I have no idea if this actually works, but having her advice firmly imprinted into the core of my being, I too cultivate patches of mint here and there. Which means, that right about now, mid to late spring, we have lots of it. Good for tea, good for jelly, and awesome in an agua fresca with lime and cucumbers, mint also pairs perfectly with peas. This is a simple dip with peas and mint, and some onion, sour cream, and tahini....

And that’s where your most important tool matters: a pasta machine. Whether you’re turning the crank manually, relying on an electric maker, or looking for an attachment, pasta machines come in a range of prices and capabilities. Our top choice, the Marcato Atlas 150, scored top marks for its classic Italian design and versatility. Each and every one will make fresh pasta within reach, without exhausting yourself by rolling out dough....

Of course, you may be up to sending them your own baked goods. But if you’re not up for spending more time in your own kitchen, the best thing to buy the foodies in your life is something they’d rarely splurge on for themselves. Whether that’s a cheese board from one of the best cheesemakers in the world, a set of tinned fish for aperitivo hour, or a cooking kit to help teach their kids a few culinary skills, here are the best food gifts....

Wood smokers demand constant monitoring of heat levels and adjustments. You’ll get stronger smoke, but they’re difficult to master and require more cleanup. With a gas smoker, all you need to do is adjust the knob to raise or lower the temperature. Just make sure you have a full propane tank, or better yet, an extra one just in case. Gas smokers produce plenty of clean heat, which is why they’re the smokers many barbecue restaurants swear by....

What makes side-by-side doors different from traditional top-freezer and French-door fridges comes down to a few things—features, price, and style. While French-door fridges look beautiful, they are also pricey, so side-by-side fridges are a happy medium. They have technological capabilities that make you feel satisfied with your choice, but they also don’t break the bank. As such, when you’re looking for a side-by-side fridge, make sure you consider features like LED lighting, icemakers, water dispensers, and airflow technology....

Admittedly, I did not know what a food steamer was. When I came across the metal contraption that resembled a small UFO, I didn’t know what a game-changer it could be. Since I was going through a minimalist phase (and I had never quite figured out how to use the steamer), I donated the saucer-shaped gadget. Months later when I came across a recipe video online using the very tool I donated, I was filled with deep regret and set out to make it right....

Foodwise, the summer brings a bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables—one of my favorite is tomatoes. At their peak, tomatoes are great in a simple salad, atop a piece of toast, or sliced and eaten with just a sprinkle of salt. For those looking to make something a little bit more elaborate, or needing more recipes to put all those fresh-from-the-garden tomatoes to good use, enter this tomato tart recipe....

A classic version is made with cheese, sour cream and bacon, but this vegetarian recipe sneaks in spinach for some extra veg, Greek yogurt for a boost of protein and creamy, salty feta forcan’t-stop-eating flavor. Plan Ahead Potatoes There’s nothing difficult about making twice-baked potatoes, but as the name implies, you do need time to bake them twice. Once your oven is heated, you’ll need 60 to 70 minutes for the first bake, depending on the size of your potatoes....

It’s not just in Asian cultures that rice is so revered. In fact, rice is the staple grain in the majority of countries around the world. It has been cultivated and domesticated in Africa, Asia and South and North America. If you’re wondering how to choose amongst the different kinds of rices and how to cook them, consider this your primer! Do You Need to Rinse Rice? In general, you don’t want to rinse enriched rice, since the grains are coated with additional nutrients....

Read on for more details sea salt and artisan salt, and a few examples of each! Want to know more about the different kinds of salts? Check out The Simply Recipes Guide to Salt! What Is Sea Salt? What we think of as sea salt is typically evaporated from seawater. The crystals can be fine or coarse, moist or dry. They can also range in color from translucent white to grey!...

It’s a “composed” salad with avocados, bacon, chicken, hard boiled eggs, and tomatoes. The only problem is that sometimes, just sometimes, you want something a little lighter. Perhaps you had bacon and eggs for breakfast, and you don’t feel like having more at lunch. This was the dilemma we found ourselves in during a recent trip to Washington DC, wanting a substantial salad for an evening meal, but without all that bacon....

As for what goes into the filling for these enchiladas, it’s a bright mix of roasted corn, zucchini, and poblano peppers tossed with spicy Jack cheese, black beans, and a hint of cumin. When rolled into corn tortillas, smothered in salsa, and baked until bubbling, you arrive at a crowd-pleasing one-dish meal that will satisfy vegetarians and omnivores alike. It’s not too laborious for a weeknight supper but is particularly well suited to weekend cooking....

What Are Morel Mushrooms? Morel mushrooms are wild mushrooms foraged from wooded areas during the spring months, usually March to June. The mushrooms grow at the base of dying or dead trees and require rain and warming spring temperatures to grow well. States such as Michigan and Wisconsin are known for morel hunting, but morels are also found in Virginia, Kentucky, the Pacific Northwest, some areas of California, and parts of Europe....

But did you know a pretty great solution already exists, and has been in existence for a good long time already? It’s called tempeh! Tempeh is food that checks off a lot of boxes. It’s vegan. It’s soy-based, which means it yields more protein per hectare than many other crops. It’s fermented, which means it’s rich in prebiotics, provided it’s not heated all the way through. The fermentation also breaks down the beans’ natural phytic acid making it easier to digest....

Best of all, because baking powder is used in the batter, instead of yeast, they are incredibly simple and quick to make. You can have warm zeppole in about 15 minutes! Even with little planning, zeppole are excellent for breakfast on a special morning. They make lovely little bites alongside your coffee. Serve them warm with a generous dusting of powdered sugar. They’re also delicious with jam or Nutella....

This could even be a rather clever way to get your kids to eat more greens. Though it’s not exactly “sneaky” as you can clearly see the kale. But think of it this way, shredded cabbage is often used in tacos, and kale is related to cabbage; they’re both of the brassica family. So, it’s not really a stretch. And these kale quesadillas are good! Especially with some red peppers, onions, cumin, and cheddar cheese....

I overheard a woman say recently that during a particularly stressful and worrisome time she planned to drown her fears in wine and Ben & Jerry’s. I get it. Dulling your anxiety with alcohol and comfort food is understandable. A better move, though, is to support your immune system to weather what’s to come—both emotionally and physically. Some of the best strategies include getting plenty of sleep, managing stress (easier said than done), drinking lots of water, and heavying up on healthy foods....

Avgo-wha? Ah-vo-LEMEN-o, or at least that’s how I remember the Greeks at the local diner in New Jersey saying it. The “g” isn’t always pronounced. An Easy Avgolemono Recipe Like gumbo, goulash, or chili, there are untold versions of this soup. Some, like this one, have bits of chicken in them. Some start with a whole chicken and take hours. A few have nothing more than chicken broth and the egg-lemon sauce....

This cheesecake recipe is also foolproof. Rather than a delicate water bath, it’s baked in a nifty parchment paper-lined pan at a super high temperature. The result is its signature rustic look. Plus, no need for graham cracker crumbs here—in fact, it doesn’t even have a base crust! Basque cheesecake is one of the speediest and easiest desserts to whip up. It does benefit from a night chilling in the refrigerator, so plan to spread the project over two days....