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A Fruit Beyond Compear
Most food lovers agree that pears are among the most delicious of fruits. James Beard, for example, proclaims in American Cookery that no fruit rivals the Bartlett pear “except fine strawberries, perfect peaches, and Tilton apricots.” Beard, like many other…
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The Treasures of Portuguese Cuisine
You’d think that a cuisine that was influenced by the Roman Empire for seven centuries, was enriched by invading Arabs, had a continuing role in the spice trade, and drew influence from South America would be better known among North…
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The Culinary Melting Pot That Is Hawaii
When many Americans think of Hawaiian food, pineapple likely is the first that comes to mind. But that’s more a testament to the strong advertising of Dole and Del Monte in the mid-20th century than the actual cuisine. As for…
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Chilling Out with Blueberries
Back on the farm in the 1950s, I knew what the arrival of blueberries in the local store meant: my grandmother’s blueberry pie. Like many families, our blueberry expectations were centered around desserts. Occasionally, we had blueberry pancakes, and someone…
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Cool as a Cucumber
My garden is about to produce a big crop of cucumbers, and I want to put them to good use. After all, cucumbers are among the human race’s oldest cultivated vegetables – technically, a fruit. The Oxford Companion of Food…
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A Buzz with Flavor: Cooking with Bourbon
When I first moved to Boston and began cooking for others on a regular basis, one of my go-to desserts was a bourbon pie featured in the New York Times Large Type Cookbook. As I think of it, my other…
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Scandinavian Christmas Traditions
In mid-December Scandinavia, it’s dark – just six hours of light each day. The sun rises in Oslo at around 9:20 a.m. and sets at about 3:15 in the afternoon. Winter is setting in now, and the locals are happy…
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Just a Small Group This Year? Deck the Halls Anyway!
For many of us, this holiday season could be the “small-idays” – smaller get-togethers. I’ve heard from any number of friends who plan to keep their festivities intimate, just with two or four for Christmas dinner. One couple is planning…
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Soup’s On!
Soup season is one of those times when food truly warms the body – and the soul. That big pot of meat and vegetables bubbling away on the stove not only warms the room, but fills the air with a…
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Cooking Meat: It Doesn’t Have To Be Tough
Comfort food season is upon us, now that autumn has arrived. When I was growing up, one of my favorite comfort meals was a braised chuck roast. Thanks to our farm that fattened 150 prime beef cattle, we had the…
