Category: Food

Shoofly Pie, Wet-Bottom or Dry?

As a resident of Pennsylvania, I can personally attest that our people take their shoofly pie very seriously. Those who live in the Keystone State rarely have to travel more than a few miles to get their hands on one. The sweet treat, which tastes of brown sugar and molasses, is particularly plentiful at Pennsylvania…


Autumn Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Soup

View the print-ready version of this recipe. This squash soup pairs really well with a fall salad like this Apple Bacon Pecan Salad or I love to serve it with crusty artisan bread! Autumn Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Soup I can remember the first time my mom made this soup–my life was changed! Okay, that’s an exaggeration….


Hot Chocolate, 2 Ways

When winter’s cold hits hard, there’s nothing quite like a warm cup of hot chocolate. Sweet, rich, and milky, it’s a favorite of kids and grown-ups alike. The drink, however, is rooted in ancient Mayan traditions. With its light-hearted sweetness, modern-day hot chocolate bears little resemblance to the original version, which was a dark, bitter…


Chili Oil Wontons

By Gretchen McKay From Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Raking leaves isn’t the only thing I view with trepidation in fall. I also dread the cooldown that comes with the change of season, because turning on the heat in my drafty old house is not an inexpensive proposition. On the plus side, colder weather calls for cozy pleasures…


Almonds May Help Control Calories, Study Shows

As rates of overweight and obesity continue to rise throughout the developed world, a new study published in the European Journal of Nutrition has found that a handful of almonds may be one of the more effective snacks for making a dent in weight loss. Researchers from the University of South Australia observed a group…


Take Some Rice on the Wild Side

I met the wild ricer behind a ski lodge in the mountains above Lake Tahoe. We were both attending a writing workshop, and we took turns reading our work to each other. My project was a passionate essay about the evils of Christmas tree farms that I’m embarrassed to even remember. The wild ricer, a…


3-Ingredient Buttery Shortbread Cookies

View the print-ready version of this recipe. The Best Shortbread Cookies Everyone Loves We’re neck deep in cookies all over our kitchen and will hopefully continue the trend in the next couple of days. When there are Littles at home and they have friends, sometimes they all come swarming…and cookies disappear in nanoseconds. We had…


Save Time but Keep the Flavor With This Veggie Gumbo Recipe

By Linda Gassenheimer From Tribune News Service Here’s a short-cut version of a Southern favorite: Gumbo Soup. It’s comfort food that can take hours to make. This gumbo captures the flavor without the hours. It’s a one-pot vegetarian meal. The key to good gumbo is cooking the oil and flour together to form a rich,…


Gougères, Savory Cheese Puffs, Are Party-Perfect Appetizers With French Flair

Cheesy, crisp, and airy, gougères are impossible to stop at just one. These savory cheese puffs are typically served warm to accompany wine tastings in France, but there’s little wonder as to why they’re so beloved all across the country. Served as appetizers or as part of a cheese platter, they’re ideal for the holidays,…


A Creamless Creamy Tomato Soup — Now That’s Dreamy!

A bowl of soup is like a blank piece of paper ready for your creative touches. Garnish bowls of soup with any of the following: a handful of croutons, a sprinkling of minced fresh herbs (chives and parsley are especially good), a dollop of yogurt or sour cream, a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil, or…