If bread is the staff of life, then this cook has been wobbling on shaky legs for much of her culinary career. What is it about baking bread that's so daunting? I suppose I've rationalized my bread-baking evasion by telling myself it takes too long and my spaghetti-noodle arms can't knead well enough. But I recognize those are silly excuses, so this week I set about tackling the easiest bread Read more

Whatever your reason, eating no less meat is a good thing. Beef recalls, environmental woes, and ethical concerns are enough to turn even the most Neanderthal-esque carnivore into a sprout-lovin' vegan. But for those of us that can't resist the lure of a juicy burger, luscious pork belly, or the satisfying saltiness of bacon, it's becoming harder to reconcile what we want with what's Read more

The beginning of 2011 marks a big change for food personality Mark Bittman. The cookbook author and culinary writer announced today that he's retiring his New York Times recipe column, "The Minimalist," after 13 years. In what he calls a "change of scenery," Bittman will move to the magazine and opinion sections of the paper, addressing food policy, diet and health, and sustainable eating in an Read more

What's a girl to do with 50 pounds of very ripe Early Girl tomatoes? After a canning adventure, I found myself asking that question. One could make any manner of gourmet things, from slow-cooked jam to a tomato tart. But knowing that off-the-vine tomatoes were on the cusp of withering away, I couldn't enjoy them with anything but the simplest, most unadulterated preparations. For lunch, it was a Read more

If you're a fan of the Food Network but haven't been watching The Cooking Channel this Summer, there's a good chance that you'll change your mind come September. Its star-studded Fall lineup includes new original programs from Food Network vets Rachael Ray, Bobby Flay, and Kelsey Nixon, among others. Rachael Ray's Week in a Day, which premieres Sept. 25, will be the media mogul's first Read more

When envisioning steak for dinner, cuts such as ribeye and tenderloin might be the first to come to mind. But don't forget skirt steak, a thin cut that's supreme when it comes to outdoor grilling. This type of meat has more fat than a hanger steak or flank steak, meaning even the most mildly seasoned skirt steak will have out-of-this world flavor and juiciness. Highlight the rich taste of the Read more