Recipes
/Home & Leisure

The Kitchn: I guarantee my perfect tomato sauce is the easiest one you’ve ever made
There are any number of different sauces you can top your pasta with. You can go cheesy or meaty, or herby, to name a few. The one sauce that ...Read more

The Kitchn: This ingredient makes smoothies ridiculously creamy
Are you convinced that the only way to enjoy a perfectly smooth and creamy smoothie is a trip to the smoothie shop? While a good blender helps, I’ve found an ingredient that can turn any thin and icy smoothie into a super-rich and satisfying one — and no, it’s not...Read more

With no taxes on tips, should we still tip as much?
Now that servers are not going to be taxed on their tips, do we still have to tip them as much?
I’m sure that servers and hair stylists and cab drivers and everybody else who lives on tips would argue that we do, and perhaps should tip them even more.
But why? Why do they rate a sudden annual windfall?
Don’t get me wrong. I’m all in ...Read more

From cowboy to sushi chef to social media star, Tetsuya Nakao is doing it 'Asanebo style'
LOS ANGELES — On a recent Sunday afternoon, Tetsuya Nakao — the affable, upbeat 62-year-old Asanebo sushi chef with slicked silver hair — is filming one of his soon-to-be viral videos. Cheeky, occasionally unhinged and released nearly every day, they've garnered the Studio City legend a new fandom that's changed Nakao's life and his ...Read more

Don't complain about too much zucchini. Make this recipe instead
Zucchini is the blessing and bane of a garden.
In high season, my friend “gifts” boxes of her prodigious crop on her neighbors’ front steps and in the back seat of unlocked cars. What to do with all this bounty?
On its own, zucchini is a relatively humble ingredient that pales next to its summer peers — those snappy cherry tomatoes, ...Read more

You and your kids can make goldfish and animal crackers at home
My 18-month-old grandson doesn't have the biggest vocabulary, but like most toddlers, he makes what he wants known pretty clearly.
That's especially true when it comes to his favorite foods, which these days is pretty much anything he can stuff into his mouth unassisted.
His most practiced phrase is "Eat, eat!" followed by a gesture he learned...Read more

Back-to-school time is easy with these 4 no-stress dinners
"Back to school" can release a floodgate of emotions for parents.
We feel all the positive anticipation that goes with embarking on new adventures — it's thrilling to see a child begin kindergarten or enter the senior year of high school — but starting a new academic year also brings a lot of anxiety.
The lazier routines of summer have to ...Read more
With groceries more expensive than ever, here's how to save money
PITTSBURGH -- These are anxious times in which to feed our families.
Grocery shopping is not just wildly expensive these days — the Consumer Price Index in July was up 2.7% year-over-year, with the price of some foods reaching record levels — but also filled with uncertainty.
Just when you think the price of a box of Honey Nut Cheerios ...Read more

We tried this TikTok trend where watermelon takes flight so you don't have to
Watermelon with a squirt of mustard? Or slathered with PB&J? These are some of the suggestions on TikTok for so-called watermelon flights.
Like a flight of wine or whiskey, watermelon flights are meant to offer variations on a theme. Artfully cut slabs of watermelon are garnished with ingredients sweet and savory to offer interesting contrasts...Read more

Make these savory corn pancakes the side dish of the season
Corn, sweet and tender, is in joyful high season. There’s lots of it, and it’s easy to find, easy to love!
The best way to eat corn is straight off the cob, dripping with butter and showered with coarse salt … or grilled to roasty, caramelized perfection and slathered with spicy lime mayo. But hurry, the season for corn is now. Enjoy it ...Read more

EatingWell: Put a Greek spin on your morning sandwich
Traditional spanakopita gets a morning twist in these tasty breakfast sandwiches. Wilted spinach and arugula add color, while a fried egg adds a boost of protein. If you prefer a runnier egg yolk, you can keep it intact (just be careful when you flip it!).
Spanakopita Breakfast Sandwiches
Serves 4
Active Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 25 ...Read more

Seriously Simple: A Jewish New Year favorite: chicken soup with herbed matzo balls
This is my go-to quick chicken soup recipe for colds or holidays when I am in a hurry. For Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur, I like to make this soup three days ahead to let the flavors mingle. This recipe begins with a good-quality, store-bought broth, which immediately gives the chicken flavoring a head start. (Make ...Read more

Environmental Nutrition: Alcohol in the summer
Q: What is the relationship between alcohol intake and hydration in the summer?
A: Summer brings outdoor gatherings with refreshing drinks — but it’s important to under- stand how alcohol affects your body in hot weather. Alcohol can increase risks of dehydration and heat-related issues.
Alcohol is a diuretic — it causes your body to ...Read more

The Kitchn: This is the easiest way to cook eggplant
Cooking eggplant is quite easy and works in a million different ways: grilled eggplant, roasted eggplant cubes, homeandleisure/recipes/varietymenu/s-3832614">Read more

The Kitchn: The no-bake Argentinian dessert that’s way better than tiramisu
If you’re a fan of tiramisu, the layered Italian dessert that became popular back in the 1980s, you will absolutely love chocotorta. This Argentinian recipe features rich chocolate biscuits layered with a fluffy, mousse-like filling of homeandleisure/recipes/varietymenu/s-3832613">Read more
JeanMarie Brownson: No column
JeanMarie Brownson is on vacation this week.
©2025 JeanMarie Brownson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

The big restaurant that failed veganism
To atone before god, the book of Leviticus prescribes choosing two goats, one of which is slain as sacrifice and the other set loose to bear the sins of the people of Israel into the wilderness. That did not mean the animal was home free. Tradition states that the “scapegoat” was pursued and dashed to pieces as it was driven off a cliff. ...Read more

Pumpkin spice season is here: Coffee shops embrace fall with seasonal drinks
Starting Aug. 26, Starbucks has returned to its menus the beloved Pumpkin Spice Latte. The drinks — made with real pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg, according to the company — provide a sign that autumn has unofficially arrived.
More than two decades ago, Starbucks launched the PSL, kicking off a worldwide seasonal craze and quickly becoming ...Read more

In latest mashup of Chicago flavors, Garrett launches new pizza-flavored popcorn in collab with Home Run Inn
CHICAGO — Following a flurry of Chicago-flavored collaborations, a new twist on Garrett Popcorn combines the crunchy kernels with pizza in a partnership with Home Run Inn Pizza.
Garrett’s “Chicago Pizza” popcorn uses its signature butterfly and mushroom kernel, tossed in Home Run Inn’s “Everything But the Pizza” seasoning, with ...Read more

EatingWell: This sweet treat packs a healthy punch
This simple chocolate zucchini bread recipe is rich and chocolaty with pools of molten chocolate chips on top. The subtle sweetness makes it perfect for breakfast or a snack served with vanilla Greek-style yogurt and raspberries.
Chocolate Zucchini Bread
Serves 12
Active Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours, 25 minutes
2 large eggs
1/2 cup...Read more