05/12/2008

A backyard barbecue you — and your wallet — will love

Throwing a barbecue is one of the joys of summer, but it can get pricey. The secret to backyard entertaining without breaking the bank is to build the meal around foods that are good values or sale items. Pantry items and ingredients that add multiple flavors with one stroke complete the package.

05/10/2008

Marinade Moroccan-style chicken while you're at work
When it's grilling season, it's easier to avoid the takeout trap.Spending a few minutes in the morning creating a marinade for a healthy protein such as chicken or fish can ensure that a tasty entree is ready for quick cooking on the grill when the workday's done.

Spring greens are loaded with nutrition and flavor
Spring greens, usually a combination of mizuna, tatsoi, red oakleaf, sorrel, arugula and frisee, used to show up only at high-end restaurants but recently has become a year-round staple in supermarket produce aisles.

05/09/2008

Beef Stroganoff: Fit for a czar
I am not sure how long Beef Stroganoff has been around, but it is high on the list of comfort foods. Some recipes call for inexpensive cuts of meat, but in testing various methods, better cuts of meat are tenderer when the dish is made in advance.

Grilled Pineapple

Raspberry-Rhubarb Crisp

Mounds Cake

Peppered Balsamic Ice Cream with Fresh Strawberries

Cauliflower Gratin

Sauteed Baby Tomatoes with Arugula

Create a backyard feast to remember

EVANS CAGLAGE/DMN

It's the beginning of backyard grilling season, and time to enjoy brats, burgers and all the sides. Here's a menu to make the party perfect.

Recipes for entertaining outdoors

05/06/2008

Stacked crab and avocado with wasabi makes tasty appetizer
Jumbo lump crab can be pricey, especially when it's out of season. However, it makes a delicious appetizer, and since it has such a rich taste, a little goes a long way.

When President Bush retires, this is what he'll cook at home
Each year, hundreds of cookbooks are published across the country by the Junior League, church groups, symphony guilds, PTAs and other organizations. Sold mostly as fundraisers, they contain favorite recipes made by regular folks in home kitchens.

05/05/2008

How to grill bone-in chicken breasts

I can grill up a burger, hot dog or even a swordfish steak with the best. But truth be told, perfecting the chicken breast — juicy in the middle, caramelized exterior — is a nerve-racking experience. But it can be done with a little grill sense.

Make great no-fuss vinaigrette in just minutes

Most bottled vinaigrette salad dressings are good for one thing — marinating meat. Which is why when it comes to dressing summer-fresh produce, you are much better off making your own. The flavors are bold and crisp, the sodium and fat usually are lower, and the process is cheap and easy.

05/03/2008

Ginger-soy salmon gets high marks for omega-3s
It's always nice to be told to eat more of a delicious, fatty food, as in the case of salmon.

05/01/2008

Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp
Extra-large shrimp, wrapped with regular, thin-sliced bacon, grilled over coals, served with garlicky, baked cheddar-cheese grits

Black Bean Dip

Mom's Amazing Meatloaf
Growing up, I often boasted that my mom made the best meatloaf. And since Mother's Day is such a nostalgic time, I'm preparing the original recipe in her honor.

Shrimp Dip

Stuffed Peppers with Mexican Beef
Hamburger can save the day! Even if it's frozen solid, you can walk in from work and transform this seemingly hopeless ingredient into dinner in 20 minutes flat.

Try Cinco de Mayo Chicken
Mexican food, or Mexican-inspired food (often called Southwestern cuisine), is popular year-round in Texas, but it's particularly appropriate for celebrating Cinco de Mayo.

04/29/2008

Lemon Sparkler

04/30/2008

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with – pizza?

04/29/2008

Cut the calories in Bruschetta Chicken but keep the flavor
Bruschetta Chicken is fast, easy to fix and great to serve company. But it could be more nutritious.

Eat for Life: Banana bread recipe gets flaxseeds' omega-3s on the table

Nutty sauce plays well with noodles, chicken
Skip meat tonight and enjoy Rice Noodles with Peanut Sauce (see recipe) for a change of pace. Serve with snow peas and sesame breadsticks . For dessert, you'll like apricots .

Baked Cheese Grits
Garlicky, baked cheddar-cheese grits goes great with extra-large shrimp, wrapped with regular, thin-sliced bacon, grilled over coals.

04/24/2008

Yummy Fudge Frosting

Slow-cooker rice pudding

Crunchy Peanut Butter-Butterscotch Squares

Tomato-Cucumber-Feta Salad

04/22/2008

Strawberry-Rhubarb Upside-Down Cake

Picnic Pork and Pasta Salad keeps outdoor fare simple
Preparing Italian Marinated Pork Chops is a good way to get the grilling season started (not that it ever stops for some).

