Food and Recipes

Comfort foods made a splash after two world wars and the Great Depression took their toll on the United States. Meatloaf, mashed potatoes and casseroles entered the menus of households across the country, as did the comfort food king: mac and cheese.

By Emilie Sennebogen

How does a food associated with cannibalism and believed to be toxic become known as the love apple? Whether you say "tomato" or "tomahto," we have the answer.

By Molly Edmonds

What started out as a meal that thrifty mothers can make for their families has turned into a comfort food staple. But if you're tired of the same old meatloaf invading your kitchen, then it's time to spice it up.

By Emilie Sennebogen

If you've ever tried to coerce a youngster into eating good-for-you foods, you probably know the wondrous advantages of that child-friendly sauce, ketchup. More than mustard and better than mayo, ketchup is the colorful condiment.

By Sara Elliott

Chicken and dumplings is a classic Southern comfort food dish, and fits the bill as a great home-cooked meal or fashionable menu item du jour.

By Emilie Sennebogen

If you're a holiday traditionalist at the dinner table, you're likely to have a turkey and a ham for the meat lovers. You could go the easy route and buy a pre-cooked ham, but where's the fun in that? Make your holiday ham your own.

By Emilie Sennebogen

If you've ever longed for a piece of your grandmother's apple pie or had an intense need for potato chips, then you've probably had a food craving for a comfort food. Why do we crave certain foods, and how do we avoid them?

By Jessica Brown

Cooking a turkey is a huge job for any chef. Just the size of the bird itself can be intimidating, not to mention all of the horror stories associated with the ghosts of ruined turkeys past. But it's easier than ever to cook the perfect bird.

By Sara Elliott

Christmas wouldn't be the same without a bunch of candy canes. But how did these sticky, striped treats become synonymous with the holiday anyway?

By Jennifer Walker-Journey

Sugar plums bring to mind memories of "The Nutcracker" and "'Twas the Night Before Christmas." While they are pretty labor-intensive to make, they easily can become a family tradition in your home year after year.

By Sara Elliott

One of the most highly anticipated holiday traditions in many households is the making and baking of Christmas cookies. From holiday-themed sugar cookies, to other goodies like seven-layer bars, these decadent treats are consumed gleefully.

By Emilie Sennebogen

The most important meal of the day deserves to be savored -- why not do it in beneath the sheets? Barring any rogue crumbs in your linens, breakfast in bed is a luxurious treat. We've got 10 themed menus that will start off the day deliciously.

By Cristen Conger & Emilie Sennebogen

The pressure of an economic slump might make even the most sophisticated diner crave tuna casserole. Choosing comfort food isn't just about reverting back to the worry-free days of childhood -- it's got a lot to do with tight budgets.

By Cristen Conger

Oh, fudge, that wonderful candy with a rich, deep flavor and thick texture. It's the guilty pleasure of choice for many chocolate lovers, and fudge, in all of its many flavorful incarnations, isn't that hard to make -- if you have a little patience.

By Sara Elliott

Ginger, cinnamon, cloves and molasses are what give gingerbread its unique flavor. And the fact that it hardens to the consistency of a graham cracker makes it ideal for crafty projects for the family, like building a gingerbread house.

By Emilie Sennebogen

The words "health" and "cake" aren't often uttered in the same sentence. Ingredients like butter and heavy cream make the cake taste great but can end up forever on the hips. A few substitutions can change that.

By Emilie Sennebogen

Since grilling became popular after World War II, it's seen some big changes. What started out as a metal pan on legs has turned into a favorite weekend pastime. So, who's the genius behind the grill?

By Sara Elliott

There are dozens of different cuts of meats on the market. And each cut is prepared in its own way to bring out the most flavors. Some are braised, some are roasted and some are pan-seared. But some cuts are just made for the fire of a grill.

By Emilie Sennebogen

Keeping a clean grill is the secret to great barbecue. After all, yesterday's steak marinade won't taste good on today's lime-grilled tilapia.

By Emilie Sennebogen

What barbecue is complete without complementary side dishes? They pair exceptionally well with grilled foods, not only because they score serious points for taste but also for their practicality.

By Echo Surina & Jill Jaracz

The perfectly iced little cakes you buy at your local bakery make cupcake baking seem like a snap. But when you try to bake your own, you end up with lumpy cakes smeared with runny icing. Where did you go wrong?

By Alia Hoyt

The cupcake is hotter than ever, and it's easy to see why. This individual-sized little cake has a frosted dome and the kind of personality that fits in at a class party or a wedding. But what are the most popular flavors?

By Chris Obenschain

Barbecue is undeniably popular fare -- even cavemen probably ate it. And if you want to start an argument, ask a crowded room what's better: the wet or dry stuff. Is it really so different?

By Candace Keener

Each culture has its own holidays, traditions and celebrations. And with each of these comes a unique menu to ward off spirits, pay homage to ancestors or bring good luck.

By Kathy Price-Robinson

These miniature cakes are more popular than ever thanks to the designer cupcake bakeries that have cropped up in major cities all over the country. How can you enjoy them without the guilt?

By Alison Cooper & Emilie Sennebogen