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Mexican Chicken Stew
A Sharp Knife Can Save A Finger
My father was an engineer; a smart and precise man who had his weekend rituals. About once a month, I’d find my father at the kitchen table on a weekend afternoon sharpening the kitchen knives.
He’d have a sharpening stone in front of him set on a spread of newspaper print. He had a little can of oil ...Read more

Food blogger Jessica Merchant makes cooking 'Easy Everyday'
PITTSBURGH — Tracing blogger and author Jessica Merchant's career is almost like charting the history of the internet itself.
An early food blogger, she started her site, How Sweet Eats, in 2009, only 5 years after Mark Zuckerberg started "The Facebook" for his Harvard classmates.
"There was no Instagram, there was no Pinterest," Merchant ...Read more

Quick Fix: Curried Vegetables
Here’s an easy vegetarian dish filled with vibrant flavors, from a blend of curry powder, cumin, turmeric and ginger. To simplify the preparation, I use frozen okra which comes pre-sliced. You can add it to the skillet right from the freezer.
This is a quick and easy recipe that makes a delicious meal without sacrificing taste.
HELPFUL ...Read more

Home cooks are shopping a little differently for groceries in 2025
PITTSBURGH — With restaurants closed and stay-at-home orders in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 during the early months of the pandemic, Americans responded in the only way they could at meal time.
We started cooking at home more than ever before, even though it was harder than ever to find some ingredients on store shelves. And all ...Read more

Gretchen's table: Pork chop crusty rolls conjure delicious memories of Hong Kong
I ate a lot of things that surprised me when I lived in Hong Kong in my mid 20s, often from carts hidden from street view in back alleys or larger street-side stalls known as dai pai dong. And I have to say, save for one unfortunate dinner that included fresh sea urchin, I never regretted these impromptu meals.
Street snacks made by "hawkers," ...Read more

Column: How to eat green iguanas and other invasive species
If you ever happen to come across a green iguana, don’t be frightened. Don’t run away.
Just kill it, cook it and eat it.
You can pan fry it, deep fry it or roast it. You can even boil it, though boiled green iguana doesn’t sound particularly appetizing, for some reason. Green iguanas are white meat and are said to taste like chicken, of ...Read more

Cheesy homemade manicotti is the star of this budget dinner for four
Home cooks looking to stay on budget often opt for simple Italian dishes as a way to save a buck or two.
And more often than not, choosing an easy-to-make dish like spaghetti with marinara makes good, economical sense. Dried pasta is one of your more inexpensive pantry items, and so is the quick-cooking red sauce that accompanies it if you use ...Read more

Creamy, crunchy, spicy, mild -- the many personalities of chickpeas
PITTSBURGH — Emily Crusan, a registered dietitian at Allegheny Health Network, is a fan of the chickpea. Also known as garbanzo beans, like all legumes, they have many health benefits. Legumes are nutritionally "very well-rounded," she said.
"Legumes are a great plant source of protein in the diet, and are also a good source of unsaturated ...Read more
Instant Island-Style Plantains
These quick caramelized plantains are a sweet and simple way to enjoy a taste of the Caribbean.
Ingredients: 2 ripe plantains 2 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons brown sugarInstructions: Melt butter in a pan over medium heat.
Add plantains and brown sugar and cook until caramelized.
Instant Island-Style ...Read more
Flash-Fried Stuffed Mushrooms
A lightning-quick hors d'oeuvre that brings the savory delight of stuffed mushrooms to your table.
Ingredients: 10 large mushrooms 200g cream cheese ChivesInstructions: Remove mushroom stems and fill each cap with cream cheese.
Grill until the cheese is bubbling. Garnish with chives and serve.
Flash-Fried ...Read more
Midday Mystery Egg Salad Wrap
Experience a surprise in your midday meal with Midday Mystery Egg Salad Wrap. The creaminess of the egg salad wrapped in a soft tortilla is as intriguing and satisfying as a midday mystery.
Ingredients 2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped 2 tablespoons mayonnaise Salt and pepper to taste 1 tortilla wrap Lettuce leaves for ...Read more
Amazing Aloo Gobi
Venture into the flavorful world of Indian cuisine with Amazing Aloo Gobi. This spiced potato and cauliflower dish is an explosion of flavors.
Ingredients Potatoes Cauliflower Curry powderInstructions Sauté potatoes and cauliflower with curry powder until tender.
Serve with warm flatbread or rice.
This Aloo ...Read more

Federal cuts squeeze already-struggling food banks, school lunch programs
For the Day Eagle Hope Project, federal money has helped volunteers deliver fresh produce and meat to families in need across the remote Fort Belknap Indian Reservation in northern Montana — while putting cash into the hands of farmers, ranchers and meat processors.
The nonprofit generally has less than $300,000 to spend per year. So the $200...Read more
Rapid Ricotta and Tomato Bruschetta
This quick and easy bruschetta will take you on a speedy trip to sunny Italy.
Ingredients: 1 baguette, sliced 200g ricotta cheese Cherry tomatoes, halved Basil leavesInstructions: Spread ricotta on each baguette slice.
Top with cherry tomatoes and basil.
Rapid Ricotta and Tomato Bruschetta are vibrant in ...Read more

Kids and adults alike adore this modern twist on a classic treat
Almost everyone is familiar with the classic back-of-the-box recipe for these treats, with their ideal ratio of melted marshmallows and butter to crackly cereal for a bar with the sweet and sticky chew. While they're certainly delicious in their original incarnation, the potential for enticing mix-ins abounds, as in this loaded-up, sweet-and-...Read more
Speedy Vegetable Fried Rice
This quick and easy vegetable fried rice is a versatile and delicious dish that is perfect for a weeknight dinner.
Ingredients: 2 cups cooked rice 1 cup mixed vegetables 2 eggs, beaten 2 tablespoons soy sauce 2 tablespoons vegetable oilInstructions: Heat oil in a pan and add vegetables, frying until tender.
...Read more
Noon Serenade Shakshuka
Experience the serenade of noon with Noon Serenade Shakshuka. The simmering tomatoes cradling poached eggs play a melody as enticing and comforting as a noon serenade.
Ingredients 1 can diced tomatoes 4 eggs 1 onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced Fresh parsley for garnishInstructions Sauté the onion and garlic until...Read more

EatingWell: Who needs takeout when you can make delicious sweet and sour chicken at home?
This easy chicken and broccoli recipe makes a delicious, healthier alternative to Chinese takeout — and it takes just 20 minutes to make, so it's ideal for an easy weeknight dinner. When toasted, ramen noodles make a tasty, crunchy topping for a stir-fry or salad.
Sweet & Sour Chicken with Broccoli
Serves 4
Active Time: 20 minutes
Total ...Read more

Environmental Nutrition: Spotlight on supplements: Berberine
Berberine is a bioactive compound from a range of plants grown throughout the globe.
Overview
Berberine has proposed benefits ranging from relieving canker sores to managing blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetes. This supplement also has a history of use in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Special functions
...Read more

Seriously Simple: Enjoy this Seriously Simple meal in less than 30 minutes
It’s finally spring, and that means asparagus is in season. Combining it with salmon is a winner for lunch or dinner.
Make sure to use medium-sized asparagus so the salmon and asparagus can finish cooking at the same time. It’s important to snap off the woody ends of the asparagus; however, if you also have the time and inclination, peel ...Read more