Chocolate Macaroons

02/15/2008

How to make perfect oven chili fries

It sounded daunting, but ended up being an easy challenge. I wanted chili-seasoned french fries that were as crispy and flavorful as those gorgeous deep-fried wedges you find at carnivals, all golden and fatty, but healthy enough that I wouldn't feel pangs of guilt feeding them to my toddler.

04/22/2008

Bread and Tomato Soup

Cream Stout Milkshake

Recipes for a foodie book club
Try these book-related recipes for a fun gathering.

Quick Fried Rice and Ham

Who knew zucchini made such a great appetizer?
No one swoons over pristine bites of zucchini. Its flavor is so subtle that it borders on bland. But when dressed up with bolder ingredients, this humble squash shines. Like a blank canvas, boring zucchini becomes something extraordinary as a base for other flavors.

04/21/2008

Modified versions of salad dressings add flavor without excess fat
Dressings are the draw for many restaurant salads, but the sweet and tangy mixtures can toss lots of extra calories and fat grams into bowls.

Weeknight Paella goes together like a stir-fry
Like a stir-fry, which is made in a wok, paella typically is made in a special wide, flat, two-handled pan. But, unlike a stir-fry, paella is not a quick dish. Weeknight Paella uses quick-cooking brown rice to speed things up.

Prize-winning Kids in the Kitchen recipes
Here are winners from the Plano Junior League's Kids in the Kitchen recipe contest.

04/18/2008

Shrimp on the grill, then over pasta
Fire up the grill and prepare grilled marinated shrimp . You can use a store-bought marinade or make one. While the grill is hot, add corn on the cob . Round out the meal with a big mixed-greens salad and garlic bread . For a light dessert, try pineapple sherbet .

Shake up some pretzel twists
Tasty snacks are helpful to have at your fingertips for guests. Whether you plan dinner at home or are going out with friends, something quick and not too filling could be just the thing. Even better, if the ingredients are in your pantry or freezer, you save that last-minute dash to the store.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Red Chile Flakes

04/16/2008

Beergaritas: Just the name makes you smile

Derby Cooler

Cheddar Beer Dip With Smoked Sausage

Obsession: Bacon's so popular, they're putting it in Chocolate-Chip cookies

Crisp snacks from leftover tortillas or pita
Sometimes, you buy a package of fresh corn tortillas or pita bread and have a handful left over. Here's what you can do with them:

04/15/2008

Gourmet Macaroni and Four Cheeses

Passover inspires a creative approach to tradition
For cooks who usually rely on processed or prepared foods, preparing Passover meals may be difficult. Here's help for new cooks, and inspiration for those looking for fresh ideas.

Chicken Chili Casserole

Ginger Garlic Baby Bok Choy

Portobellos and polenta, a classic combination
During the fall in Italy, porcini mushrooms grow quite large and are at their peak. They are not readily available here, but the large portobello is and lends itself to the classic combination of roasted or grilled mushrooms and polenta.

Chocolate Meringue Cookies add finishing touch to dinner
I usually whip up these meringue cookies after making recipes that call for several egg yolks. (It's a wonderfully easy way to use leftover egg whites.)

04/14/2008

2 ways to enjoy fresh green peas
Try Minted Peas with Feta Cheese and Green Peas with Scallions to add a new veggie to your diet.

04/09/2008

Tuck ginger-glazed bird into sandwiches
Make a delicious meal of Ginger Brew Glazed Chicken , mashed potatoes and Sautéed Zucchini . For the zucchini, heat some olive oil in a large nonstick skillet on medium. Add 1 small chopped onion, and cook until tender. Add 2 to 21/2 pounds sliced zucchini and 3/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg. Cover and cook 5 minutes or until squash is tender; serve. Add a mixed green salad and baguettes. Peaches are an easy dessert.

Garbanzo burgers infused with taste and health
Beans save money, but beans can get boring if we don't keep branching out. Today's Great Garlicky Garbanzo Burgers are close cousins to Middle Eastern falafel, and the assertive shot of garlic and a lemon-mayonnaise topping ensure that even carnivores will crave them.

04/08/2008

15 ways to stretch your grocery dollar

EVANS CAGLAGE/DMN

Pork Tenderloin makes an array of other dishes.

