus.

Ingredients 1 slice of bread 1/2 avocado 1 egg Salt and pepper to taste Chili flakes (optional)Instructions Toast the bread until golden ...Read more

Step into a lively fiesta with this simple yet delectable dish. Joyful Jalapeño Chicken is a vibrant dance of flavors that captures the spirit of a sunny afternoon fiesta.

Ingredients Chicken breasts Jalapeños SaltInstructions Grill the chicken breasts until thoroughly cooked.

Chop the jalapeños and sprinkle ...Read more

Give your morning a boost with this perfect peanut butter banana toast. It's a simple, satisfying, and delicious breakfast that's ready in minutes.

Ingredients: 2 slices of bread 2 tbsp peanut butter 1 banana Honey for drizzlingInstructions: Toast the bread to your liking.

Spread the peanut butter on the toast.<...Read more

Celebrate the bounty of the tropics with this colorful breakfast platter. Extraordinary Exotic Fruit Platter is a feast for the eyes and the palate.

Ingredients Dragon fruit Star fruit PassionfruitInstructions Slice the fruits and arrange them attractively on a plate.

Enjoy the fresh, juicy flavors of these exotic ...Read more

Wake up to the inviting aroma of this delectable cake. Joyous Java Coffee Cake is a sweet start to any day.

Ingredients Flour Coffee Brown sugarInstructions Mix flour, coffee, and brown sugar, bake until a toothpick comes out clean.

Enjoy warm with a fresh cup of java.

This coffee cake is a morning delight, ...Read more

Jumpstart your day with a nutrient-packed breakfast. The Astonishing Açai Bowl is a Brazilian treasure that will infuse your morning with energy.

Ingredients Açai berries Banana GranolaInstructions Blend the açai berries and banana until smooth.

Top with a sprinkle of granola for added crunch.

Every ...Read more

Turn your breakfast into a fiesta with this delicious and filling dish. Blissful Breakfast Burrito is a celebration of the morning, wrapped up in a warm tortilla.

Ingredients Flour tortilla Scrambled eggs SalsaInstructions Warm the flour tortilla in a pan.

Fill it with scrambled eggs and salsa.

Roll up ...Read more

Q: What is umami?

A: Umami is the fifth flavor (in addition to sweet, salty, sour and bitter), discovered in Japan over 100 years ago. The term, umami, meaning “delicious,” encompasses a flavor profile of savory, brothy, rich or meaty taste sensation. This complex flavor experience helps to deepen or complete flavors and aromas and improve ...Read more

There’s nothing quite like tomato season. Farm stands and farmers markets are overflowing with nearly every variety you can image, everyone that so patiently waited for the tomato plants they planted in the spring to bear fruit can finally reap what they sowed, ...Read more

Salsas are an indispensable taste enhancer. They provide an enormous amount of flavor and an appealing texture. It’s amazing how so few calories can heighten the flavor of simple grilled or roasted dishes. This cross between a spicy vegetable salsa and a traditional guacamole shows that sometimes the whole is greater than the sum of its parts....Read more

Where once I’d pounce on a chef-made bowl of al dente pasta and crisp-tender vegetables, now it’s a dish I prefer to make at home. Using what’s fresh and new at the market, I slice and dice carrots, bell peppers, peas, spring onions and homeandleisure/recipes/varietymenu/s-4267920">Read more

We knew it was coming: The point in the summer when the garden overflows with zucchini and all manner of herbs, ready to become dinner.

Sprinkle tender basil and oregano over tomatoes, pizza and eggs. Use chives on savory dishes, even popcorn. Flavor pitchers of water with mint for a refreshing touch.

Fortunately, the zucchini still proves ...Read more

French toast is a beloved weekend brunch staple in my house. The loaf of bread that we purchased the Sunday prior is too dry for sandwiches … but it is ideal for soaking up egg custard! Once that custard-soaked bread is toasted in butter and coated in maple syrup, it...Read more

Here’s a meal that will spice up your summer dinners. Tender cubes of lamb are simmered in a quick, curry sauce for an easy weeknight meal. The best lamb cut for this recipe comes from the leg, which is also ideal for kabobs. If you don’t see it in the meat case, ask your butcher to cut some for you.

For convenience, I used supermarket ...Read more

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The humble sweet potato, long considered a North Carolina staple, is at the center of innovation as it’s transformed into the latest plant-based milk.

Appalachian State University researchers, backed by a $1.82 million grant, have found a new use for the vegetable, and with good reason.

North Carolina grows more sweet ...Read more

Greet the sunrise with a nutritious and energizing meal. Magical Morning Muesli is a homage to the freshness of early mornings, made tangible in a breakfast bowl.

Ingredients Muesli Almond milk Fresh figsInstructions Pour almond milk over the muesli and let it soak overnight in the fridge.

Slice fresh figs and add ...Read more