A quick blender vinaigrette does double duty as dressing for this strawberry spinach salad and, with the addition of ketchup and strawberry preserves, as a barbecue sauce for the tenders.

Strawberry-Balsamic Spinach Salad with Chicken

Serves 4

Active Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

2 cups quartered strawberries, divided

2 ...Read more

When you embark on food and lifestyle changes with health in mind, what defines “success”? For many people, weight loss is the primary marker of change they focus on when they are trying to eat better and exercise consistently. But weight change is only one possible outcome of improvements to nutrition and physical activity.

Eating ...Read more

When I am in the mood for an Asian meal, I will often make lettuce wraps since they’re easy to put together. If you make sure all the ingredients are prepped and ready to cook, these can be made in a few minutes.

I have changed up the classic recipe with ground turkey instead of chicken and added my own touch of crunchy water chestnuts and ...Read more

Breakfast at an old-fashioned diner proves one of the greatest pleasures of the weekend. We love lingering over fluffy omelets, deeply pocketed waffles and crispy bacon.

Trouble is, more often than not, the weak coffee brewed at most breakfast spots leaves me wanting. My solution? Embrace the role of diner cook at home. I drink my own brew (a ...Read more

I like making my desserts from scratch. It must be a genetic trait that came from my grandmother, who I never once saw buy a store-bought dessert; she proudly favored her homemade desserts. Unlike my grandmother, though, I know that not everyone enjoys baking. While...Read more

Every week I buy a bunch of bananas intending to eat them fresh, blend them into smoothies with peanut butter, and serve them as dessert (who could resist this ...Read more

Milk cravings are more common than you might think, and sometimes it has nothing to do with wanting a companion for your cookies.

According to experts, craving milk can be caused by feeling nostalgic during the holidays, or it could be an emotional trigger.

“When we experience stress, our body releases stress hormones like cortisol. Cortisol...Read more

Rie McClenny grew up in southwestern Japan with family members who not only loved to cook but, as the owners of a tearoom and cafe in their small seaside city, were pretty darn good at it.

The simple, home-cooked meals her mother, Yoko, and maternal grandmother, Kiyoko, prepared for their rural customers, using seasonal local ingredients and ...Read more

It wasn’t the best work of art I’ve ever seen. But in many ways, it was the most memorable.

We were in New York City in January 2002, to celebrate my wife’s birthday. It was a few months after 9/11, and hotels were desperate for customers. Any customers. Even us.

We stayed at the fabled Plaza Hotel for less than the cost of a Courtyard ...Read more

Spicy tomato salsa gives these light, juicy chicken burgers a hint of the Southwest.

Look for ground chicken made from chicken breast meat only. If it says ground chicken, then skin, fat and dark meat may have been added.

Helpful Hints:

Be sure to drain the salsa to keep the hamburgers from being too wet to retain their shape.

Any type of ...Read more

Years ago, when my kids were little, my husband and I made sure we had a special night together at least once a week. We called it Champagne Friday, and even though we didn't drink champagne (we usually opted for a more budget-friendly alternative), we always tried to make a nice meal to enjoy together after the kids went to bed.

One of our ...Read more

In searching for an afterschool snack for my teenage son, I came across these pretzel dogs.

They take an all-beef Nathan’s Famous hot dog and wrap it in a soft-on-the-inside, warm-and-crusty-on-the-outside pretzel bun for a real winner. You can just warm them in the microwave, for a quick snack. But they taste even better when you warm them ...Read more

As much as I love a loaf of rustic bread, with its tooth-tugging crust and tender center, it's the day-old hunks that intrigue me. Here are the makings of a lush pudding, either savory or sweet.

A savory bread pudding, packed with seasonal veggies and spices, is much like a quiche but easier and more expeditious — no crust required. It's as ...Read more

Placing plant-based lasagna in the most popular part of the canteen. Serving veggie stir fry so diners have to ask for meat. Renaming vegan food with enticing adjectives like “feel good” and “juicy.”

These are just some of the small changes adding up to a quiet revolution in school cafeterias, hospitals and on university campuses from ...Read more

It’s no secret that a salad filled with bright, colorful fruits and veggies makes for a delicious start to your meal, or is the meal itself. And you probably know that what we choose to top our salad — think beans, croutons, bacon bits, lean meats, etc. — can impact the health quotient of said salad. But did you realize how important the ...Read more

Gazpacho usually means a tomato-based soup with bread and cucumbers. In Spain there is an offshoot of the tomatoey-garlic soup called Salmorejo, which uses plenty of olive oil to emulsify it all together.

Tasty, but richer, Salmorajo can be found in Cordoba, Spain, where the summers are unbearably hot. The locals keep this refrigerated soup at ...Read more

Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer and proves the perfect time to gather with friends. The goal is to spend as much time as possible outdoors. The food and drinks for the occasion should be easygoing. Especially for the cook.

Over the years, we’ve learned to be flexible, the weather might not always cooperate. If it’s sunny, ...Read more

When the heat of summer sets in I just want to eat meals that will cool me down. My relationship with soups, stews, and basically anything that comes out of the oven is on hold for these next few months. I prefer easy homeandleisure/recipes/varietymenu/s-3248812">Read more

Every week I prepare a one-pan chicken skillet dinner, leaning on flavors my family loves like garlic butter, homeandleisure/recipes/varietymenu/s-3248811">Read more

This cucumber vinegar salad has the perfect balance between sweet and sour flavors plus a hint of fresh dill. The red onion adds a nice crunch.

Cucumber Vinegar Salad

Serves 4

Active Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

6 Persian cucumbers

2 teaspoons granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup thinly sliced red onion

1/4 cup white-wine ...Read more