If you shop at all, you've probably noticed that grocery prices are rising. In more carefree days, you may have thrown out leftover chicken, limp celery or the last few tortillas in the fridge. But today, that's like throwing away even more money. Here's how to make the most of the food you have.
Great recipes that dress up leftovers

03/25/2008

Red Snapper Veracruzana

03/11/2008

Sliders: Upscale, in the freezer case, or made at home, they make mighty bites

EVANS CAGLAGE/DMN

Yeah, they're a Yankee thing, but those miniburgers sure are good, aren't they? Even in bigger-is-better Texas. Now, you can try these variations at upscale restaurants, family eateries, in the freezer case, and with these recipes, at home.
Photos: Upscale and freezer-case variations on sliders
Recipes: Sliders to make at home

03/06/2008

Fancy Veal Piccata in a snap
You might think that Veal Piccata is an impossible dish for entertaining because it requires a last-minute sauté. However, if you buy your side dishes somewhere like Central Market, Whole Foods Market or Market Street when you buy the veal and make a simple green salad for an appetizer, it is not as hard as you might imagine.

03/04/2008

Perfect poundcake and chocolate cake recipes
These recipes from Joy of Cooking, Cook's Illustrated, and The Cake Bible will help you choose the best cake recipe for you.
More than 20 other great cake recipes

03/01/2008

Cannellini Bean Salad with Feta Cheese and Mint

02/25/2008

The Settlement Cookbook Banana Cake

02/27/2008

Beefy Tortilla Soup is great for busy nights
Today's Beefy Tortilla Soup is a twist on chicken tortilla soup. Start with a recipe for slow-cooked beef and use the leftovers to make this great soup.

02/25/2008

White Chicken Chili
A bowl of chili is a wintertime hit that's usually red all over – red meat, red beans and red sauce.

Lime-in-Coconut Custard Pie

Reel in perfect baked fish
Baking fish is easy if you follow these three steps. Here's how, with a recipe for Simple Baked Fish with Cornbread Crust.

Updated Sweet and Sour Meatballs
The original has long been a cocktail party staple. Serve this version over noodles and peas for a quick, tasty meal.

02/19/2008

Turkey meatloaf cuts the fat but not the comfort

EVANS CAGLAGE/DMN

Meatloaf is a supreme comfort food that can be served hot from the oven or the next day in a sandwich.
More Anne Greer McCann recipes

Cuban comfort food in a slow cooker

KATS BARRY/United Media

What better to come home to than the smell of a richly flavored stew that's been slow cooking all day?

We love slow-cooker recipes that don't require us to cook anything on top of the stove. We want to throw everything into the pot, walk away and return home after a long day to a comforting, amazing dinner
7 more satisfying slow-cooker recipes .

How to make authentic Texas chicken-fried steak

EVANS CAGLAGE/DMN

Too many cafes make chicken-fried steak by dragging it through thick batter and deep frying it. Reclaim the way this dish was made 30 years ago by following this expert technique.
Watch Rosemarie Hudson make chicken-fried steak the way she used to at Gennie's Bishop Grill in Oak Cliff.

02/14/2008

Try Margarita Pork Roast
You'll marvel at this novel use for margarita flavors: Margarita Pork Roast. Serve with yellow rice (packaged) and black beans (canned). Add a sliced lettuce-and-tomato salad and fat-free flour tortillas . For dessert, what could be better than flan from a mix?

02/04/2008

Knowing where to cut the fat is key to great mac and cheese

There's nothing quite as comforting as homemade macaroni and cheese, all creamy inside and crunchy on top.

Moka's Oreo Cheesecake

Cut here, sub there and Paula Deen's shepherd's pie becomes leaner

DAVE WILLIAMS/The Wichita Eagle

Here's a recipe that lets you enjoy shepherd's pie without all the fat. The biscuit topping has been removed and more vegetables have been added. The amount of ground beef has been reduced by one-third and extra-lean meat has been substituted for hamburger with a higher fat content.

Creamy Tomato Soup

Beef and Noodles

Peanut Butter Swirl Bars

Asian Noodles with Shrimp

Spicy Tofu Burgers

Hershey's Cocoa-Can Fudge

02/01/2008

Decadent desserts from your blender
How many times have your watched friends decline dessert but then give in to just one bite? You may remember pots de crème, a rich, soft chocolate served in demitasse cups, or decadent buttermilk pie, a Southern favorite. These miniature versions are made in a blender, poured into small pastry shells and are ready in minutes. Only the pie requires baking.

Chocolate Snowballs

Turn bruschetta topping into a meal
We've noticed a new Italian tomato-based delight in the fresh pasta cases and alongside ready-to-go pasta sauces: bruschetta topping. What a great idea for a quick dinner.

