Tzatziki tops minced smoked salmon for a sophisticated appetizer. Photo by Grenouille Films | IST.   Certain condiments are multitaskers, such that they can be used at different times of the day to make basic foods more interesting. Salsa, fr…

Advice circulates that coffee beans should be kept in the freezer to maintain freshness. False! Freezing the coffee coagulates the natural oils contained in the beans. These oils need to emulsify to produce the body and mouthfeel of the coffee. Coffee …

Almonds: delicious and good for you. Photo courtesy National Almond Board.   February 16th is National Almond Day. Almonds have long been known to have heart healthy benefits* (more about them below). Healthcare professionals recommend them for sn…

Today’s tip comes from chef Johnny Gnall, who has discovered the joys of frothing milk at home. There’s no need to head to your favorite coffee bar when you can make frothy cappuccinos and lattes in your own kitchen. “I made a recent purchase tha…

You can do more than just drink it. Photo courtesy Midwest Dairy Association.   Although we didn’t celebrate it at THE NIBBLE, February 11th was Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk Day. It was also Peppermint Patty Day, so we baked a batch of brownies…

The easiest way to make vegetables attractive to veggie non-enthusiasts is to put them on skewers. Serve them as snacks or with lunch or dinner. Bamboo skewers are very inexpensive: six-inch skewers are $1.00 for 50, and you can wash and reuse them. (M…

Any Cole Porter fan knows about shad roe,* but how many have tasted it? It’s shad roe season, trumpeting the eagerly anticipated delicacy that is available for about three weeks each year. The season is short because as the waters get warmer with the…

Cook your cucumbers: They’re even better than when raw. Photo by Monika Szczygiel | SXC.   This is the continuation of “Going Against The Grain: Raw Foods You Should Try Cooking And (Typically) Cooked Foods You Should Try Raw” (here’s…

Slice, caramelize and add to salads. Photo courtesy Microplane.   Chef Johnny Gnall shares this inspiration for cooking. He calls it “Going Against The Grain: Raw Foods You Should Try Cooking And (Typically) Cooked Foods You Should Try Raw.” J…

If you need a Valentine gift, run to your nearest Williams-Sonoma store to pick up a box of Baked Brookster Mix (also available online). Brookster? We’re guessing “brookie” was already trademarked. But a mix by any other name would taste as yummy…