food
Let citrus warm up your meals
Right about now winter citrus —with its sunny disposition — brightens the scenery. Coming into its own during these snow-blanketed months, acidic fruits deliver a much-needed blast of cheer.
Guide helps shoppers navigate supermarket aisles better
The Eat This, Not That (Rodale, $19.99) comprehensive guide to supermarkets is a real lifesaver. Authors David Zinczenko and Matt Goulding call it a supermarket survival guide, and that’s no boasting; it’s true.
Stromboli — part pizza, part calzone, all party!
A stromboli is kind of a cross between a grinder and a calzone. Bread dough is rolled out, filled with sliced meats, cheeses and vegetables, then rolled up into a tube and baked. To serve, stromboli are simply sliced like a loaf of bread, creating …
Jam plus chicken equals delicious
When it comes to making pulled chicken, it’s hard to beat the two-ingredient simplicity of simmering chicken breasts in a bottle of barbecue sauce. On plenty of weeknights, that’s my go-to dinner. Add some bread (buns, whole-wheat tortillas, or even just lettuce leaves) and call …
Cupcakes for the Super Bowl dudes
These are not your girlfriend’s cupcakes. There is no frilly pastel frosting piped on top. They are not delicate. They are not pretty. They are big, bold, manly and totally down for a Super Bowl spread. Since ease is key for Super Bowl feasts, we …
Lighter take on game day classic: popcorn chicken
The big game on Super Bowl Sunday usually brings with it big eats. As a nation, in just one day we consume millions of pounds of potato chips, tortilla chips, pretzels, popcorn and nuts. And don’t even get me started on the guacamole, chicken wings, …
Ghee: What it is and how to use it
Why not just use butter? Fair question, especially since ghee is going to be more trouble to find (it’s hidden in your grocer’s international or natural foods aisles) and you’ll pay way more for it ($5 or more for a 71/2-ounce jar). Despite that, it’s …
A lighter take on a classic braised chicken
Let’s have a quick show of hands among the diet-conscious: Who is craving a plain baked chicken breast right now? Exactly. No one. Chicken breasts au naturel don’t ring my bells either, so I’m always looking for ways to pair chicken with flavor detonators in …
German pork stew is both hearty and healthy
It’s winter. It’s cold. You want something hearty. But you’re also trying to eat better and don’t want to ruin your diet by diving into a cream-laden casserole. A lean stew is just the thing you need. Instead of being heavy, it’s hearty with virtuous …
Eat lighter with wild rice soup
After all that heavy holiday eating, it’s good to tone it down a bit for the new year. Whether you resolve to make a commitment to better eating or just want a palate cleanser from all the roasts and dips, this light and creamy soup …
Winter demands the comfort of mac and cheese
In this grown up version of macaroni and cheese we take a trip to Italy. Sort of. Inspired by the Italian sub popular in the Northeast, we sauteed up salami, garlic peppers, sun-dried tomatoes and onion. Our cheese sauce is creamy and sharp with a …
Chipotle chicken gets moisture boost from mayonnaise
And the secret ingredient is . . . mayonnaise! The first time anyone told me that, I thought I was going to faint or laugh out loud. It sounded preposterous. But then I tasted the food and suddenly it made sense. Mayonnaise is an emulsified …
Cardamom: What it is and how to use it
The typical grocer sells some 50,000 different products. The typical shopper buys the same 264 over and over again. The point of this column? To persuade you to take a second look at some of the 49,736 foods that don’t usually land in your cart. …
Civilize Christmas drinking with merry cocktails
Here’s an idea: This year, have a Christmas brunch and turn it into a real occasion with festive — but light — Christmas cocktails.
A fast and virtuous dip fit to serve company
My goal was simple — a company-worthy dip that didn’t involve a heart-stopping volume of sour cream. If it also could be fast and easy to assemble, even better. Because face it, we need all the help we can to manage the chaos of cleaning …
Rocco DiSpirito lightens up a winter classic
Chicken noodle soup may have a reputation for helping us beat the winter sniffles, but that doesn’t make it health food. Processed varieties, for example, can be loaded with calories, fat and sodium. And don’t even get me started on the lack of flavor and …
