Sulfites are chemicals that are often added to food and drinks to help keep them fresh. They act as preservatives, which means they stop food from spoiling too quickly. Sulfites also help prevent foods from turning brown or changing color and can slow the growth of bacteria and mold.

You’ll find sulfites in many common foods. They are often ...Read more

You got this! Author Diane Morrisey has penned a book chock-full of vibrant and accessible recipes I can’t wait to cook. A few of my favorites include breakfast calzones and crispy cod sticks. I recently tried this marinated grilled flank steak served with a bright, zesty salsa.

The salsa takes a bit of time, so make it up earlier in the day....Read more

School rhythms dictate our August plans. Days at the beach with the grandchildren get squeezed in between back-to-school shopping. The new backpacks hold brightly colored folders and unicorn-decorated pencils. Pink and purple lunch boxes await creative meals and snacks. The anticipation of a new school year makes the whole family look forward to...Read more

When I was growing up, “crunchy taco night” was a frequently requested dinner in my family — and with good reason. Between the satisfying crunch of the taco shell and ...Read more

I would love to be relaxing on a tropical island with my feet in the sand, enjoying the crashing waves and a cool ocean breeze. Unfortunately, that vacation isn’t in the cards for me this summer, which is why I’m making this new whipped lemonade on ...Read more

I promise you will never regret making or having garlic butter around. When combined, the two simple ingredients turn into a culinary powerhouse called a compound butter, coating everything it touches with delicious flavor as it melts. A ...Read more

MIAMI -- Marc Ellenby has grown just about every tropical fruit imaginable on his family’s Redland farm since 1980. Avocados. Sapodillas. Longans. Mameys. But there was one tropical fruit he didn’t think could survive here: Breadfruit.

Century-old reports from South Florida’s founding botanists say that these large, starchy fruits would ...Read more

On one of the hottest days of the year, I stand beneath the 7-foot trellis that bridges our two raised garden beds, talking to my massive cucumber plant.

I’m clipping off curlicue tendrils and winding vines, apologizing because it is doing such a good job growing, but it’s gotta leave some room for the tomatoes.

A fuzzy bumblebee happily ...Read more

A former colleague — terribly self-important because of winning a number of journalism prizes — once took a protege out to a fancy lunch spot in New York City. When the table talk reached a lull, however, the mentor flipped open a book and started to read. When his dining companion asked why he was being so rude, my colleague responded: “I...Read more

Farmers markets are often associated with freshness, community and high-quality produce — but not always with affordability. While it’s easy to assume that buying directly from local growers will save money, many shoppers find themselves spending more than expected. Fortunately, with a few simple strategies, it’s entirely possible to enjoy...Read more

While the heat continues to pound us from coast to coast, I cook as simply as possible. No long simmering stews or soups for me. I am moving toward no-cook chilled soups, chilled precooked salmon or shrimp, tomato and fruit salads, crisp vegetable salads or barbecued anything.

One of my favorite ways to beat the heat and serve up something ...Read more

Cereal, specifically original Cheerios, topped with wedges of a juicy, ripe local peach, and a modest amount of ice-cold milk, has been my favorite summer breakfast since kindergarten. For many years, those peaches came from my grandmother’s trees.

Now summer vacation plans center on the Michigan peach season. My granddaughters know to slice ...Read more

My husband is obsessed with everything chocolate, from soft chocolate chip cookies and fudgy brownies to homeandleisure/recipes/varietymenu/s-4273050">Read more

Risotto is a dish that is sure to impress. It’s one of Italy’s quintessential dishes, made from short grain rice, savory broth, and nutty...Read more

My Korean mother does not mince words: “You want crispy chicken, then you better fry the chicken and you better fry it right.” She’s right! After decades of eating her cooking, I can vouch for her expertise. So when I crave homeandleisure/recipes/varietymenu/s-4273048">Read more

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

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

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