TIP OF THE DAY: DIY Crostini Bar

If you’re going to kick back this weekend with friends and some lovely libations, or have a group over for brunch, you may need a snack idea. Here it is: DIY Crostini. The crunchy little toasts are great with wine or beer, and a fun food when people add their own toppings. Set out all…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Lettuce Crudites

[1] Green goddess: a crudité plate of green lettuces (photo © Empellon | NYC [2] California-grown Castelfranco chicory (photo © Good Eggs). [3] Variegated radicchio, radicchio variegato di castelfranco IGP. IGP is an acronym for indicazione geografica protetta, meaning it can only be grown in a specified region—In this case, the Castelfranco Veneto region of…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Heirloom Tomato Salads: Russian-Style & Mediterranean-Style

Today’s tip showcases luscious summer heirloom tomatoes in two salads. Both are European-inspired, both are made without lettuce or other leafy greens.     RECIPE #1: RUSSIAN TOMATO & CUCUMBER SALAD Our Russian grandmother used a lot of sour cream, dill and scallions: as salad dressing, in borscht, on boiled potatoes and as a general…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Rambutan, Asian Fruit

[1] A bowl of rambutans, with some pieces peeled to reveal the white fruit inside (photo © HLB Specialties). [2] Rambutans ripening on the tree. The “haze” around the red fruits are green “hairs,” which have not yet ripened to red (photo © Bonayon). [3] A cluster of rambutans cut from the tree. They grow…
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