Boston Market is the latest restaurant chain to succumb to sluggish spending. The Golden, CO-based corporation announced yesterday that it will offer a larger discounted menu of 11 meals for $5.

Boston Market joins a list of food chains — such as Subway, Quizno's, and Domino's — that have been promoting meals for $5. The company's chief brand officer, Judy Cantrell, said:

The $5 price point is an important part of the new vernacular in the restaurant industry. It’s become a price point that consumers respond to, and we see an opportunity to increase the quality of choices with our slow-roasted rotisserie chicken meals.

The value menu includes the chain's popular one-quarter rotisserie chicken, classic chicken salad, and rotisserie chicken pot pie, which come with a side dish and a drink. The company will promote its newly-priced menu with a TV commercial and online campaign. Will you try one of their $5 meals?

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When a friend moves away, it's nice to let them know how much they'll be missed by hosting a bon voyage fiesta. Keep the theme of the menu — comforting food native to the honoree's new hometown — going with the dessert. Since Kara is moving to Boston, I'll be making this variation of Boston creme pie. These cream-filled cupcakes are perfect: they're crowd-pleasing, individual treats, and Kara can take home the leftovers! To look at the easy recipe that take helps from a cake mix, read more

Not all of you were loving my last vegetarian sandwich, so I thought I'd try again with a recipe inspired by a recent trip to San Francisco's (appropriately named) Panini. Perfectly pressed in a warm panini grill, this sandwich taught me several lessons about making smushed sammies. First, I never think to put avocado on a hot sandwich, but it held up well in the heat and added a deliciously creamy texture. I was also astounded at how much spinach was piled onto the massive sourdough slices — seriously, like a cup of spinach — but after a few minutes in the press, the spinach had wilted and the bread had flattened so that the sandwich was very compact and manageable. The contrast between the earthy greens and smooth avocado make for a delectable combo. To learn how to re-create it at home, read more

• For a taste of Summer in Europe, try these cocktails. — Seattle Times
• Merlot lovers, still reeling from their Sideways snub, set the record straight with a movie of their own. — Chicago Tribune
• A day in the sensory world of a professional coffee taster. — Los Angeles Times
• Meet Food Studies, the crossroads where academia and food meet. — Washington Post
• Which commercial vanilla ice cream tastes the best? — Boston Globe
• Did you know these five items taste delicious right off the grill? — Dallas Morning News
• Jessica Simpson has yet another professional title under her belt: beer spokeswoman. — Huffington Post
• In case you don't have enough, here are fifteen more uses for homegrown tomatoes. — Atlanta Journal-Constitution
• Applebee's female CEO gives the restaurant chain a much-needed menu makeover. — New York Times
• Beat the heat with these summer cocktail party suggestions.— San Francisco Chronicle

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Last week I went to City Hall to help harvest the Slow Food Victory Garden. Developed as a solution to food shortages during World War I and II, victory gardens not only supply vegetables, fruit, and herbs to the masses, but they also act as a morale booster during tough times. Today Slow Food has partnered with San Francisco to showcase the spirit and power of the public victory garden. The victory of these gardens, however, is to reduce the food miles normally associated with the average American meal and promote homegrown local produce. Every Thursday a group of volunteers meets to harvest the vegetables. Arranged in a stunning concentric design, the garden provides food and illustrates the pure beauty of such vegetables as red chard and squash blossoms. While I picked bunches of collard greens and washed heads of lettuce, I couldn't help but think how vegetables are as gorgeous and colorful as flowers.

Do you have a garden? Have you ever been a part of a large-scale harvest? While you may not be able to experience this victory garden's harvest firsthand, you can take a look at my gallery filled with images. To do so, read more

An honor of winning the most Olympic gold medals of all time is getting to grace the cover of a cereal box. This morning Kellogg's released the first images of the Michael Phelps Corn Flakes cover. Come Fall Phelps will front both Corn Flakes and Frosted Flakes boxes.

Normally athletes are featured on Wheaties boxes, but this year Phelps's agent, Peter Carlisle, decided to go with Kellogg's.

I find the cover inspirational and patriotic and definitely prefer it to the image of Phelps on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

What do you think? Will you buy a box of Michael Phelps Corn Flakes?

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I am a diehard pickle fanatic, but I realize the same doesn't apply for everyone. This easy pickling recipe for spicy vegetables, however, could convert even the biggest pickle skeptic. The medley of crisp haricots verts and pearl onions goes well in conjunction with meaty carrots and a subtle jalapeño bite.
These veggies are the perfect accessory for a Bloody Mary or lunchtime sandwich. Although this recipe makes a large amount of pickles, my supply is dwindling fast! To stock up on your own, read more

During Summer, kabobs are ideal for quick, simple dinners. While you can load the skewers with any proteins or vegetables, this recipe takes inspiration from the Caribbean. Chicken chunks are seasoned with jerk before being layered with bell peppers, red onions, and pineapples. The sweet, fresh fruit counteracts the spicy seasoning. To get the uncomplicated recipe, read more