05/15/2008

Slow cooker makes short work of pulled pork
Some of my best recipes come from friends, as they have usually been tested many times with consistent success. This one from Nancy Torrey is well-suited to the slow cooker and is just like the pulled pork you might get at a pig pickin' in North Carolina.

05/14/2008

Sweet and spicy recipes make grilled meats delicious

EVANS CAGLAGE/DMN

Grilled Chicken with Black Bean Mango Salsa

Adding sweet, citrusy flavors to spicy grilled meats and fish makes an everyday dinner seem like a vacation feast. Here are techniques for getting the combination right, plus recipes for fruit salsa, a mango barbecue sauce and more.

Mango Iced Tea

05/13/2008

Marinade Moroccan-style chicken while you're at work
When it's grilling season, it's easier to avoid the takeout trap.Spending a few minutes in the morning creating a marinade for a healthy protein such as chicken or fish can ensure that a tasty entree is ready for quick cooking on the grill when the workday's done.

05/12/2008

Spring greens are loaded with nutrition and flavor
Spring greens, usually a combination of mizuna, tatsoi, red oakleaf, sorrel, arugula and frisee, used to show up only at high-end restaurants but recently has become a year-round staple in supermarket produce aisles.

Mom's Amazing Meatloaf
Growing up, I often boasted that my mom made the best meatloaf. And since Mother's Day is such a nostalgic time, I'm preparing the original recipe in her honor.

05/09/2008

Passionate Icebox Pie perfect for Mother's Day
This Mother's Day, we're giving ourselves the gift of not cooking. We'll start out in a restaurant and then let our families wear the chef hats for the rest of the day. They'll love making today's Passionate Icebox Pie.

05/07/2008

Cooking with Wine: Meatloaf
Across the commonwealth, more than 130 wineries offer hundreds of varieties of vintages, including red, white, rose, sparkling and dessert.

05/06/2008

Stack up layered salads in a drink glass for simple stylish entertaining
Here's a smart secret for the busy host. These individual stacked salads are made a day ahead of time in rocks glasses, the short, wide glasses used for mixed drinks. We'll show you how it works, and give you a variety of salads to try.

How to grill bone-in chicken breasts

I can grill up a burger, hot dog or even a swordfish steak with the best. But truth be told, perfecting the chicken breast — juicy in the middle, caramelized exterior — is a nerve-racking experience. But it can be done with a little grill sense.

04/30/2008

Extra jelly makes a nice glaze
What do you do with leftover jam or jelly? Make a glaze for chicken or pork.

Cut the calories in Bruschetta Chicken but keep the flavor
Bruschetta Chicken is fast, easy to fix and great to serve company. But it could be more nutritious.

04/29/2008

Make-Ahead Mushroom-Alfredo Lasagna helps budget
Have you seen the MasterCard commercial in which lasagna ingredients roll through the grocery checkout? The voiceover goes something like this: "Lasagna noodles, ground beef, sauce, cheese: $47."

Quick Fried Rice and Ham
A quick, easy meal.

04/28/2008

Recipes for a foodie book club
Try these book-related recipes for a fun gathering...strawberry salad, asparagus quiche and rustic apple bread pudding.

Tarragon Shrimp with Virginia Wine-Beurre Blanc Sauce Fresh steamed shrimp pairs with perfectly al dente pasta and is married with a rich, buttery sauce with a spark of citrus and brightness from a Pinot Grigio from Barboursville Vineyards, a winery near Charlottesville, VA.

04/16/2008

Quick Bananas Foster is great for special occasions
The presentation of Bananas Foster lends itself to a special occasion, as does the decorative glass. This shortened version omits the flambé technique but still has the familiar taste. The sauce can be prepared in advance.

04/15/2008

Pillsbury Bake-Off winner: A million-dollar cookie
Carolyn Gurtz, a homemaker from Gaithersburg, Md., took home $1 million for her Double-Delight Peanut Butter Cookies at the Pillsbury Bake-Off in Dallas.

04/14/2008

Black bean soup without the wait
No matter what the season, soup and a sandwich make for a quick, low-effort meal.

