Food and Recipes

If you're torn between shelling out for the luxurious taste of lobster and saving your budget with the more cost-effective crab, you might not have to choose. There are ways to combine the two and serve up a seafood dish your guests will love.

By John Kelly

When summer rolls along, who wants to cook dinner in front of a hot stove and then wash a bunch of messy pots and pans? We have a few dishes that are fresh, cool and easy to throw together.

By Bambi Turner & Heather Kolich

Whether scaling up a cookie recipe for a party or scaling down a pancake recipe for yourself, getting the proportions right can be tricky. What's the best way to resize your favorite recipe?

By Laurie L. Dove

Many delightful meals await the hungry gourmand throughout the day: There's breakfast, second breakfast, elevenses, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, supper and prime opportunities for snacking in between. But what about brunch? Could it possibly be the best meal of them all?

By Jessika Toothman

Willy Wonka may have developed a number of unusual chocolate-covered inventions at his famous factory, but even his strangest confections can't beat some real-life combinations people are trying.

By Cherise Threewitt

Once upon a time, drinking water simply meant drinking tap water. Now it might mean flipping on a faucet filter, blasting your water with UV light or even using reverse osmosis. But before you rig up a pricey filtration system, what should you look for?

By Julia Layton

During the dog days of summer, warm, winter meals just won't do. When the mercury starts to approach the red line, these hot season favorites will be a hit around the pool, out on the patio or under a beach umbrella.

By Sara Elliott

Neighbors may not meet over the outdoor clothesline anymore, but that doesn't mean we have to ignore them completely. Want to create a few fun summer memories while getting to know the people you're sharing the community with? Throw a block party.

By Sara Elliott

If you're planning a walk to the park, afternoon on the beach or scenic drive, take along a few classic picnic foods that will satisfy your discriminating palate while celebrating the luxury of eating in the open air.

By Sara Elliott

For those who don't fancy the hard-boiled, poached or scrambled varieties, a chocolate egg is the perfect Easter treat. Who thought to improve upon nature's most perfect food by mixing cocoa and sugar?

By Chris Obenschain

Some foods are easy to recognize on your plate, but what about a microscopic view? Check out this image gallery and try to see how well you know your foods up close and personal.

By Marianne Spoon

The versatile egg packs protein and taste inside a tidy little shell. You might think you've mastered the art of cooking eggs, but we've got some insider tips. From perfecting an omelet to hard-boiling advice, let's get cracking.

By Chris Obenschain

Nowadays, you don't have to be invited to a wedding reception to see a really creative cake. Inventive decorating techniques are letting even novice cake decorators build innovative cakes.

By Sara Elliott

Unleavened breads have been around longer than most other foods on the market today, but people don't pay much attention. You may be surprised to learn that many breads you eat are unleavened.

By Sara Elliott

Have an extra piece of cake -- it's really just bread, right? You're more right than you know. Cakes started out as sweet breads, and now they're a part of cultures around the world.

By Sara Elliott

Whether you're baking a cake for a child's birthday or as a housewarming gift for friends, you want the cake to look as good as it tastes. These essentials will help you achieve confection perfection.

By Chris Obenschain

When you think of cake, the usual suspects come to mind: butter, sugar, flour, eggs and maybe some chocolate. But would you consider adding hot peppers, soda, or even some pasta to your baking masterpiece?

By Emilie Sennebogen

You would think that a simple solution for vegetarians would be to use a meat substitute in their diet that provides the same amount of protein without the use of animals. But is it appetizing -- or even safe to eat?

By Emilie Sennebogen

Symbolic foods are an integral part of the festivities surrounding Chinese New Year, the most important holiday on the Chinese calendar.

Nicely pleated and well-stuffed Chinese dumplings are flavor-filled pillows worthy of main meal status. They're not hard to prepare, despite how it may look, and dumplings are a Chinese New Year's treat that's a great appetizer or side dish year round.

By Sara Elliott

Some fans of Chinese food are content to stick with basic sauces and spices common to this type of cuisine. Others wish to branch out and try new flavors. Check out our list of 10 sauces and spices to suit both of these preferences.

By Alia Hoyt & Sara Elliott

Chinese New Year is made up of a rich fabric of symbols, traditions and superstitions designed to influence the future. With a cultural heritage that spans more than 5,000 years, it's a 15-day celebration filled food that may shape your future.

By Sara Elliott & Francisco Guzman

For your next meal, will you be dining on last night's leftovers or munching on moldy meats and fetid vegetables? How can you tell when it's time to throw out the leftovers? Don't trust your nose to tell you.

By Chris Obenschain

Steak is a classic eyes-bigger-than-your-stomach food. Most people think they can finish the huge juicy goodness of a 24-ounce steak, but more often than not, they can't. What do you do with all of the leftover steak?

By Sara Elliott & Gallagher Flinn

Few people will dispute the fact that foods like French fries and pancakes are best eaten hot from the deep fryer or griddle, but some day-old foods actually taste better than fresh ones. Which ones made our list?

By Alia Hoyt & Danielle Fisher