Raising the Ice Bar

By Karie Barreira

While my cravings for winter ice cream may be a bit unconventional, it’s clear I’m not the only one who likes to embrace the cold weather. Seasonal watering holes have been popping up all over the country; like Igloo Bar, a temporal Eskimo den situated rinkside at Rockefeller Center and serving “ice melter” cocktails to skaters and spectators.

On a recent visit to Toronto, Canada, I visited the Drake Hotel’s “climate-defiant” rooftop bar, complete with live campfire and cozy blankets to snuggle while sipping your Scorched Marshmallow and Frangelico Hot Chocolate.

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Crab Cheese Fondue Comes out of the Closet

By Sandy Hu

I have a secret. My always-popular holiday dip is made with products I’d like to keep hidden from my guests. I’ve been known to hurriedly shove the containers in the trash as that first doorbell rings.

It’s not that there’s anything really wrong with the ingredients. It’s just that people have high expectations. Freshly grated Cheddar…fresh-caught crab? Nope.

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Easy onion prep tips

By Craig Deppe

There is, arguably, no more ubiquitous or frustrating ingredient in all of savory cuisine than the onion. (We must not forget garlic, but that is a story for another day.)

Every cook knows that the never-ending demand for onions can bring one to tears…Yes, I said it.

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Down on the Bayou

By Marilyn Hunter

Deep in the heart of the Bayou, lived my third cousin, Cleo. A sweet, gracious southern woman who could talk a mile a minute with a steady drawl. Cleo lived in Lafayette, Louisiana, in a community where food and cooking come from the heart.

The women spent most of their time talking about food, exchanging recipes and collecting cookbooks. The food, just like the lifestyle, was everything you would expect from a small, southern town in Louisiana…a unique blend of cultures and traditions.

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Kale – Delicious and Healthy

By Lori Powell

Not sure if Kale is on your hit list, but it should be! This cruciferous dark veggie is one of the healthiest around; so delicious, smoky and with such an appealing texture, you should try it if you haven’t already.

Forget how good it tastes – it has so many health perks that you can’t lose by consuming it. Kale has anti-cancer health benefits and cholesterol-lowering properties, to name a few.

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