Tyler Florence

Last Summer, the Food Network debuted its first series devoted to the food truck craze, The Great Food Truck Race, a reality competition hosted by Tyler Florence. Today, the network announced that the show will be back for a second season premiering on Aug. 14 at 10 p.m.

Eight food trucks from across the country will compete in a "coast-to-coast culinary road trip" through cities like Denver, Memphis, and Atlanta. Although the Food Network hasn't released an official list of the participating food trucks, our friends at Eater have some guesses.

Did you watch The Great Food Truck Race? Will you tune in for its sophomore season?

There's no better time to enjoy artichokes than now; the Spring vegetable is at its peak from March through July. While fancy preparations are fun, I think the artichoke is best at its simplest. They're something so wonderful about peeling off the leaves and scraping the delicious flesh into your mouth. The easiest way to cook artichokes is by steaming. It takes about 45 minutes but requires hardly any work. Serve with herb mayonnaise or butter as an appetizer or side dish. Check out the uncomplicated recipe now.

There are some recipes that prove to be very difficult. One of them is Tyler Florence's gallina de madre, or mother hen toast. I found the recipe in Tyler Florence's Family Meal cookbook and on the Food Network's website. However, I was shocked by how distinct the two recipes were: the cooking temperature, technique, and bechamel sauce were all different.

I gave the online recipe a try, and to my disappointment, I had a runny egg white mess. I experimented with the one in the book and while the results were better, I knew this breakfast dish must be easier to make.

After my fifth slice of toast, I finally mastered a technique that created a perfectly cooked egg with salty jamon and creamy bechamel. Basically, I didn't make the jamon cup, instead I removed a little bit of bread in the center, and nestled the egg inside. No one realized I cheated! Don't let this tasty toast scare you, keep reading for the recipe and my tips.

If you are trying to keep warm this Winter and have already tried these 10 essential soups, don't fret, a chicken meatball and cheese tortellini soup will soothe your soul just the same. This is a great weeknight meal since it comes together relatively quickly and takes a minimum amount of effort.

On my first go around, I made the meatballs a little too large, so next time I'll aim for a more bite-sized meatball. Fans of simple chicken noodle soup will be blown away by these chicken meatballs combined with fresh cheese tortellini and delicious broth. This soup is wonderful the night it's cooked and, like many other comfort foods, even better the next day.

Ready for a new take on the classic? Get the recipe.

Instead of joining the crowds of party-goers this New Year's Eve, I'm staying in, and I invite you to do the same! Call up some friends and host a festive and special dinner party that lasts until the countdown. Start with a luxurious duo of appetizers: oysters on the half shell with two types of sauces (cucumber mignonette and classic cocktail sauce) and a bubbling pot of cheese fondue with lots of delicious items for dipping (bread cubes, potatoes, broccoli, etc.). For the main course, offer a thick and slow-cooked pork ragu with pasta. It's comforting and hearty. Crusty bread and a big green salad round out the menu. Check out the recommended recipes after the break.

For the best Thanksgiving ever, I'm trying a new strategy and letting all of Thanksgiving's star ingredients shine on their own. There won't be any green beans shrouded in mushroom cream or turkey overpowered by Cajun spices. Instead of having a marshmallow-topped sweet potato casserole, I'm highlighting the tubers with honey and seasoning to let their true flavor take over.

I could only locate the thin, yellow-skinned sweet potato variety, although any sweet potato or yam works. Roast them until they're crunchy and caramelized with a lovely sweet-savory flavor. Then you can eat them with virtually anything: a poached egg and harissa for breakfast, curried cauliflower for lunch, and, of course, turkey. Get the easy recipe when you read more.

So you've made roast chicken and now have a bunch of leftovers. Instead of simply putting together chicken salad, why not use the extra meat to create an entirely new dinner? Follow this scrumptious enchilada recipe. It's from Tyler Florence, and over 422 people have enjoyed it (myself included!). It tosses shredded cooked chicken with a quick and flavorful roasted tomatillo chile salsa. Unlike some enchiladas which are super heavy, the chunky green sauce is light and slightly spicy. The resulting dish is satisfying, but not overly so. Learn the technique now.

There's something I need to get off my chest: I use canned crabmeat when making crab dip. If I'm going to dilute the flavor of the crab with cheese, herbs, and mayonnaise, why not use the canned variation?

My favorite canned crab is the kind they sell in the refrigerator section of Costco. It's fresh and full of meaty chunks of crab perfect for crab dip. Although I love a hot, bubbling crab dip, when tailgating, it's easier to serve cold crab dip. This recipe from Tyler Florence pairs the chilled crab dip with herbed saltines and roasted tomatoes. Having tried these elements, let me tell you a secret: they're unnecessary! The dip is simply sublime on its own.

No fussy saltines or cherry tomatoes necessary. Seriously, my guests agreed, the creamy, tangy dip is so scrumptious by itself, you'll want to eat it with a spoon. Get the easy preparation method, after the break.

We love Slashfood so much that every Thursday we round up its most delicious stories. Here are this week's finds:

• Tyler Florence talks street food and The Great Food Truck Race.
• Meet Aarti Sequeira, winner of the latest The Next Food Network Star.
• Legendary hotel bars and their signature drinks.
• In the White House kitchen with Sam Kass and the New Orleans Saints.
• Find out who makes the top vanilla ice cream in a market taste test.
• Milk and dairy are at the center of Milwaukee, WI's greatest food traditions.