Alyssa Curlin

Onions are one of those foods nearly everybody uses. They are essential to flavoring a wide variety of dishes, available in any supermarket, and easy to grow in your own yard. But even though we all cook with them, many of us don’t know…

Ah, spring! The time of year when dandelions begin growing and thriving. Gardeners may not like this, but those of us who enjoy eating dandelion greens sure do. While upscale markets and health food stores may sell dandelion greens, most…

If you love to bake, you’ve probably made your share of pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, and maybe even pumpkin cheesecake. But there are plenty of other ways to use pumpkin in your kitchen. You might start by making your own pumpkin…

The yearly migration to the gym has begun as millions of Americans swear that this year is the year that they are going to lose weight and get the body they desire. But that leaves we foodies in a dilemma, how do we enjoy the gourmet…

Regional culinary peccadilloes are a big topic on internet food forums. Two popular subjects I’ve seen discussed are fried potatoes and soda pop, which goes by different names in the U.S., depending on where you live. I hail from a…

Lavender is the herb of love. Captivating for its seductive fragrance, its first attraction, it also serves adoration through its persuasive flavor. Having survived and thrived for centuries on earth, lavender has had kings and queens…

If you really would like to be nontraditional this year, you may serve appetizers and desserts with the perfect wines all day long. Keep in mind that this is a culinary tour, so plan on cooking and eating in intervals. The following are…

Few gifts show thoughtfulness, a willingness to put effort and time into the present, or good taste as much as gifts you make in the kitchen. The giver can be almost positive the gift will be used. And home made kitchen gifts can be frugal,…

Fall is for pumpkins. And I’m not just talking about jack-o-lanterns and pumpkin pie. Pumpkins are excellent for both savory and sweet dishes, and while cooked pumpkin is unfamiliar to most Americans, it’s easy and delicious to prepare.…

Sweet and smooth, figs are a superb – though uncommonly used – cooking ingredient. They are an important source of potassium, fiber and magnese, and can be used in both savory and sweet dishes. Because figs are highly perishable, most…