PHILADELPHIA — J. Jhondi Harrell, the founder and executive director of the Center for Returning Citizens (TCRC), remembers life before food stamps.

When he was 12, his father, a long-distance truck driver, had a heart attack. That was in 1967, and the family's economic well-being plummeted as his mother became the sole provider. To help make...Read more

Let’s face it — saying goodbye to summer can be tough. But Dairy Queen is here to soften the blow with a fall treat that might just have you cheering for cooler weather.

For two weeks (from Sept. 9-22) the dairy chain is offering a two-for-one Blizzard deal. To take advantage of this delicious offer, download the DQ Mobile App and head to ...Read more

PITTSBURGH -- Cooking every day is not easy. It’s even harder when you have to juggle school, work, extracurriculars or a full-time job with it.

While I would love to spend three hours each day experimenting with elaborate dishes, being in college or doing a full-time summer internship means that I’m always looking for quick recipes for ...Read more

Squirrels are cute and furry and absolutely adorable. But my wife calls them “little turds.”

Actually, my wife is a former newspaperwoman and she does not use as mild a word as “turds,” but it is as close as I can get in a family newspaper.

Our neighborhood squirrels dig up the dirt of all of our potted plants. They slurp up the sugar ...Read more

PITTSBURGH -- No one likes to say goodbye to summer, but there's no denying a new school year can be pretty exciting.

After chilling by the pool, sleeping in late and traveling with family on vacation, it's fun for kids to be back with their friends. And what parent or caregiver doesn't like the predictability of returning to weekday routines? ...Read more

Kit Kats are one of my favorite treats. Who doesn’t like those crispy wafer bars coated in milk chocolate?

Lately, the folks at Hershey’s have been introducing new flavors. I am a huge fan of the birthday cake flavor, which coats the wafers in a white chocolate. This new iteration, Chocolate Frosted Donut, isn’t as good as that, but it�...Read more

PITTSBURGH -- In the mood for a quick and easy dessert that ushers summer sweetly into fall?

The end of August and beginning of September are typically when peaches shine the brightest at Pennsylvania farmers markets and in local groceries. Georgia may call itself "The Peach State," but Pennsylvania grows a lot of the fruit, too — nearly 40 ...Read more

This is a light meal of pasta and fresh vegetables.

Substitute any fresh vegetables you might have on hand and use this recipe as a blueprint for quantities.

HELPFUL HINTS:

Any type of whole wheat pasta can be used.

2 crushed garlic cloves can be used instead of minced garlic.

COUNTDOWN:

Place water for pasta onto boil.

Saute vegetables ...Read more

Cubed deli turkey takes the place of chicken, while cheddar replaces blue cheese in this easy Cobb-inspired salad. The protein-rich turkey and cheese, plus eggs and bacon, gives the salad staying power, so you won't get hungry an hour after you eat. Feel free to swap out the turkey for cooked chicken or chickpeas to mix things up. Serve the ...Read more

A health food darling of the ’70s, carob fell out of favor and virtually vanished from the mainstream. The good news is, it’s back!

The folklore

Carob dates back about 4,000 years to the Mediterranean region. Carob pods were used by ancient Egyptians to feed livestock (a practice still used today), and the gum made from ...Read more

Who doesn’t love a slice of summer fruit bread? As late summer fruit begins to disappear, try making this when peaches are still in season.

The best part of this recipe is that this can be enjoyed any time of day. For breakfast, a coffee break, an afternoon snack, teatime, or dessert after lunch or dinner, this peachy bread will satisfy all ...Read more

Aromatic fresh basil motivates dinner many a night all year long. Shredded over pasta, pureed into vegetable soups, torn on a steak sandwich, chopped in fish salad and raw in tomato salads. I never get enough. We grow so much basil in the garden that I can use it like lettuce. Never mind the containers of pesto stocked in the freezer.

When the ...Read more

If you’re searching for a dessert that’s indulgent, sophisticated, and utterly comforting, then you’ve come to the right place. This chocolate cream pie is the answer you’re been looking for. Made with dark chocolate, cream cheese, and a hint of ...Read more

There are two types of muffins in the world: cupcakes masquerading as muffins, and those that are hearty, wholesome, and not overly sweet. Any ...Read more

What’s the first industry to fall victim to climate change? There’s a decent argument that it already happened — more than 600 years ago.

When the Norman Conquest in 1066 installed a French feudal aristocracy in the British Isles, the invaders brought with them a love of winemaking. Those skills flourished in the conditions of the ...Read more

A frittata, as a flat omelet is known in Italy, can be filled with a variety of vegetables and cheeses and makes a great impromptu brunch dish or supper. In this version, fresh mint and basil brighten the mild taste of zucchini. If you prefer, use feta or ricotta salata in place of the goat cheese.

Zucchini Frittata

Serves 2

Active Time: 35 ...Read more

As a Los Angeles native, I am very familiar with chopped salads. It seems like my city is famous for them. La Scala began the craze with their garbanzo bean, salami, cheese and lettuce chopped salad over 50 years ago. Then, of course, there was the famous Brown Derby Cobb Salad that had chopped iceberg lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, bacon and ...Read more

Rich steak, enlivened with peppercorns and bathed in pan juices enriched with cream just may be my favorite steak preparation. I’m not alone. Steak au poivre (pepper steak) has been revered for more than a century in France and beyond. The cream and booze in the sauce sound old school, but few dishes have as much staying power as this classic....Read more

If you’re the kind of person who loves to scroll through TikTok or Instagram, and find all of the latest food trends, welcome. Between hot honey Brie, ...Read more

When you get a hold of nice ripe peaches, it can be tempting to just take a big bite and eat them straight-up. But if you’re using them for a classic peach pie, homemade ice cream...Read more