The Foodie

If you're visiting a Jewish home for Passover or any other festive occastion, it might be a good idea to pick up a bottle of kosher wine. There's more to kosher wine these days than Manischewitz or Kedem; it's a rapidly growing sector of the market that includes fine wines from all over the world.

At the end of a big holiday, leftovers are almost impossible to avoid. If you find yourself buried in boxes of matzo, packages of Peeps, or baskets of hard boiled eggs, fear not, we found some great ways to use, and enjoy, your leftovers from Easter or Passover.

Everyone loves the quintessentially American apple pie and that delicious Thanksgiving staple, pumpkin pie. But the ingredients that can be tucked inside a pastry crust are limited only by your imagination.

Forget bobbing for apples. This Halloween, try serving up these horrifyingly scrumptious treats. We’ve dug up bone-chilling breadsticks, bloodshot eyeball cupcakes and eerie fudge ghosts. Following these recipes and step-by-step videos will ensure your Fright Night is a screaming success.

Make your house a favorite of trick-or-treaters with information about and links to suppliers of the most popular fruit-flavored and chocolate Halloween candies. You’ll also find resources for retro favorites and candy recipes. Put those treats in your bowl and get ready to answer the doorbell.

July 23 marks the official birthday of the ice cream cone, and what better time to celebrate this coolest of desserts? In honor of the occasion, snack on some fascinating frozen facts. What causes the ice cream headache? What legends surround the banana split? Learn about ice cream in the news, or find recipes to make your own treats, from gelato to granitas.

You may know asparagus for its spindly stalk, forest green color and somewhat awkward dinner plate presence, but this supremely healthy vegetable deserves special attention. Although picky when it comes to soil temperature and acidity, and requiring a two-year growth period before it can be harvested for eating, asparagus is worth the fuss and wait. Once you’ve tasted a stalk fresh from the garden, glistening with olive oil and lemon, you’ll understand. 

Tempt your taste buds and prepare your stomach for the big meal to follow with a traditional Italian dish: antipasto. With its lively combination of tastes, both savory and sweet, antipasto closely resembles other popular hors d’oeuvres, but brings a distinctly Italian flair and aesthetic. Originating in the 16th century, antipasto literally means “before the pasta,” and is the perfect prelude to either a casual or an elegant meal.

Barbecue is a summer staple for virtually every American, but for some dedicated enthusiasts, life is a full-time cook-off. Take a look at American barbecue and the devotees who keep the grill flame lit from July to June.

Taste what’s fresh this month. In June, tangy apricots, sweet Vidalia onions and tart Key limes are at their peak. Not only do all of them boast luscious flavor, each one can help boost your health. Read on and get ready to savor summer goodness.

Cold soup can be made with virtually anything: almonds, melon, hearts of palm. Served chilled, soup is a perfect summer option, either pre- or post-meal. More versatile than its warmer equivalent, both savory and sweet cold soup recipes abound.

Summer means casual gatherings and lighter meals served outdoors. Unfortunately, it can also mean the same old potato salad. Looking for some new ideas to bring to the picnic table? Add flair to your summer menus with an abundance of fresh produce, and some unlikely combinations and ingredients.

Some of nature’s freshest berries can be found at the local supermarket. Strawberries, blueberries, cherries and more abound. But some of their lesser-known counterparts can be equally as succulent; you just need to know where to find them and how to eat them.

This holiday season, inject some new flavor into your virtual (and real) plate by visiting this handful of inventive, distinctive food and drink Web sites. Get inspired to entertain, indulge and give back with these tasty recipes and practical shopping ideas.

Warm, earthy and comforting, whiskey has evolved over centuries from its monastic roots to become one of the world’s most varied and consumed spirits.

The craft of artisanal cheesemaking is alive and thriving in the United States, producing a huge variety of top-notch cheeses that rival their European forebears. We'll take you on a tour of artisanal cheeses and show you how to make them and where to buy them.

Keep your meals fresh and your heart healthy by incorporating eggplant into your diet. Eggplant is at peak ripeness right now, so fill your fridge before pumpkins and gourds take over the market stands.

The refreshing flavor and texture of cucumbers will remind you of summer as you transition into fall. Adding the vegetable to your diet can also help rid your body of common toxins. Cucumbers are coming into season in early September, so take advantage and stock up.

Let the flavors of sun-ripened Asian pears linger on your taste buds as you prepare for autumn’s chill. Asian pears are at peak ripeness in early September.

As summer starts to wind down, green beans make for light, healthy dishes with bright colors and crunchy textures. Many people also cure green beans in order to eat them year round.

Napa cabbage is ready for harvest just as the summer begins to wind down, so head out to your local farmers market to bag some before it is too late, and once it's home, we've got a few ideas for how to prepare it.

Watermelon is a summertime staple, the perfect refreshing treat after a long, hot day in the sun. In mid-August you'll find watermelon at its juiciest. Discover new ways to prepare this seasonal favorite.

What better time to take advantage of summer’s natural treasures than during the hot, lazy days of August? Lucky for you, one of summer's most refreshing fruits is ripe in the first days of August: cantaloupe.

A summer barbecue or picnic staple, corn is one of the vegetables that will be ripe in early August. Relatively inexpensive and refreshing on a hot summer day, corn can be made into many meals and eaten in more ways than just on the cob.

One of the tasty fruits that is ripe in early August is the small tomatillo. Known in Mexico as tomates verdes or fresadillas, tomatillos are characterized by their papery outer husk. The tart and healthy fruit is a staple in many Mexican and Central American dishes.

If the brilliant hues of July’s fruits and vegetables don’t draw you in, then learning about their health benefits should. Before long, you’ll be rushing to your local market to stock up on cherries, summer squash and nectarines to brighten up your diet and your dinner table.

The days are longer, the evenings warmer and the moods brighter—summer is fully upon us and what better way to celebrate long afternoons with friends and sunsets on the beach than to raise a glass and hear the music of tinkling ice cubes? While cocktails are a year-round pleasure, the scorching days of August demand a particular approach to mixology. The ingredients should be fresher, the portions larger and the effect more bracing to counteract the heat, the haze and the lazy days. So stock up the bar and celebrate the season of summer cocktails—get mixing.

Taste what’s fresh this month. In early July, plump strawberries, mountains of sugar snap peas and bundles of rich, tender Swiss chard await you at your local farmers market. Each one is a great source of fiber and bursting with vitamins to keep your heart healthy. Select your favorites and get cooking with the recipes featured below, or enjoy some of these summer treasures raw.

Herbs can be a perfect introduction to gardening for those with limited space or little experience. Find out the history of various herbs, which herbs will flourish in your climate and how to grow them, and which ones pack the most punch in a recipe. Filling your home with the scent of lavender, lemon verbena or mint is easier than you think.

April is a great month for spring cleaning, but it’s also a perfect time to rejuvenate your diet. After months of subsisting on hearty vegetables and roots, welcome warmer weather by infusing your cooking with the foods of the season. Tender asparagus, aromatic ramps and buttery fava beans all deliver the fresh flavors of spring, along with an array of nutrients to keep you healthy.