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Eating well

A healthier take on dessert

METRO — Being mindful of one’s diet is an important component of a healthy lifestyle. Certain foods, and particularly many desserts, are not exactly synonymous with healthy eating. Thankfully, many chefs and home cooks experiment with different ingredients to make sweets a little bit less indulgent. Take for example, chocolate mousse, which can be delicious, but a tad heavy when loaded with dairy. However, “Vegan Chocolate Mousse” is made with avocado at the base. That’s notable because avocado contains heart-healthy fats that make the dessert a little better for you than more ...

Sweet apple flavor in every bite

METRO — Fall means many things: leaves changing color, cool breezes and plenty of apples to pick. When an afternoon spent at the local orchard provides a bounty of apples, people can turn them into flavor-packed treats. This recipe for “Orange-Glazed Apple Tarts” from “Small Sweet Treats” (Gibbs Smith) by Zac Williams is a fall treat that blends apples (or pears) with the bright flavors of orange and cinnamon. Orange-Glazed Apple Tarts Serves 4 1 package (17.3 ounces) puff pastry sheets, thawed 1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon cream (egg wash) 2 to 3 firm apples ...

Snacking on eggplant

Growing up, I never had eggplant. As an adult, eggplant parmesan, at a local restaurant, turned me into a fan. Since then, I’ve learned some tips to preparing perfect eggplant. Because it contains a lot of moisture it’s a good idea to get rid of the excess by lightly salting your sliced eggplant, stacking it in a colander and weighting it down at least 30 minutes to drain. Rinse quickly under cold water to remove salt and pat dry to use in your favorite recipe. Eggplant also has a sponge-like capacity for absorbing oil and butter so don’t go overboard when frying, sauteing or ...

America’s quirkiest food holiday is fueled by too much zucchini

Every Aug. 8, an unusual holiday pops up on the calendar: National Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor's Porch Day. It might sound like a prank, but for home gardeners drowning in squash, it's a lighthearted and oddly practical way to share the bounty. This unofficial celebration taps into a common summertime dilemma: too many zucchini but not enough recipes. Thanks to this prolific vegetable, this holiday encourages generosity, resourcefulness and just a touch of mischief. A summer harvest that just won't quit Zucchini is a garden workhorse. It consistently ranks among the most ...

Sweet or savory? Regional variations of cornbread across the US

It's a simple snack of cornmeal, butter and milk, yet the humble cornbread sparks heated debates across the country. What's the best way to prepare cornbread, and how should it be served? From state to state, cornbread offers a delicious look at America's diverse culinary roots and some inspiration for your next meal. Cornbread and the American identity Whether a side for chili, a BBQ fixin' or a treasured dish at Thanksgiving, cornbread is a staple at meals all over the country. Many Americans have a favorite recipe passed down through generations or at least a boxed mix they swear ...