Labor Day is often the last cookout of the summer season, not to mention the second most popular grilling day of the year (after July 4). So there's a good chance hamburgers, hot dogs, barbecued chicken or ribs are on the menu.

We get it — there's nothing like the undeniable aroma and taste of smoke-kissed meat to bring a smile to a meat ...Read more

Ripe seasonal fruit and a buttery pastry can take many forms: as a tart, a pie, a crumble, shortbread or a cake. But my go-to this time of year is the torte. Not the authentic torte, inspired by the Italian word "torta," meaning cake, the traditional airy sponge cake filled with richly flavored cream. No, I'm talking about one of the easiest ...Read more

Diving into the world of wine country’s edible gardens, Napa-based author Janet Fletcher invites readers to explore the intersection of food, wine and gardening in her cookbook, “Gather: Casual Cooking from Wine Country Gardens” (Harry N. Abrams, $40).

Fletcher – whose other titles highlight her expertise in cheese, wine and farmers ...Read more

While I love a good salad, fresh garden lettuces can do a whole lot more, serving as wraps and garnishes and as an integral part of burgers and sandwiches. But perhaps the most delicious and surprising of them is lettuce soup.

Whirl together leaves of vigorous Romaine, tender Bibb, spicy arugula, peppery watercress, earthy spinach, then add a ...Read more

ORLANDO, Fla. -- I am a food writer first and a photographer second.

Actually, it’s probably more like a photographer forty-second.

But I’m trying.

Recipes like this one make it easier, though occasionally, I need help, and for this cheesecake’s close-up, that came in the form of my neighbor, Valerie, who occasionally dog sits but had ...Read more

Holiday get-togethers tend to draw lots of people, especially when they're held outside. That's why at a July 4 cookout you'll often find multiple side dishes alongside the burgers, hot dogs and barbecued chicken on the hosts' picnic table.

Whether you're preparing them yourself or a guest is the contributor, salads and other cold sides are an ...Read more

Looking for an aromatic and refreshing summer gazpacho that pairs well with wine? This is your recipe.

Found in the pages of “Gather: Casual Cooking from Wine Country Gardens” (Harry N. Abrams, $40) by Janet Fletcher, this recipe was developed at Beringer Vineyards in St. Helena, one of Napa Valley’s most popular wineries. The winery has ...Read more

Tired of traditional summer tarts? Try out this deconstructed lemon tart recipe – a Meyer lemon curd parfait with layers of crumbled crust and blueberries soaked in wine and sugar.

This recipe comes from the Clif Family Winery, where an organic edible farm provides produce for the winery’s food truck, Clif Family Bruschetteria. The recipe ...Read more

This recipe, which hails from Cakebread Cellars, is featured in “Gather: Casual Cooking from Wine Country Gardens” by Janet Fletcher.

The Napa-based food writer is known for her “Planet Cheese” newsletter, as well as her cookbooks highlighting wine, cheese and farm-to-table fare. This book highlights more than 60 recipes from 13 edible ...Read more

If there's one thing we can count on come Memorial Day, it's that most of us will spend at least part of the holiday weekend hunkered over a hot grill.

Summer means being outdoors, and most cooks can't wait to trade their ovens, air fryers and Instant Pots for the smoky, sizzling pleasure of cooking on a gas or charcoal grill.

Grilling has ...Read more

Rightly or wrongly, men are expected to be meat lovers. So it tracks that on Father's Day, steak or burgers often end up the protein of choice on a celebratory menu.

It doesn't have to be so.

My dad always favored a good piece of fish, especially salmon, which is both low-calorie and full of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. My husband is a ...Read more

My first job was waitressing at a family restaurant and ice cream shop. Among my duties was dishing out the ice cream cones, sundaes and banana splits ordered by the guests seated in my section. Most ordered ice cream for dessert after lunch or dinner. Some came in exclusively for ice cream. Suffice it to say, I became an ace ice cream scooper ...Read more