Mate been originally consumed by the Guaraní and Tupi peoples native to Paraguay, north-east of Argentina and South of Brazil. After European colonization, it was spread to Argentina, Paraguay,  Uruguay and Chile, but it is also consumed in the South of Brazil and considered the national beverage of Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. Mate is also popular in Lebanon and Syria, where it was brought by immigrants from Argentina.

Until recently Britain was portrayed as a culinary wasteland, home to overcooked, boring food and an abundance of uninspired bland chefs. There were only a few tasty exceptions to their miserable repertoire — namely, fish ‘n’ chips, tea, beer and dessert. In this decade, respected food critics have reversed the hype, citing a virtual renaissance in the London food scene — raving about the hot new London chefs, touting its incredibly diverse restaurants, in fact anointing London as the Crown Jewel of European cuisine… London, London, LONDON!

Snow cream is a dessert in which snow is mixed with a sweetened dairy-based liquid to make an ice cream substitute. This is also known as snow ice cream.

In the U.S., kids are generally not fond of them. They're more of an adult thing. But, they're heart healthy, nutritious, easy on the pocketbook and often available at your local market. And fairly inexpensive, too, depending on where you shop.

I don't know about you, but January can be a depressing month. Most holidays are over, and there is really nothing to look forward to… particularly in my hometown of Seattle with blistering wind, chilling rains and NO SUN as part of my daily agenda. Our friends at Southern Living sent me this cheerful recipe and as I made a batch it certainly brightened my day.

Growing up in Seattle, harvest season meant one thing: Apples. Whether tart or juicy, the always did the trick. For calories, Thanksgiving is around the corner and all diets are on hold.

Mirepoix, pronounced 'MEER-pwah,' is a French culinary term derived from the name of an 18th century French aristocrat whose cook popularized its usage. Today, students around the world learn how to make mirepoix in the first few weeks of culinary school. The combination of diced onion, celery, and carrots, sautéed in a fat like oil or butter, is the first step in many recipes, from classic French dishes to more contemporary recipes found in many cuisines.

Yes, according to a 2022 study published in The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, eating dark chocolate daily improved mood, specifically lowering stress and anxiety in healthy adults ages 20 to 30. The key? Aiming for 85% cocoa or higher-it contains more polyphenols, or powerful plant compounds that act as antioxidants.

This is a terrific topper for pasta – penne or fusilli would work well – coat it over a Piadina Romagna in place of the standard tomato sauce for a killer flatbread pizza, or use it as a dipping sauce with beef fondue, or alongside grilled steak, chicken, pork or fish.

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, I realized that this year I could use a little cheering up. What comes to mind is Black Forest Cake. Yes, it’s rich and deadly, but with V-Day shouldn’t all our senses take on the component of an arrow penetrating our heart. And, of course, it doesn’t have to have to be physical romantic …