TIP OF THE DAY: Celtuce, Stem Lettuce

It’s a happy day when we discover a new food. We discovered celtuce [photo #1] in our local Chinatown. There are a number of fruits and vegetables in Chinese cuisine that are unfamiliar to non-Chinese Americans. They move slowly into the hands of mainstream American chefs, and then trickle down to home cooks. One of…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Oxtail (What Is It, How To Use It)

[1] Oxtail is prized for its rich flavor and gelatinous texture (photo courtesy Abel And Cole). [2] The whole tail, ready to be sliced (photo © Andrew Grygus, The Clove Garden). [3] Oxtail ragu, a popular preparation (recipe and photo from Sara Kate Gillingham | The Kitchn). The cooked meat is removed from the bone.…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Potstickers For Chinese New Year

The Chinese New Year holiday begins today. It’s also called Lunar New Year, since the date is based on the lunar calendar*; and other Asian countries in addition to China celebrate it. The celebration lasts for 15 days, and an estimated 1.4 billion people around the world participate. It’s the Year Of The Dog, one…
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TIP OF THE DAY: How To Flavor & Use Savory Yogurt

[1] Instead of cream cheese, lowfat Greek yogurt blended with garlic, dill and parsley (photo courtesy Chobani Café (all photos courtesy Chobani). [2] Use yogurt in different types of sauces. Here, yogurt is blended with cheese as a dipping sauce for Pigs & Blankets, but you could eas easily use it on chicken, grains or…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Valentine Cheese Plate

We recently published an article on pairing cheese and chocolate, but it was limited to certain types of cheese. To put together a Valentine cheese plate, pick your favorite cheeses and build the accompaniments around them from the lists below. Use red and/or pink accents. 1. CHEESES We love the goat cheese family and soft-ripened…
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