TIP OF THE DAY: Watermelon Radish

Roasted mahi-mahi with baby squash, roasted eggplant puree, pistachios and watermelon radish. Photo courtesy Due Forni.   Some vegetables light up any dish; watermelon radishes are one. Thanks to farmers markets, we’re seeing a lot more of them. Watermelon radishes are available year-round, with peak seasons in spring and late fall (meaning they’re more bountiful…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Kitchen Torch

The kitchen torch, culinary torch, cooking torch or [less poetically] butane torch is used by chefs and sophisticated home cooks. Today’s handy culinary torch descends from the heavy duty blowtorches, long used by gold and silversmiths (the first patent dates to 1791). While its most famous kitchen use is to caramelize the sugar on the…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Cherry Jell-O Shots For Valentine’s Day

Shot glasses are elegant, but for a crowd, you need plastic Jell-O shot cups. Photo courtesy GreatPartyRecipes.com.   No Valentine’s Day plans yet? Invite friends over for cherry Jell-O shots made from cherry vodka or liqueur. If you prefer, you can make raspberry or strawberry shots instead, or an assortment of flavors. You can substitute…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Pairing Cheese & Chocolate

Forget the bread, crackers and fruit: Who knew that plain chocolate, chocolate truffles and chocolate-covered caramels—the latter two with prominent dairy and buttery notes—pair so well with cheese? We know that chocolate cheesecake, and a chocolate ganache topping on regular cheesecake, are delicious. So how about serving a piece of cheese with a piece of…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Make A Valentine Cocktail

Whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day with a romantic interest, friends or family, make the occasion special with a Valentine cocktail. What makes a “Valentine” cocktail? Color—a shade of pink, rose or red. If you want a Champagne cocktail, garnish it with “Champagne grapes” (they’re actually Zante currants), a red berry or an edible flower. And…
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