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Eating well

Orange creamsicle or minty watermelon? Homemade popsicles are healthier than in the freezer aisle

One sweltering summer in Southern California, Jessica Gavin was looking for a healthy, cooling treat for her then 2-year-old son. Gavin, a food science expert who wrote “Easy Culinary Science for Better Cooking,” knew that even brands of healthy-looking popsicles often come filled with artificial colors and flavors, stabilizers and preservatives. So she made her own. Seven years and one daughter later, it’s become a family tradition. “It’s fun because you can make it with your kids,” said Gavin. “It’s something that you could kind of just throw together and enjoy ...

A simple recipe for Caesar salad for its 100th birthday

It's now been 100 years since the Caesar salad was invented, it's said, on the Fourth of July at a restaurant in Tijuana, Mexico. And it's had staying power. The original is credited to Italian immigrant Caesar Cardini, who tossed it in the dining room of his restaurant, Caesar's Place, in 1924. Since then, the salad's been flexible enough to accommodate a wide variety of toppings and ingredients. My recipe takes its lead from an ingenious Caesar dressing created by Brooklyn restaurateur Frank Falcinelli. It relies on mayonnaise, which has cooked eggs built right in, so if you have ...

A feast to freedom

Tomorrow flags will wave and people all over America will celebrate the Fourth of July holiday. And, as is the American way, families and friends everywhere will enjoy picnics and backyard barbecues to celebrate our freedoms. I thought it would be appropriate to come up with a barbecue menu of American favorites guaranteed to keep cooks out of the kitchen. The idea is to let the grill do most of the work, allowing even the grill master to take part in the festivities. Everyone loves barbecued chicken, but it does require turning and basting. Well, not Cola Barbecued Chicken. With a ...

Make room on your grill for smoky charred eggplant

Summer grilling tends to focus on meat, but vegetables also get great flavor from a stint over hot coals. So move the burgers and hot dogs to the side and make room on your grill for smoky, tender eggplant. In this recipe from our cookbook “ Milk Street 365: The All-Purpose Cookbook for ...

What is country cooking?

METRO — Country cuisine can be enjoyed anywhere but is perhaps most synonymous with the southeastern region of the United States. Rich flavors, familiar foods and large portions are hallmarks of country cooking. However, ingredients may vary by region, and the backgrounds of the people living in these parts of the country also may contribute to some unique recipes on traditional favorites. The following are five types of country cuisine and the foods associated with each tradition. Creole/Cajun Creole and Cajun cooking have similar influences but are not entirely the same. Creole ...