Dear Lisa: I hope you can help me. I have been "assigned" to bring the rolls to Thanksgiving dinner this year, and I need to make a good impression! But I've never made anything with yeast before. Can you give me some tips and a great recipe? P.S. D ... full story
Chinese takeout is always a treat, but it can be hard to sort out whether it's a healthy one.Of course, with egg rolls, spareribs and fried rice, there's not much guessing. But when it comes to the vegetable stir-fries and noodle dishes, the answer i ... full story
This traditional German Christmas bread is rich thanks to marzipan and rum-soaked fruit. And despite a heavy dusting of powdered sugar, it isn't overly sweet. The recipe, from Andrew Whitley's Bread Matters, is a bit involved, but the payoff is worth ... full story
The Restaurant Monitor is a weekly listing of scores for restaurants inspected by the Brazos County Health Department.Inspection scores are on a 100-point scale. Generally, scores below 80 might cause the department to schedule a follow-up visit. A s ... full story
EMERYVILLE, Calif. -- Forget wine chateaux shimmering under the Napa sun. A new wave of vintners is choosing city life over the green acres of wine country, setting up shop in warehouses, business parks and other locales that offer more grit than gl ... full story
Browned and crispy skin gives chicken mouthwatering flavor and, unfortunately, anywhere between 50 and 75 percent of its fat. That's why most health-conscious cooks remove the skin and trim any visible fat before cooking.But that's often at the expen ... full story
This Banana Cream Pie from James Peterson's Baking gets a nutty butterscotch flavor from the addition of browned butter. And while he doesn't call for it, whipped cream sprinkled with nutmeg is always a good topping for this pie.* Start to finish: 3 ... full story
This tart recipe from James Peterson's new Baking cookbook is easily adapted to just about any fruit. Simply cook the fruit on the stovetop, transfer it to the prepared tart shell, then add the custard and bake as directed.* Start to finish: 11/2 hou ... full story
Colder weather is an invitation to turn the oven on and start baking. Eight new books about baking offer recipes for everything from warm bread to trays of crunchy cookies; cakes five layers high or in a loaf; plus pies, tarts and popovers.Cakes, coo ... full story
If you're looking for easy, no-recipe-needed Halloween treats, these creeped out cupcakes are an eerily good choice. In one, a traditional frosted cupcake falls victim to a bat attack. In the other, they take a slimy, almost radioactive, turn.Both id ... full story
BOSTON -- All-natural may be all the rage in the food world, but will candy lovers have a sweet tooth for beet juice and purple cabbage?Necco sure hopes so. The 162-year-old Massachusetts company is taking its venerable Necco Wafers all-natural, mak ... full story
The Restaurant Monitor is a weekly listing of scores for restaurants inspected by the Brazos County Health Department.Inspection scores are on a 100-point scale. Generally, scores below 80 might cause the department to schedule a follow-up visit. A s ... full story
You've crafted the perfect gruesome or goofy jack-o'-lantern. But what to do with all the glop you scraped out in the process?Don't even think of tossing it. Pumpkin seeds are a great healthy snack and a delicious addition to salads, granola or trail ... full story
Dear Lisa: I have lost my recipe for red onion jam. Is there any way you could help? -- Gerald, Somerville.Dear Gerald: The following recipe might be what you're looking for. For our novice jam-making readers, be aware that you must always use the fu ... full story
CHICAGO -- During a Miami vacation, Nancy Tringali Piho's 2-year-old son reached out and grabbed a piece of octopus from the ceviche platter."He just couldn't get enough of it," she said. "All the people in the restaurant were turning around. They c ... full story
The cost of store-bought Halloween party treats can be more terrifying than the ghouls crowding your doorstep. And if you want a real fright, take a glance at all the sugar and artificial coloring listed on the nutrition labels.These mini jack-o'-lan ... full story
Murky, dark and swampy isn't a description often applied to good food. Except around Halloween, of course, when the swampier the better. And in her holiday specialty magazine, Martha Stewart Halloween Spirited Celebrations, Martha Stewart delivers fr ... full story
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- They work in sales, IT, construction, some for the state of California. There's a DJ, a couple of doctoral students, even a college professor.A wide variety of backgrounds, one common goal: to find dive bars.They call themselve ... full story
Is it safe to party when swine flu threatens to crash your bash?It's a question many revelers may be asking this year as the holiday party season coincides with an anxiety-provoking flu season.The good news is that while it is true that mingling over ... full story
Dear Lisa: I've seen pomegranates mentioned a lot in recipes, so I was intrigued and purchased one. It was completely inedible, and I threw it out. Was it under-ripe? Are they supposed to be peeled and/or cooked first? What can you tell me about sel ... full story
Pumpkins aren't just an icon of Halloween. They also are a sign of healthy eats.Like carrots, pumpkins are loaded with the antioxidant beta-carotene, potassium and fiber. Plus, with only 49 calories per cup (cooked), this tasty squash is a great fit ... full story
The Restaurant Monitor is a weekly listing of scores for restaurants inspected by the Brazos County Health Department.Inspection scores are on a 100-point scale. Generally, scores below 80 might cause the department to schedule a follow-up visit. A s ... full story
BERKELEY, Calif. -- Splatter a bit of blood on your wine label and you might just have a seasonal superstar.At least, that's been the experience for Michael Machat, founder of Vampire Vineyards and a rather busy man this time of year.His wines, whic ... full story
Dear Lisa: I recently heard someone talking about using a thermometer to test bread for doneness. Is that really a good way? What temperature should it be? -- Beth G.Dear Beth: Seasoned bakers often rely on the hollow sound that comes from thumping a ... full story
The name for these fried treats, thattai, may have been taken from the Tamil word meaning "flattie" or "pattie." These South Indian treats sometimes are found in shops, but connoisseurs swear by the fresh taste of homemade.Recipe is adapted from the ... full story
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