Two-Minute Expert: Make your own herbes de Provence
Herbes de Provence is a blend of flavorful herbs that originated in Provence, a region in the southeast of France bordering on the Mediterranean that is rich in herbs and boasts a sophisticated culinary tradition.

04/09/2008

15 ways to stretch your grocery dollar
If you shop at all, you've probably noticed that grocery prices are rising. In more carefree days, you may have thrown out leftover chicken, limp celery or the last few tortillas in the fridge. But today, that's like throwing away even more money. Here's how to make the most of the food you have.

Country Bacon Rolls with Savory Spread Sandwiched between two buttery halves of a dinner roll and accented with a savory spread, these are great for parties, snacks and picnics.

04/08/2008

Scallops: superfood from the sea
Pan-Seared Scallops With Ginger Sauce is a dish fit for company yet easy to prepare.

Ricotta cheesecake cuts down on fat
Cheesecake is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. But it's hard to be pleased with the amount of fat in many classic versions – usually more than 30 grams per serving. A delicious lighter cheesecake is possible, though.

04/03/2008

Baked Hawaiian Boneless Chicken Breast
Recipe uses six boneless chicken breasts.

04/01/2008

Could a raw-food diet have an impact on cancer survival?
A raw-food diet – basically raw fruits, vegetables and whole grains – has plenty of advocates, but whether it's the right choice for a cancer patient is open to question.

Eggplant stretches meal options
For the no-meat meal, prepare Eggplant Parmesan. Alongside, add green beans , a red-tipped lettuce salad and whole-wheat rolls .

03/27/2008

Tart raspberry lemon sorbet
You can make this using an ice cream maker or using egg whites and freezing.

03/26/2008

Snappy wines to serve with saucy red snapper
This month, spring fever left the wine panel dreaming of the Mexican coast – not for a beach trip, but for red snapper prepared Veracruz style and served with a glass of wine.

03/24/2008

Use leftover ham in easy next-day dishes
Still have half a ham left after the holiday? Simple sandwiches are great once. But here we have some quick ideas for other ways to serve it: Try ham sandwiches with pineapple and nut filling, ham and potato chowder, and rosemary and ham scones.

03/19/2008

Easter: Green bean 'nest' with potato 'eggs'
Here's a festive take on green beans for the holiday meal.

Easter: Potato and sweet potato torte
Treat your taste buds with this potatoe and sweet potato torte for the big family dinner.

Easter: Asparagus with citrus, parsely and garlic
Try Easter recipes made easy.

Easter: Spinach and roasted-pepper gratin
This spinach and roaster-pepper gratin with two kinds of cheese will hit the spot.

Good for you cooking
When it comes to "Techniques of Healthy Cooking," only serious cooks need apply. That's because this weighty volume (in bulk and scope) is a textbook from the Culinary Institute of America.

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
Makes a dozen regular size or 2 dozen mini muffins

03/18/2008

Chocolate Pudding Cake
Serve pudding cake warm with vanilla or coffee ice cream.

03/17/2008

Brussels sprouts get a taste makeover
Brussels sprouts could really use a makeover. If you think of them as a slightly stinky vegetable that shows up for holidays, you know what we mean. This lowly vegetable needs another name. Let's call the sprouts cute little cabbages – "cuties," for short.

Lower-fat, lower-calorie beef stroganoff
This recipe for stroganoff keeps the flavor and texture of the original but shaves off calories and fat with substitutions. This recipe uses only a fraction of the original cup of half-and-half and adds beef broth and fat-free milk.

03/13/2008

A guide to the right Easter ham for you
With the profusion of fully cooked hams on the market, the most difficult step in getting the ham on the table is deciding which to buy. They're sold in supermarkets and online; bone-in or boneless; half or whole; spiral sliced or unsliced.

Try lamb and potatoes for St. Pat's Day
St. Patrick's Day celebrates the anniversary of the death of Ireland's patron saint. On this festive holiday, Lenten prohibitions against meat are dropped in favor of drinking, feasting and dancing.

