These blueberry-lemon cupcakes are so light and delicious, it’s hard to eat just one! The blueberries burst in your mouth and the glaze gives an extra boost of sweet-tart lemon flavor. Serve these easy cupcakes at a grown-up birthday party, bridal shower or brunch.

Blueberry-Lemon-Ricotta Cupcakes

Serves 12

Active Time: 25 minutes

Total ...Read more

Kava is a compound (extracted from a plant member of the pepper family called Piper methysticum) native to islands of the western Pacific.

Overview

The root of the plant is emulsified into a beverage or it can be dried and incorporated into dietary supplement form. Kava may also be called kava-kava, kavain, yaqona, and more.

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Caponata, the Sicilian eggplant appetizer, is often served at room temperature on toasted croutons. Traditionally it includes tomatoes, eggplant, onions and capers to produce a pronounced sweet and sour taste. Baked eggplant alone is a canvas for many colors and flavors. In this California version there’s no tomato or capers. Here roasted ...Read more

A certain young family member requests tacos for most meals. The cooks in her life happily oblige with everything from ground beef tacos to butternut and black bean versions. When spicy is requested, we suggest pork chorizo with a red chile sauce.

In Mexico, fresh chorizo sausage often gets paired with cheese — a rich coupling worth every ...Read more

French toast is a breakfast staple for the ages. It has a long history and is eaten in many forms all over the world (Spanish torrijas is just one example). When planning your next ...Read more

Drawing from my family’s recipe collection, this rendition of penne alla vodka captures the essence of New Jersey Italian American cooking. Here, a blend of simple ingredients — tomatoes, vodka, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese — makes this creamy red sauce irresistible. But, the secret to the best vodka sauce? Using both whole peeled ...Read more

LOS ANGELES -- The checkout lines stretched far into the aisles of the 99 Cents Only store in Beverly Grove on a recent Monday afternoon. Red and black signs that read "Store Closing Sale" greeted shoppers at the entrance. Store shelves were mostly bare and the fresh fruit bins almost empty. It felt like a trip to the grocery store in March 2020...Read more

I love tacos when I'm cooking for a crowd because they're usually so much easier to pull together than a sit-down dinner with multiple courses, and they can be easily individualized depending on the toppings.

Any protein made with tinga, a spicy-ish sauce crafted from fire-roasted tomatoes, chili peppers and spices, is always at the top of my ...Read more

Black beans, vegetables and whole wheat tortillas come together in this simple vegetarian dinner.

Jicama is a root with a thin tan-colored skin that looks like a turnip. When peeled, it’s crisp and juicy. In Mexico it’s eaten raw, seasoned with a little lemon juice. Once peeled, cut or sliced, it retains its texture and color.

Helpful ...Read more

Sometimes dinner arises from a well-laid plan that includes time for a leisurely trip to the grocery store.

The same cool, calm cook who put together this plan then casually chops and dices everything perfectly — probably with one hand, while cradling a glass of wine with the other — before tossing it all together in a hot pan and arranging...Read more

Regular readers will know of my ongoing war against my kitchen appliances, or rather, their war against me. So will occasional readers. I write about it perhaps too often.

So it is only fair that I report on a singular relationship I have with a new appliance. It is deep. It is passionate.

I think we can call it love.

We laugh together, and ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS -- Those of us who grew up going to Midwestern supper clubs know it's a special kind of restaurant that doesn't always translate to other geographic locations. Sitting down with the family over broiled walleye, popovers and one of several optional potato preparations is a culturally significant experience.

Ideally, the restaurant ...Read more

America’s wheat crop is making a comeback. Too bad U.S. grocery shoppers want to buy less food made with it.

Although crop conditions for the staple grain are the best in four years, purchases of many flour-based foods have been slipping. The U.S. Department of Agriculture expects the amount of wheat used in food this year to hit the lowest ...Read more

Africa’s biggest coffee producer has revised rules to allow foreign companies to buy the commodity directly from farmers and processors, the latest in reforms to liberalize East Africa’s biggest economy.

Until now Ethiopia — which prides itself as the birthplace of coffee — required buyers such as Starbucks Corp., Volcafe Ltd., Louis ...Read more

David Chang’s public apology and the announcement that his company Momofuku would back off of an attempt to trademark the term “chili crunch” feel like standard damage control for a popular chef and the empire he’s built.

Like any sensible leader, politician, or public figure serving as a hood ornament to an operation, it’s easier to ...Read more

In this healthy ground beef and potatoes recipe, ground beef and potatoes are paired with colorful veggies, including kale, tomato and peppers. Everything is cooked in one skillet, which allows for layers of flavor to build quickly while also cutting back on the number of dishes.

Ground Beef & Potatoes Skillet

Serves 6

Active Time: 40 minutes...Read more

Yogurt is so much more than it once was. These days there’s fat-free, low-fat, and whole milk varieties as well as yogurt alternatives made from soy milk, cashew milk, almond milk and coconut milk. Choose drinkable yogurts when you are on the go.

Most choices are loaded with nutritional benefits — think protein and calcium — and there are...Read more

I am always looking for a Seriously Simple chicken recipe that can make it into my cooking rotation. It must be both kid-friendly and good enough to serve at a casual dinner party. This recipe satisfies those conditions.

I think of this as a springtime recipe, with the addition of artichokes that make their arrival in early spring. As a ...Read more

Freshly baked bread is our family’s love language. We nearly always have a beautiful loaf on the menu, no matter the season. During the cold weather, patience comes easily for the long, slow rises of homemade sourdough loaves. As the days lengthen, we turn to quicker rises, brighter flavors, and lighter texture.

Both of the breads that follow...Read more

My mom has made banana bread so often that she can make it without even referencing a recipe. And I’m sure she’s not alone. The sweet but simple loaf is easily customizable and requires little prep — it’s no wonder it’s ...Read more