A Checkerboard Melon Salad Recipe & The History Of Melon

[1] A beautiful melon salad (photos #1, #2, and #3 © Oliviers & Co). [2] Cut the cubes from a block of feta (photo © DeLaurenti). [3] Fresh basil is pressed with the olives to create this premium oil (more about it at Oliviers & Co). [4] Lemon Specialty Vinegar, mild without bitterness (more about…
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FOOD 101: Fruit Cocktail History

May 13th is National Fruit Cocktail Day. We’re all familiar with cans of fruit cocktail from Del Monte, Dole and Libby’s. But who first created it, and why is it called “cocktail?” First: There is no alcohol in a conventional fruit cocktail. So why is it called fruit cocktail, instead of simply fruit salad? There’s…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Jell-O Firecrackers, Red White & Blue Fruit Desserts

Our mom made apple pie and brownies; but our favorite desserts for patriotic holiday weekends are red, white and blue. We present three recipes with photos, plus another 18 links below. Recipes #2 and #3 can be pulled together in just 10 minutes.     RECIPE #1: JELL-O FIRECRACKERS OR SHOTS To celebrate July 4th,…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Watermelon Salad

Watermelon is one of the edible geniuses in the Cucurbitaceae family, also called the gourd family. The most important family members comprise five genuses: Citrullus: watermelon and some other melons. Cucurbita: squash (including pumpkin), summer squash (yellow squash, zucchini), some gourds. Cucumis: cucumber, some melons.   Non-edible members include: Lagenaria: inedible (decorative) gourds Luffa/loofah: a…
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Eat Sunny Food Like This Papaya Boat Fruit Salad

It’s no fun looking out the window on the first day of spring, waiting for the snowfall to begin. So to counter the gray skies and eat something bright and sunny. Anticipating the weather, we acquired a ripe papaya and other fruits for this recipe from Hannah Kaminsky, who is wintering in Hawaii. “At the…
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