Category: Food

What Is Red Velvet Cake?

It’s almost impossible to walk into a bakery and not see red velvet cake on the menu. Over the years, this uniquely colored, decadent cake has become a popular flavor for Valentine’s Day, birthday parties and even weddings. This red phenomenon has been around for a very long time but what is red velvet cake? And…


Sporadic US Food Shortages Worry Venezuelan Immigrants About Country’s Direction

When Venezuelan immigrants in the United States see items missing from store shelves, they worry about the direction of the U.S. and remember the empty shelves in their home as it fell into socialism. Once the richest country in South America, today many in Venezuela are impoverished and many are leaving to survive. But it…


Sporadic US Food Shortages Trigger Worries in Venezuelan Immigrants About Country’s Direction

When Venezuelan immigrants in the United States see items missing from store shelves, they worry about the direction of the United States and remember the empty shelves in their home country as it fell into socialism. Once the richest country in South America, today many in Venezuela are impoverished and many are leaving to survive….


Sporadic US Food Shortages Trigger Worries for Immigrants About Country’s Direction

When Venezuelan immigrants in the United States see items missing from store shelves, they worry about the direction of the United States and remember the empty shelves in their home country as it fell into socialism. Once the richest country in South America, today many in Venezuela are impoverished and many are leaving to survive….


Pucker Up, Bottoms Up: How to Turn Any Fruit Into a Shrub for the Most Refreshing DIY Drinks

Before there was Coca-Cola, there were shrubs. Not the kind that grow in your garden, but a sweet-and-sour drinking vinegar that’s irresistible, especially in hot weather. Infused with fruit, herbs, and spices, shrubs not only slake your thirst but also provide an inventive way to preserve seasonal bounty. And just like baking sourdough and fermenting…


How to Bake Sweet Potatoes, Two Ways

If you like your sweet potatoes golden brown and crispy, roasting them in the oven is the most effective cooking method. But with so many different baking techniques to choose from, it’s hard to decide which method is the quickest, easiest and tastiest. The first step is to zero in on the reason you’re using…


Blueberry Lemon Scones

Blueberry lemon scones: a golden-brown sea of dried blueberries and lemon zest packed into a buttery, tender dough and baked to perfection. Not only is the bite-sized confection delicious, but it’s also versatile. Serve them for breakfast or dessert with a big cup of tea. Add them to holiday spreads, picnic baskets, kid’s lunch boxes and beyond. If you’ve never had…


Tahini and Banana, a Popular (And Tasty!) Pairing

You know peanut butter, but have you tried tahini? While peanut butter is made by grinding up peanuts, tahini is a paste made by grinding up toasted sesame seeds and is a popular ingredient in Middle Eastern cuisine (think hummus). Just be sure to stir it up before measuring for this dish. “I thought it…


A French Way to Make Fish Shine

Sole meunière is one of those dishes that sounds fancy, but really isn’t. This staple of the French repertoire features simple Dover sole fillets lightly dredged in flour, pan-fried, and bathed in a brown butter sauce with lemon and parsley. The bright sauce allows the delicate flavors of the fish to shine, with a result that’s…


Gretchen’s Table: A Spicy Shrimp Stew With Roots in the Island Nation Mauritius

By Gretchen McKay From Pittsburgh Post-Gazette No matter where they hail from, part of the appeal of skillet dishes is the fact they get dinner on the table in no time, usually with just a handful of ingredients. This spicy shrimp dish has roots that reach all the way to the island nation of Mauritius,…