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Not into the mess of painting Easter eggs? Try some alternative crafts instead

Entertainment / Entertaining /

For many families, painting Easter eggs is a tradition. It can be a fun tradition of breaking out the art supplies and dying pastel eggs with creative patterns. It’s also a very messy craft.

Or maybe your family doesn’t like painting Easter eggs. There are other crafts you can do with your kids to bring Easter spirit into your home.

Egg ...Read more

Dreamstime/Dreamstime/TNS

These bowls embrace whole grains for Earth Day

Entertainment / Entertaining /

Like so many cooks, I rarely make the same dish twice. Most of our dinners are a mix of whatever I have in the fridge and a few pantry staples. While I love trying new recipes, the fun comes when I use them as guidelines. This is especially true of grain bowls.

Ahead of Earth Day on April 22, I've been using whole-grain Kernza mixed with other ...Read more

DREAMSTIME/TNS

Change up your Passover routine with these meatless recipes

Entertainment / Entertaining /

The Jewish holiday of Passover comes with a number of food restrictions, the most famous of which is no leavened bread.

But (kosher) meat? That's fair game — unless you are vegetarian or vegan.

Some Passover seders (the ritual meals, held on two nights) can be animal-protein-heavy, with schmaltz-fortified matzo balls, gefilte fish, golden ...Read more

Gretchen McKay/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/TNS

Gretchen's table: Passover brownies are a delicious kosher dessert

Entertainment / Entertaining /

For observant Jews, eating kosher during Passover is an important mitzvah, or commandment, one must follow during the celebratory spring holiday, which commemorates the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt.

While grains are permitted, they must not be allowed to rise. That’s why this time of year you’ll find matzoh, a type of flatbread made ...Read more

DREAMSTIME/TNS

5 fun facts about St. Patrick you might not know

Entertainment / Entertaining /

Soon enough, the bars will be filled with green beer and partygoers ready to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

Although the day celebrates the patron saint of Ireland, many might not know much about St. Patrick other than his robes and iconic scepter.

March 17 marks the death of Patrick, who, according to History.com, was born in Great Britain ...Read more

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4 recipes for a traditional St. Patrick's Day meal, and there's no corned beef in sight

Entertainment / Entertaining /

Let's get one thing straight: Corned beef and cabbage is not a traditional Irish meal.

The dish evolved among Irish American immigrants, not in the old country. How corned beef became associated with St. Patrick's Day has more to do with the fact that it was an inexpensive cut of beef that was brined for preservation (and to counter any off-...Read more

Gretchen McKay/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/TNS

Gretchen's table: 2 cherry dishes for Presidents' Day

Entertainment / Entertaining /

Presidents often are larger than life, but outside the Executive Mansion, they're regular people like you and me, only with more restrictions.

Which might lead you to wonder what they eat when they're just hanging out with friends or family. We all know Donald Trump, for instance, loved his Diet Cokes and well-done steaks drowned in ketchup. No...Read more

Gretchen McKay/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/TNS

Gretchen's table: Hatch chile pork stew will spice up your Super Bowl party

Entertainment / Entertaining /

PITTSBURGH -- Football watch party spreads are often built around nachos, chicken wings and, in Pittsburgh, big bowls of hot Buffalo chicken dip made with Frank's RedHot, Philadelphia cream cheese and ranch or blue cheese dressing. Which is fine, because people like what they like, and who are we to argue with beloved culinary traditions on ...Read more

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Throw a President’s Day party

Entertainment / Entertaining /

With February just around the corner, stores have already wiped the winter holiday decor from the shelves, swiftly filling them with heart-shaped everything for Valentine's Day. But this oft love-it-or-hate-it holiday isn’t the only occasion to celebrate in February. President’s Day, just days after Valentine’s Day presents an alternative ...Read more