DIY Jambalaya Party Bar With Recipes For Mardi Gras

For Mardi Gras—February 28—try a new take on food bars (a.k.a. buffets): DIY Jambalaya. Jambalaya is a delicious, spicy, main course consisting of rice and practically everything else in the refrigerator! It’s a great way to use favorite meats and veggies (shrimp, peas, carrots, bell peppers). You can start from scratch; for a family night,…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Types Of Meringue, Plus Red Wine Meringue Cookies

All meringue begins the same: with egg whites beaten with some form of sugar. But from there, pastry chefs evolved different preparation techniques to produce different results. You may think of meringue as cookies, or dessert cups that hold fruit or mousse, like vacherins or pavlovas*. It can also be made into a cake layer…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Aged Coffee & Nespresso Limited Edition Selection Vintage 2014

Conventional coffee advice tells you to buy the freshest roasted beans, and grind them as you need to make coffee. Don’t buy more than you need for the week: Fresh is everything. But now, there’s aged coffee, a growing trend. Aged coffee is not analogous to old, stale, flat coffee. It comprises specially selected beans,…
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RECIPE: Valentine Brownies

Want to bring something fun to work or school for Valentine’s Day? These strawberry brownies from Kevin Lynch of Closet Cooking can be made for any occasion. But we especially like the heart-shaped effect of halved strawberries for “love” occasions: Mother’s, Father’s, Valentine’s, anniversaries, etc. You can adapt the idea to your favorite brownie, or…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Ice Cubes For Valentine’s Day…And More Uses For The Ice Cube Tray

[1] Red and pink layered ice cubes (photos #1 and #2 © Ocean Spray). [2] Art in a glass. [3] Add some pomegranate ice cubes (here’s how from Kelly Elko). [4] Flower ice cubes: small flowers make a big impression (here’s how from Martha Stewart). [5] More ways to use an ice cube tray: save…
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