TIP OF THE DAY: Sweet Potato Garnish

Ask someone what they like to put on their baked potato. You’ll get a variety of answers, including any and all of these: Bacon Butter Chives or scallions Crumbled/grated cheddar or other cheese Sour cream   We have a longer list here. We’ve also written about sweet potato toppings, and how they can turn a…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Buy Some Chicory

It’s winter, where produce options are limited. But there’s still much to discover. Take the chicory family. Can you name three chicories? (Check the photos at right.) They are cool weather crops that come into season in late fall, and last through early spring. Much more popular in Europe than in the U.S.*, the chicory…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Seacuterie Instead Of Charcuterie

[1] A seacuterie plate from Oceana restaurant, with octopus salami, gravlax with dressed microgreens, and crab spread on toasted baguette (photo © Paul Johnson | Oceana Restaurant). [2] A put-it-together seacuterie board: You can purchase most of what’s here. Here are the recipes fi=or the rest (photo © Wild Alaska Food). [3] An ample lunch,…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Bacon Jam For National Bacon Day

[1] Homemade bacon jam (photo © Grognar | CC BY 2.0 license). [2] Ready-to-eat bacon jam from Vino de Milo. You can buy it online (photo © Vino de Milo). [3] Brussels sprouts with bacon jam: a hors d’oeuvre, appetizer or side (photo © Pampered Chef). [4] Shredded short rib and bacon jam on crostini…
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TIP OF THE DAY: How To Tell If A Pear Is Ripe…& Ways To Serve Pears

World Pear Day is December 8th. The history of pears is below. Pears are one of the few fruits that don’t ripen successfully on the tree. They’re picked when they have reached full size, but before the onset of ripening. It sounds simple: To test if a pear is ripe, apply gentle pressure to the…
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