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Eating well

Baking with strawberries

Red, ripe and in season now, strawberries are one of nature’s sweetest gifts of summer. There is almost no dish that doesn’t benefit from the addition of a few berries, even if they’re just for garnish. They are great in salads, from fruit to grilled chicken. Crushed strawberries make delicious jams, sauces and frosty beverages, too. And who can resist a bowl of cold and creamy home-churned strawberry ice cream? But of all the tasty uses for strawberries around here, sweet baked goods top the list. It’s no surprise that many creative ideas for the berry best cakes, shortcakes, ...

Old family recipes make a big comeback

By Sharon Rhodes Food Drink Life, via AP Food costs jumped again in April, nearly 3% higher across the board than in April 2025. Experts say between escalating gas prices and ongoing global conflicts, consumers should expect their grocery bills to keep climbing. That sent millennials and Gen Z on a quest to raid grandma’s recipe box for classic dishes at an affordable price. Trendsetters call it “nonna-stalgic,” recognizing the benefits of saving money with Depression-era cooking and the nostalgia of the comfort food they grew up with. These classic recipes are often passed ...

Summer pasta salads

If you want to be at the top of the guest list for summer gatherings, it’s time to perfect a signature dish. Last year I was into dips, this year I’ll rest my laurels on pasta salad and I’m not talking over-cooked pasta with chunks of cheese and pepperoni doused with a bottle of Italian dressing. Let’s talk instead about pasta salads bursting with complex flavors derived from unusual blends of herbs and spices, fruits, fresh vegetables and delectable dressings. Take Chicken and Blueberry Pasta Salad, for example. Chicken breast and fresh blueberries combine with penne pasta ...

How to grill vegetables and toss them in Isaac Toups’ bacon vinaigrette

Want to make your vegetables taste better and have your friends love you? Char the hell out of some on the grill and then toss them in a bacon vinaigrette, using this recipe from my cookbook “Chasing the Gator: Isaac Toups and the New Cajun Cooking.” These are vegetables so unhealthy a ...