Food and Recipes

Any backyard vintner can turn grapes into alcohol, but only a few can craft a good bottle of wine. With these five hints, you might just go from booze to Bordeaux.

By Robert Lamb

Cooking tool fads come and go, but experienced cooks always come back to the classics. What cooking tools do you need most for your kitchen?

By John Fuller & Caitlin Uttley

If your sweet tooth is aching, what are you likely to reach for? Ice cream, cheesecake, any cake? If you're American, you're most likely to pick one of these 10 desserts.

By Alia Hoyt & Sascha Bos

You don't need a clunky yogurt maker to whip up a batch of the deliciously smooth dairy concoction at home. In fact, you've probably got everything you need in your kitchen already. How do you make your own yogurt, and why would you want to?

By Julia Layton

You may be familiar with the names of most of the herbs and spices on our list, but do you know which ones will accent a particular dish best, or better yet, which offer health benefits to you and your family?

By Jonathan Strickland & Natalie Kilgore

Cheese is an accessible delight: You can find it at superstores, grocers and of course, your local fromagerie. But why not press a batch for yourself?

By Julia Layton

Most restaurants resemble a powder keg covered with a veneer of hospitality, and it's up to the sous chef to make sure that it doesn't blow.

By Josh Clark

The Jura region is one of many regions in eastern France that produces world-class inimitable wines. The region is situated south of Lons le Saunier and north of Arbois, in the western hills of the Jura Mountains.

By Rosalind Jackson

For any true wine connoisseur, Tuscany is a must-see. The region produces some of the most reputable wines in the world. And for many, it's almost impossible to hear mention of Tuscany without picturing its rolling hills covered in grape vines.

By Sarah Siddons

Australia is often overlooked as a wine-producing powerhouse, yet its viticulture is rich and full of history. For a young country and state, Australia's Queensland has been in the wine producing business since its establishment almost 150 years ago.

By Sarah Siddons

Bordeaux -- to most people, the name simply means a type of wine. However, it's also a prominent French wine region. And while you might think the region focuses only on its namesake, wine production in Bordeaux is actually quite diverse.

By Vivien Bullen

You've been asked to bring a bottle of Burgundy wine to dinner at a friend's house. You know very little about wine, so you think she just means that you should bring some red wine -- the color burgundy is a shade of red, right?

By Rosalind Jackson

There's nothing better than relaxing outside on the first warm day of the year. You don't need any better excuse for a picnic than a sunny day and a few friends.

By Eleanor Duse

If your first thought about Sicily is of a certain group of gangsters in the "Godfather" trilogy, you're in for a treat when you discover its wine.

By Vivien Bullen

It's New Year's Eve. You have your fancy outfit, a date and a party to attend. What's missing? The bubbly! There's nothing like a big bottle of champagne to help you celebrate.

By Libby Little

Lombardy is usually associated with food production rather than vineyards -- neighboring regions bottle much more wine. Nevertheless, some superb wines are made there.

By Andrew Aguecheek

If you're planning a trip to Italy, Liguria might not be the first destination on your list. Tuscany is next door, with the art and shopping of Florence and the historic sweep of Siena. But don't overlook the flavors of this small region.

By Eleanor Duse

Like milk, wine can spoil, and changes in temperature or light exposure can speed up the spoilage. Wine cellars work to protect bottles from the elements, and they also give you a nice place to show off your collection and store those vintage labels.

By Olivia Page

Sure, you know Champagne and Bordeaux, the celebrities of the French wine world. But how familiar are you with the wines of the Rhone Valley wine region? It is an ingenue by comparison.

By Sarah Siddons

As a rule, alcohol can be expensive. But even those who don't shy away from paying $150 for a bottle of Dom Perignon or $350 for a bottle of Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne may be shocked to see just how much some wine collectors spend.

By Vivien Bullen

Whether you've got a library of aged Italian wines or case of two buck chuck, you need a place to store those bottles. Why not build a wine rack?

By Richard Winter

While some scientific research indicates that drinking wine has a healthy benefit, that doesn't mean you have a free pass to indulge -- especially if you're dieting. The calories in beverages containing alcohol can really add up, wine included.

By Vivien Bullen

Fried chicken. Barbeque. Biscuits and gravy. Collard greens. Black-eyed peas. Grits. Fried green tomatoes. Sweet tea. Peach cobbler. Pecan pie. The cuisine of the American South is as varied, as interesting and as diverse as its history.

By Richard Winter

The raw food diet isn't for everyone. To become a raw foodie, you have to stop eating anything that's been cooked. Could you handle it?

By Olivia Page

If you're throwing a wine-tasting party and want to kick things up a notch, buy a wine aerator. It'll make the wine taste better, and you'll impress all your friends.

By Rosalind Jackson