TIP OF THE DAY: Quinoa, A Complete Protein, & Quinoa Pasta

[1] White quinoa seeds (photo Methyl Soy | Wikipedia). [2] Red quinoa fried rice topped with an egg, at P.F. Chang’s. [3] Quinoa tabbouheh, at Andina Restaurant | Portland (photo by Eric Cable). [4] Harvesting red quinoa: back-breaking work (photo courtesy Tru Roots). [5] Three styles of quinoa pasta from Pereg Gourmet. [6] Quinoa spaghetti…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Cassoulet & Cannellini Beans

[1] A hearty dish of cassoulet Bandol rouge. Bandol rouge is a red wine from Provence that pairs well with cassoulet (photo © Bar Boulud). [2] Cassoulet is made easy with this meal kit from Williams Sonoma (photo © Williams-Sonoma.com). [3] The original cassoulet pot shape, with slanted sides. It is the source of the…
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FOOD 101: The History Of Chocolate-Covered Cherries

January 3rd is National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day. Here’s a history of the popular bonbon, adapted from an article by Esther Martin-Ullrich which appeared in Candy Favorites. Chocolate-covered cherries, more formally called cherry cordials, are a chocolate shell filled with a cherry and sugar syrup, plain or flavored with alcohol.   IT BEGAN WITH THE…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Make Pfeffernüsse, German Spice Christmas Cookies

December 23rd is National Pfeffernüsse Day, celebrating a traditional German Christmas cookie: rounded, spicy, and coated in powdered sugar. Pronounced FEH-fehr-NEE-suh, the word means “pepper nuts.” The “nuts” refer to the nut-like hardness of the cookie; there are no nuts in the recipe. Rather, these cookies are laden with gingerbread spices (anise, cloves, nutmeg), and…
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Hot Toddy History & Chocolate Hot Buttered Rum Recipe

January 11th is National Hot Toddy Day; January 17th is National Hot Buttered Rum Day. But we think this Chocolate Hot Toddy recipe (photo #1) is so full of holiday cheer, it deserves to be enjoyed now. Hot buttered rum, also called a rum toddy, is a type of hot toddy, a venerable warm cocktail…
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