Food and Recipes

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 & Ada Tseng

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

For cooks, winter is often a time to resurrect favorite seasonal recipes that warm and comfort. These 10 meals will chase away the chill, taste amazing and keep the calorie count down, too.

By Echo Surina

Going vegan means no animal products of any kind, including dairy. But how do you make a cake without the three holy ingredients of the baking world: eggs, butter and milk? Turns out, it's not so tough to bake vegan.

By Emilie Sennebogen

Cupcakes seem uniquely suited to our modern sensibilities. They're portion-controlled, portable, easy to make in batches, open to lots of decorating strategies, tasty and can be inexpensive to make. So, who is the genius behind them?

By Sara Elliott

When we broach the topic of cake, we start getting into passionate territory. People define important moments in life, like birthdays, weddings and holidays, with cake. But where did this obsession begin?

By Sara Elliott

Any parent who's planned a festive first birthday party only to have the guest of honor sleep through the proceedings or seem a little lost and forlorn will love the idea of a smash cake celebration. Let your child dig in -- literally.

By Sara Elliott

Tomatoes are wonderfully versatile when it comes to preparation. They can be stewed, stuffed, baked, broiled, pureed, pickled, deviled, glazed, grilled and fried. But how do you match the tomato to the meal?

By Jessika Toothman

School lunches used to be notoriously unhealthy, but recent concerns about childhood obesity have encouraged cafeterias to offer healthier menu items. Discover new food preparation techniques schools are implementing.

It's easy enough to peel food at home with hot water and a pan -- but surely the world's canned produce is peeled by some faster means? What is flash steaming, and how fast does it work?

By Jessika Toothman

Fast food is easy, convenient and perfect for the person on the go. Who doesn't love getting a hot, tasty meal delivered right to their door? Check out these mouth-watering fast food pictures.

The noble art of mixology goes a long way past alcohol. These five kiddie "cocktails" are perfect for parties, special occasions or just a hot afternoon. The days of raising plastic cups of milk to toast are gone for good.

By Gallagher Flinn

Some dishes we only eat once a year on the appropriate holiday, which makes then even more dear to our hearts. How did these foods become tied to certain occasions?

By Debra Ronca

Unless you entertain all the time, hosting a get-together can be intimidating. But because there's no specific time for dining and other activities, an open house is a casual approach to having people over.

By Sara Elliott

Holiday cheer and colorful cookies just seem to go mitten in mitten. Not only are they a hit at any soiree, but they also make great gifts. So, if you plan to deck the halls with trays of cookies, why not go the extra mile and decorate them yourself?

By Emilie Sennebogen