03/12/2008

For eggplant, the trick is in the preparation
The trick is in the preparation of eggplant, as this recipe with Japanese-style breading shows.

Sliders: Upscale, in the freezer case, or made at home, they make mighty bites
Yeah, they're a Yankee thing, but those miniburgers sure are good, aren't they? Even in bigger-is-better Texas. Now, you can try these variations at upscale restaurants, family eateries, in the freezer case, and with these recipes, at home.

03/10/2008

7 ways to build a better sandwich
Perhaps you've eaten too many ho-hum sandwiches; so many that you consider sandwiches a cop-out. If so, it's time to rebuild your sandwich repertoire. Here are seven great ideas for lunch or dinner.

Crunchy makeover for pork tenderloin
Panko, a Japanese-style of breading, turns herb crusted pork tenderloin into a crunchy feast. The breading is crispier and lighter than most kinds of breading. Look for panko in the ethnic foods aisle or near the bread crumbs.

03/07/2008

Fancy Veal Piccata in a snap
You might think that Veal Piccata is an impossible dish for entertaining because it requires a last-minute sauté. However, if you buy your side dishes it is not as hard as you might imagine.

Chicken, veggies stretch food dollars deliciously
The price of meat is going up, so we're looking for ways to eat less of it without feeling deprived. Today's recipe calls for just two boneless chicken-breast halves (about 12 ounces), yet it's a bountiful, delicious meal for a family of four.

03/06/2008

Shrimp Risotto that's not high-maintenance
Risotto is a classic Italian dish made with arborio rice that has a creamy, soft texture unlike other rice dishes.

Pan-seared salmon over Santa Fe pasta
Spicy salmon recipe

03/05/2008

How popular cake recipes stack up
Looking for the best recipe, we compared cakes from three expert sources: Cooks Illustrated, The Joy of Cooking and The Cake Bible. See which technique won out.

Perfect poundcake and chocolate cake recipes
These recipes from Joy of Cooking, Cook's Illustrated, and The Cake Bible will help you choose the best cake recipe for you.

03/04/2008

Omelet won't weigh you down
After a month of holiday parties, rich foods and fancy dinners, most of us resolve to eat light for a few weeks or so. It is often difficult to scale down after the holidays, but this hearty omelet might satisfy as well as save a lot of calories.

03/03/2008

Macaroni and cheese goes light
Few foods are as comforting as homemade macaroni and cheese, creamy inside and crunchy on top. Of course, traditional versions of this classic usually call for at least two cups of high-fat cheese, a stick of butter and whole milk or cream.

Homemade granola bars have less fat and sodium
These homemade granola bars keep excess sugar and trans fats out of the mix. Bars of every make and model are causing gridlock in the supermarket aisles. But buyer beware.

02/29/2008

Monterey Jack Salsa
Recipe of the day

Kotophitta or Chicken Triangles
Chicken pieces in fillo dough, a traditional Greek recipe.

02/27/2008

The best red wines for a sweet and spicy spaghetti
Although spaghetti and meatballs has universal appeal, it's not universally suited to just any red wine. This month, our wine panel sought wines for less than $20 each to complement this beloved dish.

Classic Spaghetti and Meatballs
The meatballs are zesty and come with a slightly sweet sauce.

Two-Minute Expert: How big is a sprig?
Your recipe calls for a sprig of fresh herb. How much is that?

Beefy Tortilla Soup is great for busy nights
Today's Beefy Tortilla Soup is a twist on chicken tortilla soup. Start with a recipe for slow-cooked beef and use the leftovers to make this great soup.

02/26/2008

Finger-lickin' healthy chicken from the oven
Fried chicken may be finger-lickin' good, but we know it's far from healthy.

The Settlement Cookbook Banana Cake
This cake is so moist, you can easily serve it without frosting. For those who can't resist, recipes follow for Lemon-Butter Frosting and Coffee Frosting.

02/22/2008

Eat for Life: Moroccan stew combines chicken and prunes
Tagine (pronounced "tah-zheen") is a hallmark of Moroccan cooking. The slow-simmered stew mingles meats and vegetables with aromatic spices, such as cumin and cinnamon.

