Food Facts & Fun

You're out of brown sugar and would like to make a substitute. This article will tell you how to make a substitute for brown sugar.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

Sweet potatoes have been around a long, long time, but it seems like they're just now getting the fanfare they deserve. If you'd like to add this good-for-you vegetable to your diet, here are five ways to liven it up.

By Emilie Sennebogen

Summer days by the pool call for delicious, nutritious snacks that are quick to prepare. While you're splishing, splashing and having fun in the water, let your taste buds have some fun with these 10 easy poolside snacks.

By Stefani Newman

Americans eat more than 15 pounds of ice cream each year, but there's more to the creamy, cool concoction than classic vanilla, chocolate and strawberry. Check out these 10 unexpected ice cream flavors and ingredients. We dare you to try them!

By Heather Kolich

Sure, you could go out to dinner for Valentine's Day like every other couple. But why not surprise your man with a fantastic dish that'll knock his socks off?

By Christine Venzon

Canned tomatoes come diced, stewed, whole, sauced and in paste. But can one substitute for the other? After all, they're all tomatoes, right?

By Sara Elliott

Does it really matter if your carrots are boiled, steamed or roasted? Actually, it does. But that's the only simple part of the equation. Why would cooking vegetables make them less healthy?

By Julia Layton

The great tomato storage debate seems to be settled by the label on that little package of Romas warning: "Never Refrigerate." Pretty straightforward. Still, many people do just that and claim no ill effects. So, is the warning valid?

By Julia Layton

Tomato seeds are teeny-tiny, but they hold a lot of potential. If you extract and dry them properly, you can create your very own heirloom tomatoes and enjoy your favorite varieties from year to year.

By Natalie Kilgore

Tomato puree can serve as a base or add flavor to lots of dishes. What's more, it's quick and easy to prepare. Here's how to add it to your cooking repertoire.

By Sarah Winkler

Pelting unlucky victims with rotten produce is one of our oldest forms of expression. So, where did it start and why?

By Sara Novak

Tomatoes in season are some of the most delicious foods on Earth. There are still lots of ways to enjoy their flavor in the off season. You can even try them in place of some common ingredients. Here are five great examples.

By Linda C. Brinson

Just because it's healthy doesn't mean it's low-cal. Look at the mighty yet fatty avocado -- and the sugary caloric pineapple. Tomatoes are a salad staple, but just how many calories do these juicy veggies pack?

By Alia Hoyt

You don't think twice before piling tomato slices on your sub sandwich or dragging a french fry through a puddle of ketchup, but there was a time when people actually feared tomatoes. Here's the juicy history of the tomato.

By Chris Obenschain

What's for dinner? The answer is so much simpler when you can open the freezer door and pull out an entree, stew or sauce you prepared a few weekends ago. Tomatoes freeze well and can help you put dinner on the table in a snap.

By Chris Obenschain

It doesn't take much talent to cut a tomato well, but it does take some care. Here, five tips to help you turn a beautiful tomato into a slice, a chunk or a perfect, tiny square you can be proud of.

By Julia Layton

The use of a fresh tomato is seemingly endless. You can make pasta sauce, salsa or even eat it raw and whole. So, it only makes sense that you grow your own in your garden. Have too many coming off the vines? We'll tell you what to do with them.

By Sara Elliott

Tomatoes are easy to grow in your backyard garden -- maybe a little too easy. When the season's over, and you're stuck with more tomatoes than you know what to do with, it's a shame to throw them out. Now, you don't have to.

By Sara Elliott

Tomatoes are a staple vegetable found in countless recipes. If you want the freshest tomatoes for your fare, you can grow your own and can the leftovers before they go bad. We'll give you five tips to help you can your bounty.

By Emilie Sennebogen

Few things add flourish to a dish like a gorgeous garnish. And, thanks to the tomato's versatility, there are plenty of ways to make it the co-star of any plated affair.

By Laurie L. Dove

Who doesn't want to dig their teeth into a delectable pastry? The creamy filling oozes onto your fingers. The pastry shell melts in your mouth. What are the world's greatest pastry inventions?

By Debra Ronca

Are you invited to a lot of parties? And when you're invited to these parties, are you always asked to bring a dessert? Perhaps you're a born pastry chef.

By Debra Ronca

When people want to help feed the hungry, most will donate food, time or even money. And those things are always needed and appreciated. But if you want to get more involved, we have a list of things you can do.

By Sara Elliott

So you have a recipe that your friends swoon over, and you're looking for a career change. Or, maybe you're getting back into the working world but want to be your own boss. How do you get your big break?

By Emilie Sennebogen

Have you ever left the theater after a food-centric film with your mouth watering for the onscreen delights? What are 10 movies that have left us wanting more -- or left us seriously questioning what's stocked in the pantry?

By Jessika Toothman