Golden berries belong to the nightshade family and are closely related to the tomatillo. You’ll recognize them by the delicate, slightly sticky paper husks that surround each fruit; these husks should be removed before eating. Native to the Andes in South America, golden berries are now cultivated in temperate regions, with a significant crop grown … Read more

The tomato is botanically a fruit—a berry, in fact—even though in cooking it functions like a vegetable because it has far less sugar than most fruits. Native to South and Central America, tomatoes were used extensively by the Aztecs and later carried to Europe by the Spanish. From there they spread around the world and … Read more

Lardons are a brilliant variation of an already excellent ingredient: bacon. Well-made bacon lardons strike a satisfying balance between crisp and chewy — substantial enough to notice the bite, yet still delivering the salty crackle you expect from bacon. Typically, lardons are cross-sliced thick-cut slab bacon, each strip about 1/4 to 1/3 inch wide — … Read more

Peaches and nectarines are familiar to most of us, yet there’s always a little magic to biting into a perfectly ripe summer peach. When they’re in season, you want to bring them into every meal—breakfast to dessert—and savor their sweetness and texture. What’s In This Post? What Exactly Is a Peach or Nectarine? What Are … Read more

Many recipes begin with the instruction “Brown the ground beef,” but few explain exactly what that means. How browned should it be? What texture do you aim for? How do you achieve that result? Browning ground beef properly — so it develops color and separates into small crumbles — is simple. With the right pan, … Read more

Let’s tip our hats to the holy trio of comfort food: beef, cheese, and some kind of starch. That combination never fails in my family — it’s reliable, cozy, and always welcome at the dinner table. Below are a dozen cheesy, beef-forward comfort dishes perfect for chilly evenings. Many use ground beef, which makes them … Read more

Every summer, beginning in July, zucchini suddenly seems to appear everywhere. Garden beds overflow, farmers markets pile them high, and supermarkets offer them at low prices. With this abundance, it’s smart to have a collection of go-to zucchini recipes so you can make the most of the season. Zucchini doesn’t freeze well, so it’s usually … Read more

Defrosting chicken safely raises many questions. Never thaw chicken on the counter or in hot water — doing so risks bacterial growth and foodborne illness. Below are the safe, practical methods for thawing chicken and guidance on timing, storage, and cooking. What’s In This Post? Can You Cook Frozen Chicken? FAQs The Best Way to … Read more

I recommend using an instant-read meat thermometer to ensure your steak reaches the exact temperature you want. If you don’t have one, you can still estimate doneness using touch — a useful skill once you practice it enough to avoid cutting into the steak and losing juices. Testing doneness by touch takes some practice, but … Read more

Do you know how many people tune in to the Super Bowl each year? In 2015 the game reached about 114.4 million viewers, and some years — for any number of reasons — viewership can be even higher. With crowds that size, you’ll want food that’s easy to serve, customizable, and satisfying for a range … Read more