Recently I got my hands on Philadelphia Cream Cheese's new flavors: sundried tomato and basil, and spinach and artichoke. Cream cheese on crackers has always been one of my secret single-girl snack foods, so I was delighted to sample the savory spreads. To find out what I thought of them, read more Read more

You may be impossibly in love with ricotta, feta, and manchego, but Kraft Foods is hoping you'll give its signature orange slices another chance. According to Advertising Age, the food company has begun a major push for Kraft Singles, its synthetic-cheese line of American, Swiss, and Cheddar cheese slices. Although the brand's natural cheese sales have declined amid the recession, processed Read more

If you are in a hurry for a Thanksgiving dessert, the easiest thing to do is be like Sandra Lee and take some help from the store. Use a ready-made pie crust, instant pudding mix, and caramel sauce to assemble a delicious turtle pumpkin pie. The recipe calls for cool whipped topping, but it really doesn't take that long to make. If you have the time, I suggest whipping the cream with a couple Read more

If you're ever in China and have a strange craving for an Oreo cookie, you're going to be out of luck. According to the Wall Street Journal, back in 2005 Kraft Foods revamped its iconic cookie there, replacing it with four thin crispy wafers, a layer of vanilla cream, thin layers of chocolate cream, and a coating of chocolate. The Chinese weren't keen on eating the traditional biscuit-style Read more

Boston Cream Pie is a weirdly misunderstood dessert. It says it's a pie, but in actuality it's a cake. It also gets the reputation for being rather finicky to deal with. Yet every baker should learn how to make one some day. Because pastry cream can be difficult to work with, I've found a recipe that uses instant pudding instead. If your skill level is beyond that, don't worry, there's a Read more

Ever since I saw the March cover of Gourmet magazine, I've been craving cream puffs. However, the recipe the cover featured had ice cream and I prefer my cream puffs filled with lusciously smooth cream — like the ones seen here. Cream puffs are a classic dish that every home baker should artfully master. They are lovely with a cappuccino, delightful with a glass of bubbly, and complete Read more

Chicken Cacciatore is Italian-American comfort food at its best. In this classic dish, chicken is slow cooked in a fragrant tomato sauce, with mushrooms and onions, until it falls off the bone and melts in your mouth. While chicken cacciatore is a regular on Italian restaurants menus, it can easily be made in the comfort of your own home. It's a versatile dish that is delicious over rice, Read more