Easy brownies to fill your cravings

LUI KIT WONG/Tacoma News Tribune

If you think you can't bake, brownies are for you. Take a few pantry ingredients, a couple of bowls, a whisk, a spatula, a pan and an oven set to 325 F. Within an hour, you're staring at delicious baked chocolate.
Video: Cream cheese frosting techniques transforms a brownie recipe.

Banana Soufflé
Don't be afraid of soufflés, as they are easy to make. For this one, the banana mixture can be made in advance, and the egg whites can be beaten at the last minute, then baked.

Slow-Cooker Rice Pudding

Tips on buying in bulk
Buying in bulk from your local members-only warehouse can save you money – if you're smart about it. Getting a good deal really makes our day, but buying more of any item than we need simply because it seems cheap can add up to waste. Here's our advice, plus a recipe for Pan-Seared Sirloin Salad.

01/30/2008

Italian 'dressing'

01/23/2008

Add ingredients to a brownie mix for delightful results
Brownies made from a mix are a staple with busy moms. And with a little extra effort, your box brownies can stand out from the crowd. Here are five easy ways to decorate brownies using a simple cream-cheese icing.

01/22/2008

Recipes and tips to stretch your food budget

EVANS CAGLAGE/DMN

Budget days are here again, as prices increase for food staples such as milk and products that depend on wheat and corn. Here are recipes and ideas for maximizing your nutrition and minimizing spending.
Tips for saving on groceries
More budget recipes

01/18/2008

Garlic and Ginger Glazed Steak

RONNA GRADUS/Miami Herald

Garlic and Ginger Glazed Steak with Simmered Golden Potatoes is comfort food with a slight zing.

Garlic and Ginger Glazed Steak makes a great variation on a classic. Try it tonight, or check out more featured steak recipes.

01/16/2008

Dress up rotisserie chicken
Although most of us are familiar with rotisserie chickens for last-minute meals, we may not consider them fancy enough for entertaining. However, with some interesting side dishes, a simple sauce and attention to presentation, you can create a special dinner for friends – even if they know you bought the chicken cooked.

Salmon tacos

Recipes with broccoli and cauliflower
Roast Cauliflower with Garlic and Sauteed Broccoli with Shallot

01/14/2008

Dried Cherry Apple Almond Crisp

Spaghetti With Crushed Black Pepper and Pecorino Cheese

Broiled topping takes oatmeal cake over the top

EVANS CAGLAGE/DMN

Here is a cake to fill the tummy and warm the heart. And it can go from craving to table in about 45 minutes.
More of Texas' favorite recipes

01/07/2008

Nonnie's Red Beans and Rice

How to improve the classic BLT

Tinker with perfection? What the heck. Some would argue the BLT is a perfect triumvirate unsuited to tweaking. Some might say a little enhancement never hurts.

01/08/2008

Soufflés: The basic recipes
Master these recipes for a dessert soufflé and a cheese soufflé and you'll be a soufflé pro

01/07/2008

Dried fruits boost flavor, cut fat in easy pork dish
Elegant, fast and healthy. You really can have it all in one meal. Medallions of pork tenderloin with dried apples and plums is a perfect example. The dish can be prepared in about 25 minutes with about 10 minutes of prep, and you can do the whole thing with only a cutting board, a knife and a lidded sauté pan.

Roasted Vegetable-Tomato Sauce piles on flavor
Fire-roasted tomatoes give Roasted Vegetable-Tomato Sauce a flavor surge. Spoon the easy sauce over any medium pasta shells for a simple meal. Serve the combo with a romaine salad and garlic bread . For dessert, enjoy fresh pineapple .

01/03/2008

Low-Fat Winter Fruit Granola

01/07/2008

Bake a loaf of heavenly bread

KYE R. LEE/DMN

Lynn Mattie believes that baking bread is within anyone's grasp. She should know. The 48-year-old has been teaching bakery and pastry arts at El Centro College since 2000. And she's been baking bread since she was 12. But many of her students, like most home cooks, have never been faced with producing a loaf of bread.

01/03/2008

Braised Short Ribs with Celery Root Puree

Salads stack up to easy elegance
Stacked dishes became popular among restaurant chefs several years ago. They made an impressive presentation, although some entrées were difficult to eat. This mini-stack salad is a simple version of the style.

01/23/2007

Add barley for fiber and flavor

EVANS CAGLAGE/DMN

Barley, Feta and Pear Salad breaks the winter produce doldrums and fits with an American or a Middle Eastern menu.

Barley gets barely any notice from most home cooks. But, to the delight of many diners, New American chefs are adding this underrated grain to their stable of side dishes, using pearl barley in mock risottos or substantial salads. Dena Peterson, ex