02/21/2008

Turkey meatloaf cuts the fat but not the comfort
Meatloaf is a supreme comfort food that can be served hot from the oven or the next day in a sandwich.

Spice rub makes pork loin festive
You may need to invite friends to share this festive Roasted Pork Loin With Garlic and Spice Rub because it's that delicious. Add a red-tip lettuce salad and multigrain rolls. Finish this company-worthy meal with peach sorbet .

02/20/2008

How to make authentic Texas chicken-fried steak
Too many cafes make chicken-fried steak by dragging it through thick batter and deep frying it. Reclaim the way this dish was made 30 years ago by following this expert technique.

Cuban comfort food in a slow cooker
What better to come home to than the smell of a richly flavored stew that's been slow cooking all day? We love slow-cooker recipes that don't require us to cook anything on top of the stove.

02/15/2008

How to make perfect oven chili fries
It sounded daunting, but ended up being an easy challenge. I wanted chili-seasoned french fries that were as crispy and flavorful as those gorgeous deep-fried wedges you find at carnivals, all golden and fatty, but healthy enough that I wouldn't feel pangs of guilt feeding them to my toddler.

Oyster Empañadas One of the wonderful things about living in Hampton Roads are all the great foods we enjoy here. There are many foods which are either unique to our area, or we sure know how to do them right in these parts.

02/14/2008

Pesto Lasagna Rolls
Instead of making a traditional lasagna, try these pesto lasagna rolls.

Slow-Cooker Pot Roast
If you don't have a slow cooker, you can make the stew in a Dutch oven and cook in the oven.

02/13/2008

Make a store cake a valentine with simple decorations
No time to cook for your valentine? Here's a simple, speedy way to dress up a store-bought cake for Valentine's Day.

Hershey's Cocoa-Can Fudge
Make a batch of chocolate fudge, just in time for Valentine's Day.

02/12/2008

Make an easy cherry tart for your sweetheart
Just calling something easy doesn't make it so. But we're telling the truth about today's recipe.

Mocha Banana Cream Pie is a low-fat delight
It's hard to imagine a better way to demonstrate love than by making a chocolate dessert for Valentine's Day. This recipe for Mocha Banana Cream Pie has antioxidant-rich cocoa and dark chocolate and is low in fat.

Peanut Butter Swirl Bars
Quick and easy, this dessert takes only 35 minutes to bake in the oven.

02/11/2008

A Valentine's dinner for beginners
This menu is for two or four, tailor-made for those working folks who want to serve a special meal with limited effort. Dishes inspired by classics always have an upscale impression.

Gennie's pie is peanut butter perfection
If you ever ate at Gennie's Bishop Grill in Oak Cliff, you probably remember the yeast rolls and the chicken-fried steak, the banana pudding and the pies.

20 easy recipes from spinach souffle
Spinach soufflé: a beloved side dish and base. With the addition of a few ingredients, spinach soufflé can become Spinach Pinwheels in Puff Pastry or the filling for a Chicken Taco Florentine. It can top pizza or stuff pasta.

Champagne Chocolate Truffles In today’s Everyday Gourmet, we make Chocolate Champagne Truffles. These are quick and easy to make, but so rich and flavorful – even sinful.

02/01/2008

Score with make-ahead subs
Think pregame when it comes to grub for gridiron groupies. Here are recipes for Sausage and Carmelized Onion Subs

In Season: Turnip greens nourish the Southern soul
Right now, turnip, mustard and collard greens are coming from the Rio Grande Valley.

01/31/2008 Healthy Snack Mix Snacking doesn't have to be unhealthy, but it should be satisfying. It is classified as a treat, after all. We have a snack mix that is as healthy as you want it to be, yet very satisfying in taste, texture and appearance.

Dishwasher Poached Salmon with Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Served atop salmon, this pesto is delicious!

01/29/2008

Soup and other low-cal foods fill you up, not out
If a person's body craves a particular amount of food to feel satisfied, providing that volume with low-calorie foods is a simple strategy for eating fewer calories without feeling deprived. Try these tips, including a recipe for Chinese-Style Chicken Noodle Soup.

