Maple syrup, naturally sweet with its lush notes of vanilla and caramel, is one of the first signs of spring. Now, maple’s lesser-known forest cousin birch is having its day. Nature’s unrequited gifts of indigenous syrups broaden our definition of how to eat locally and deliciously all year long.

Maple and birch syrups are harvested around ...Read more

This easy hands-off braise makes the perfect Sunday dinner and speedy weeknight dinners. Braised pork shoulder is a simple two-step process that, once in the oven, cooks unattended and fills the kitchen with hunger-inducing aromas.

Pork butt, pork shoulder and picnic shoulder are basically the same cut. Despite the conflicting names, you can ...Read more

As a girl growing up in New Jersey, Judith Vogel learned early that there never was a waffle that couldn’t be improved by a scoop of ice cream and a glorious drizzle of pure maple syrup.

Now a professor with Stockton University, Vogel is on a mission for Jersey kids of all ages to know that same real maple joy — thanks to none other than ...Read more

Watching videos of the Food Dolls preparing their dish of the moment is like opening a bag of your favorite chips: You can’t stop at one.

Minnesota sisters Alia and Radwa Elkaffas have been creating cooking videos for a decade, and after more than 2,000 of them, sharing recipes in 30-second bites has become second nature.

“We started ...Read more

It’s been nearly three decades since there were just two of us at home. Back then, in those early days, we had jobs with odd hours and a love of eating out, so that’s what we did.

We eventually became a family of five. Eating out was on the back burner, and there wasn’t a slow cooker recipe or hot dish I wouldn’t try to make our meals (...Read more

Chipotle Mexican Grill is serving a new protein for a limited time, Chipotle Honey Chicken.

Chipotle Honey Chicken is grilled with a blend of spices in a marinade of smoked peppers and honey, according to a news release from the chain. The flavor was tested last year in Nashville and Sacramento.

A check on the website showed prices vary around...Read more

With this simple sheet pan recipe, you can easily meal-prep breakfast for the week. Serve the eggs as is or in a sandwich. A sprinkling of za’atar — a Middle Eastern spice blend that’s a mix of thyme, sumac, salt, sesame seeds and sometimes other herbs — adds big, bold flavor to these frittata-like squares.

Bacon & Kale Sheet-Pan Eggs

...Read more

Q: What is coconut water, and are there benefits to drinking it?

A: Coconut water is the clear liquid inside young, green coconuts. Unlike coconut milk, which is made by blending coconut meat with water, coconut water is a natural beverage low in calories, fat-free, and rich in electrolytes like potassium, magnesium, and sodium.

One of coconut...Read more

I’m not a big cookie maker. It often feels like there are too many steps and it can become time-consuming. But some recipes are worth it — my walnut shortbread, crispy chocolate chip cookies and these chocolatey gems are the recipes I return to make time and again. Recently my daughter requested these to share with her kids. As always, they ...Read more

Kimchi answers the call when advised to eat more probiotics for gut health. The funky, spicy fermented Korean cabbage specialty tastes great straight from the jar, but even better as part of a brothy, lean-protein-packed skillet meal.

All that being said, I cook and eat for pleasure but keep a close eye on health considerations so I resist ...Read more

On a chilly day, there’s nothing like a big bowl of birria with warm consommé. But birria tacos— and specifically quesatacos? Well, there’s a reason I can’t stop making them. Quesatacos (also known as quesabirria) are a cross between a taco and a quesadilla, filled with melty cheese and the delicious shredded beef.

Restaurants...Read more

Breakfast bakes are an easy way to get a jump-start on breakfasts for the week. I love that they can be savory and cheesy like this hash brown number, or ...Read more

CHICAGO — In the years since my husband and I married, just a handful of mementos from our wedding day remain in our overcrowded city apartment. My wedding dress sits, sadly, crumpled in a garment bag at the back of my closet. A lone slice of cake lingers in the depths of the freezer and somewhere, there’s a video album no one has ever asked...Read more

PITTSBURGH — There's no question as to what menu item is the most ordered at Friday fish fries during Lent.

Across the region, in dining halls both large and small, Pittsburghers love their fish, whether it's fried, battered, baked, broiled, tossed in fettuccine or stuffed into a taco shell.

St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in the Mon Valley, ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Eager to make friends and try new things when she moved back to Pittsburgh after retiring 19 years ago, Jan Haltigan turned to what's always been a welcoming space to connect: her local library.

Growing up in Pittsburgh, she spent countless hours reading books at the Carnegie Library on Fifth Street. So she was pretty sure when ...Read more

Curry just might be one of the most misunderstood culinary terms.

Often thought of as a flavor, it's actually a sauce or stew made with warming spices or a paste-like mash of fresh ingredients such as galangal, lemongrass, ginger and chilies to add heat.

In India, there are hundreds of types of curries based on the cultural and religious ...Read more

When temperatures plummet, my hungers surge. Give me warm comforts with bold flavors. Nothing fussy; it has to be easy and it has to be quick.

Toward the dreary end of winter, I get weary. And, I confess, I want a shortcut to dinner — something swift that will help bounce up flavors without too much work.

My latest “hack” is chili crisp,...Read more

It’s about 11 a.m. Monday, East Coast time. Amanda Signorelli, a managing partner in Golden Steer Steakhouse, is standing in the ground-floor restaurant of One Fifth Avenue, among the most famous residential buildings in Manhattan. She’s holding the keys to this space, which has housed restaurants since at least the 1970s.

Signorelli has ...Read more

If you’re looking for a healthy beef stew recipe that delivers on comfort, look no further. Make this Irish beef stew recipe with Guinness — a dark, malty Irish stout — to keep it authentic. Serve with a side of Irish soda bread to sop up the leftovers.

Irish Beef Stew

Serves 6

Active Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours

2 1/4 pounds ...Read more

When you’re looking for something to slather on a slice of bread, cracker or even a slice of a crisp apple or carrot stick, there’s no shortage of offerings. There are savory and sweet options as well as some that are a little of both.

Depending on what type you choose, there are different nutrients to be aware of. Cheese and yogurt spreads...Read more