To die for.
Today at the farmers market, the okra looked so fresh that I simply had to buy some. Right now is the perfect time to purchase a seasonal ingredient like okra, which is only available through early Fall. The folks at Padao Farms, the stand where I got the beloved green pods, gave me a few tips for picking the vegetable. Keep reading to get pointers for selecting okra. Read more
Southern vegetable staple okra is everywhere this time of year at Bay Area farmers markets, and it's perfect in everything from Summer skillet stir-fries to soothing, slow-cooked tagines like this one. The key to this tender vegetable braise is lots of patience and a fiery, full-bodied garlic and pepper paste known as harissa. Use it to add layers of savory complexity to this slow-cooked Read more
This week, spice up your free time with the chili cook-offs that are setting the country aflame. Whether you're looking for an epicurean adventure at the Bellagio, or something more along the lines of a back-country roadkill cook-off, you're in luck. Check out what's going on in your neck of the woods this week, and let us know if we've left anything off the list! Sante Fe, NM: Santa Fe Wine Read more
With okra in season, this popular Cajun and Creole meal would be a great course to make (it often calls for okra as a thickening agent). Do you know what this dish is called? Read more
At the farmers market this week, there was so much gorgeous Summer produce — okra, fresh corn, English peas, tomatoes, zucchini — that I bought it all. Then I got home and wondered: What should I do with this Summer bounty? My question got answered as soon as I came across this dish while browsing The Kitchen Sink. I was drawn to the vibrant colors, the seasonality of the vegetables, and the Read more
I'm in a vegetable rut. I keep buying all the same veggies and there are only so many different ways you can eat a carrot, you know? If you're feeling the same way, it's time to expand your garden horizons and try some new things from the produce department. If you've never tried okra, maybe I can persuade you to pick some up. To find out the nutritional info of raw okra and how to use this Read more
Go inside the Barefoot Contessa's downtown Manhattan apartment. — Serious Eats The FDA has ruled that high fructose corn syrup is still considered natural. — Slashfood Learn how to make the perfect martini. — Chow Bake up a batch of strawberry goat cheese scones. — Baking Bites If it's too hot to bake in your neck of the woods, consider cooling down with this no-cook biscotti Read more
St. Patty's Day is all about the green and it is just around the corner. That doesn't only have to mean green beer. There are numerous healthy foods that you can add to your diet to not only up the green, but to also up the health as well. Here are just a few: Avocado: Avocado is a good source of monounsaturated fats, which help lower cholesterol, said Dr. Vickie Vaclavik, clinical assistant Read more
If you're itching for a culinary adventure, there's no need to leave your home! Escape to Avery Island for a crawfish feast with Food Orleans. This was my lunch. I ate it all. Avery Island is a gorgeous place; it's surrounded by a long lace of bayous, has plenty of wildlife roaming around freely (deer, bears, raccoons, alligators), and houses the beautiful Jungle Gardens and Bird Sanctuary. Read more
Photo: Susannah Chen For a country as large as Brazil, it's no surprise that each region has its own traditional recipes and dishes. Regional cuisines have been influenced over time by immigrants and what natural crops are available to them. In the North, you will find caruru, a dish featuring okra, onions, shrimp, peanuts, and palm oil, and in the South, you'll be able to sit down to a plate of Read more
