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Eating well

Let’s ‘start’ the countdown to Thanksgiving

Now that the Halloween decor is put away it’s time to focus on the countdown to Thanksgiving. As usual, each week leading up to the feast I’ll be sharing recipe ideas in various categories. Let’s begin with appetizers and first courses because chances are good that guests will arrive hungry and find that dinner may be a while. A few starters will take the edge off their hunger. Soup is a popular choice (and a good reason to bring out that beautiful but seldom-used soup tureen.) Fill it with creamy lemon and sherry scented Crab Soup. It’s so simple, and oh so good. If savory ...

Tomato-forward chicken fricase is warm and hearty

It may have a French-sounding name, but this homey, hearty, tomato-forward chicken braise, made with sofrito as its base and with golden rum as part of the cooking liquid, is Caribbean in essence and flavor. In this recipe from our cookbook “Milk Street 365: The All-Purpose Cookbook for ...

Five habits to help maintain immune health

Family Features — Cold and flu season is here. The best way to battle cold and flu season is to prevent coming down with anything at all. While it’s impossible to stay entirely safe from germs, sniffles and coughs, there are a few healthy habits you can incorporate for extra protection ...

Disaster-proof your holiday feast: Testing recipes before the big day

Whether you’re cooking for a crowd for Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving or any feast with friends and family, one of the most stressful things is the cooking. What if you could ease that stress with a little ingenuity and work beforehand? Do you know the feeling when your stress levels climb prepping for a holiday or a big birthday event? Add on the stress of cooking for a crowd. That’s some pressure, for sure. The secret to less stress in the kitchen during the holiday season is to test recipes before the big day. You’d never promise to make a wedding cake without knowing how to ...

Lemon cupcakes are on the menu

METRO — Cupcakes are handheld treats that can make any celebration even more spectacular. If guests expect the standard flavors of chocolate, vanilla or even red velvet, change things up with a sunny surprise: lemon! Enjoy this recipe for “Lemon Drizzle Cupcakes” from “Jane’s Patisserie” (Sourcebooks) by Jane Dunn. Anything with sweet drizzle is a hit, and these cupcakes deliver plenty of lemony flavor in every bite. Note: Imperial measurements were approximated from the metric and may not be exact. Using a food scale set to grams and weighing ingredients will produce ...

Cheers to Halloween

I love Halloween night and handing out candy to the kids turned monster that ring our doorbell. I also love preparing special treats for friends and family who come to hang out for a while. There are usually snacks a-plenty and to wash it all down there’s got to be beverages. Hot spiced cider is a long-standing tradition. Not only does the simmering brew take the chill off, it makes the whole house smell devilishly good. In the spirit of the holiday, for adults only, there’s the Pumpkin Spice Martini. A sweet and spicy blend of cream liqueurs and vanilla vodka shaken with ice, ...