Buttermilk Cinnamon Coffee Cake
Delicious coffee cake in the morning. Recipes for Buttermilk Cinnamon Coffee Cake and Walnut Sour Cream Coffee Cake

01/25/2008

Add ingredients to a brownie mix for delightful results
Brownies made from a mix are a staple with busy moms. And with a little extra effort, your box brownies can stand out from the crowd. Here are five easy ways to decorate brownies using a simple cream-cheese icing.

01/24/2008

Budget entertaining: A make-your-own pizza party
Follow this recipe for a party where everyone helps bring ingredients, make the food, and show off their tastes in pizza.

Easy assembly: Fast herb bread
This herb bread, made by mixing fresh herbs into crescent dough, adds just the right spice to any meal. Experiment with different savory herbs until you find your favorite combination.

01/23/2008 Chocolate Cake Deconstructed On our platter is plain chocolate cake, decadent chocolate icing, chocolate shavings and cocoa powder. We serve it with a shot glass of chocolate syrup, just to make everything that much more over the top.

Eat for Life: Low fat and lush poached pears
For a swank dinner party, a curvaceous pear poached in red wine and served in an elegant compote dish makes a memorable dessert. But fresh pears needn't be reserved for special occasions. To make the dessert more family-friendly, choose a nonalcoholic poaching liquid.

Recipes and tips to stretch your food budget
Budget days are here again, as prices increase for food staples such as milk and products that depend on wheat and corn. Here are recipes and ideas for maximizing your nutrition and minimizing spending.

01/22/2008

Asian-flavored chicken goes bowling with pasta
Double Duty: After making Asian Chicken Grill use the remaining chicken breasts for Chicken Angel Hair Pasta.

01/18/2008

Dallas baker wins national Pillsbury pie prize
Take a tres leches cake for inspiration, combine that with berries and cherries, put them all inside a pie crust, and what do you get? The grand prize winner in the Pillsbury Refrigerated Pie Crust Pie Baking Championship.

Garlic and Ginger Glazed Steak
Garlic and Ginger Glazed Steak makes a great variation on a classic. Try it tonight, or check out more featured steak recipes.

How to keep blueberries from sinking in batter
Tossing ingredients with flour is one way to keep them from sinking in batter, but that works best with dry things, such as dried fruit or nuts.

Avocado, Orange and Fennel Salad In today’s Everyday Gourmet, we combine rich, creamy avocado with sweet citrus fruit and the licorice-y, green flavor of fennel presented on a bed of crisp romaine lettuce and accented with a drizzle of an orange juice vinaigrette.

Eat for Life: Great baked potatoes
Potatoes are one of those aha! vegetables. Find out why, plus a recipe for Ham and Vegetable Stuffed Potatoes.

01/17/2008

Broiled topping takes oatmeal cake over the top
Here is a cake to fill the tummy and warm the heart. And it can go from craving to table in about 45 minutes.

Dress up rotisserie chicken
Although most of us are familiar with rotisserie chickens for last-minute meals, we may not consider them fancy enough for entertaining. However, with some interesting side dishes, a simple sauce and attention to presentation, you can create a special dinner for friends – even if they know you bought the chicken cooked.

Salmon tacos

01/16/2008

Two soups to keep fans happy at a Super Bowl party
Hearty soups make a simple dinner for a Super Bowl-watching crowd and keep warm in a slow cooker without overcooking. Serve them with cornbread or a crusty bread from a bakery.

In Season: Carrots are a nutritional bargain
Find out what's freshest and best at area stores, plus get recipes for carrots, which are in season now.

Dried Cherry Apple Almond Crisp
A simple dessert bakes in just 35 minutes.

01/14/2008

Bake a loaf of heavenly bread

KYE R. LEE/DMN

Lynn Mattie believes that baking bread is within anyone's grasp. She should know. The 48-year-old has been teaching bakery and pastry arts at El Centro College since 2000. And she's been baking bread since she was 12. But many of her students, like most home cooks, have never been faced with producing a loaf of bread.

Frank X. Tolbert's ch