This not-too-sweet mini dessert combines the flavors of peanut butter cups and chocolate cake. Quinoa flour adds protein and makes these bites gluten-free, but feel free to substitute white whole-wheat flour instead.

Peanut Butter Brownie Bites

Serves 24

Active Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour and 30 minutes

3/4 cup smooth natural peanut...Read more

Q: How do I make my own nut butter?

A: Surprise yourself by trying your hand at homemade nut butter. You’ll never go back to store-bought after you experience fresh and oh-so-creamy butters made with your favorite nut or combination of nuts — how about peanut, almond, or cashew? Perhaps a pistachio-sunflower seed combo? It’s not only a ...Read more

These pesto topped eggplant halves are a Seriously Simple side dish for fish, poultry or meat. They are also good as a first course, quartered and served with a drizzle of tomato sauce.

I am partial to the slender, dark purple eggplant variety. They usually have a milder flavor that is sometimes slightly sweet since they have less seeds than ...Read more

Ever the salad sleuth, I bravely order them even in the most unlikely spots. Like an old-world Italian restaurant in a small town in Wisconsin. In the dead of winter.

They had me at farro, gruyere and toasted pistachio at Cannova’s in Neenah, Wisconsin. Originally from Freeport, Illinois, some variation of this beloved classic restaurant has ...Read more

Whenever a holiday rolls around, I choose one special recipe to make with my two kids. For some holidays, we have a designated treat that never changes (like sugar cookies for Christmas). For other holidays we switch it up depending on my kids’ ages and tastes. This year for Valentine’s Day we’re making Oreo truffles for their teachers and...Read more

Whether you’re watching the Super Bowl or just having a movie night, jalapeño poppers deserve a place in your appetizer spread. You can make them ahead of time and heat them in the air fryer as needed. That means you can have a never-ending parade of hot, spicy, gooey goodness.

Once you’ve hollowed out, filled, and topped your jalapeño ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Rounds of sliced-thin, pink, white-speckled mortadella are popping up on sandwiches, on charcuterie plates and even in the occasional cocktail in Los Angeles, but it's hard to view any food item depicted in ancient Roman carvings as a flash in the pan. The Italian deli meat that traces its roots to Bologna and as far back as the ...Read more

To do your best in an endurance event, such as the Pittsburgh Marathon on May 7, you have to put in the work with ever-longer training runs to build a mileage base.

Proper warmups and cooldowns also are important to prevent injuries, and a few rigorous hill workouts are probably a good idea to prepare for the dreaded, slow climb up Forbes ...Read more

BALTIMORE — Scott Lanphear wasn’t expecting much of a reaction when he fired off a Facebook post earlier this month about the nonalcoholic cocktails available at Patterson Public House.

“It was a spur-of-the-moment decision,” Lanphear said. The owner of the bar and restaurant in Patterson Park was just having fun coming up with clever ...Read more

Is there anything more satisfying than a wrap?

For starters, they're super easy to make. Second, they can be customized with just about any protein or veggie, or combination of the two, making for a nutritious meal. Third, they're portable, so you can take them on the road to the office, your kid's soccer game or any outside adventure.

I found...Read more

Two Minnesota companies join forces to make the beer that will be the hit of your game-day gatherings.

The first thing you notice about the beer is its scent. Not earthy hops, not caramelly malt — chili.

An unlikely collaboration from two Minnesota companies has yielded a one-of-a-kind beer inspired by a hall-of-fame party dip, just in time ...Read more

CHICAGO — Before I was a food critic for the Chicago Tribune, I spent 15 years writing, cooking and, most importantly, eating as much as I could. To review a restaurant these days, I visit multiple times, read any books that might be helpful, and spend hours crafting a review that is both helpful and, hopefully, engaging to read.

But what if ...Read more

Thanks to improved taste and texture, it's easier than ever to work alternative meat sources into meals.

A decade ago, this would have been a very different story.

Meat alternatives such as tofu and tempeh were centuries old; frozen "veggie burgers" and the earliest plant-based meats had been on the scene for more than 20 years. Beyond Meat ...Read more

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — January’s storms brought havoc to metropolitan Sacramento, trashing public parks and smashing houses and cars around town. But in the region’s hills, all that rain meant mushrooms, to the joy of foragers such as Tyler Bond.

A partner in Arden Arcade’s Lemon Grass Restaurant, Bond has developed a reputation around ...Read more

CHICAGO — “Are the Chicago people fond of popcorn?” asked a Tribune reporter in an article from Dec. 2, 1883.

A food vendor replied emphatically: “Fond of it? Well, I should rather say so. Who can help but be fond of fresh corn nicely popped, sugared, salted, or buttered to suit the taste? Yes sir, they are decidedly.”

Since at least...Read more

So the name is a mouthful, and not in a good way. But the almonds themselves — yes, cocoa-dusted, thinly dipped and chocolate coated — are quite delicious. The best part is the chocolate, giving flavor to the heartiness of the almond. The second best? The “thinly” part is perfect, not too much chocolate to overwhelm the nut. But the ...Read more

Perfect for any day, this fiber-rich dip is a surefire crowd-pleaser to serve with crudités or tortilla chips. It requires little prep time and is ready to serve immediately.

Zesty Avocado Black Bean Dip

Serves 12

Active Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

4 medium ripe avocados, divided

1 to 2 tablespoons lime juice, divided

3/4 ...Read more

People who follow a healthy lifestyle do more than just manage their diet and make good food choices. They also tend to get regular exercise, keep alcohol in check, don’t smoke, and manage their weight. In fact, research shows that these health behaviors actually tend to cluster together.

Clustering is a prevalent pattern of health behaviors ...Read more

Valentine’s Day is a holiday I embrace. A celebration of love and kindness is my kind of holiday. It’s a way to let your loved ones and dear friends know how much you appreciate them.

I like to come up with dishes that celebrate the moment. Usually, it’s a chocolate molten cake or a chocolate brownie to sweeten the holiday. This year, I ...Read more

Crepes, those ultra-thin French pancakes, deserve a spot in our Valentine’s Day chocolate dreams. Crepes cook in less than a minute, can be made days ahead, and taste great flavored with chocolate and a sprinkling of sugar or decadently filled with whipped cream.

A blender full of batter, made quickly from flour, milk and eggs, actually ...Read more