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Curries Around the World
When I think of Indian food, curry comes to mind. Indian dishes are popular around the world. Cookbook author Mndula Baljekar describes brightly colored vegetables in rich sauces; tender meat, poultry, and fish; nutty beans and lentils; and a wild…
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The Beautiful Simplicity of the Omelette
I’m one of those people who enjoys an egg dish as my main meal of the day. Turns out I’m not the only one. Humans have been dining on eggs since the dawn of time. We were probably eating them…
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Reducing Food Waste: One of the Original Recyclers
When we think about it, most of us want to do our part to reduce food waste. After all, it contributes to about 8% of greenhouse gas emissions. But most people are unaware of a large industry that has existed…
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Big Jim’s Cookin’: There’s the Rub
Back in the late 1960s, my local farm community in Illinois was abuzz about Jane’s Krazy Mixed Up Salt – especially the men, who dusted any meat imaginable with the stuff before sacrificing it upon a grill. In that meat-and-potatoes…
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Sandwich Sensation: The Halifax Donair
On vacation in New Hampshire last week, I had the opportunity to experience the official food of Halifax, Nova Scotia. What I like about this discovery is that it clearly illustrates how humans adopt and adapt food traditions from other…
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Making a Splash with Fish Tacos
My family has some big fans of fish tacos. I asked around: What makes a good one? It starts with fresh whitefish – that’s unanimous – and a big dollop of lime sauce. Some prefer the crunch of fresh chopped…
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Mac and Cheese – the World’s Most Beloved Comfort Food
Is it macaroni and cheese, mac and cheese, or macaroni cheese? Depends on where you’re from. In Canada, the U.S., and the U.K., there are different names, but it’s essentially the same dish that’s at least hundreds of years old.…
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Salads for Winter Warmth. Seriously.
Many of us in the northern U.S. are experiencing bone-chilling cold these days, and the first thing that comes to mind for dinner is probably not salad. Instead, we are more likely hankering for a nice filling stew or another…
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Calling All Nonnas – to the Kitchen
A feature story in the Washington Post this week about a Staten Island restaurant made me smile because it reminded me about the main traditions that drive what we eat. This popular eatery – reservations must be made several weeks…
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Feasting with the Poets
When it comes to a combination of food, history, and tradition, not much beats the annual Robert Burns Night, held each year on or near the Scottish poet’s birthday January 25. What I admire is that the feast is a…
