I'm lucky enough to live in an area where even modest neighborhood cafes get their produce from local farms and change their menus often to reflect whatever their farmers are harvesting that week. I recently had my first taste of sweet summer corn at one such cafe, in a dish that combined chunks of shaved corn with tangy little cherry tomatoes and a creamy cilantro dressing. Sweet, crunchy and bursting with pure summer flavor, it was so good I knew I had to recreate it. In my kitchen somewhere along the way the combination transformed into a crispy, black-bean-speckled tostada — no complaints here. More

The Olympics' Opening Ceremony is this Friday! Sounds like a good reason to celebrate. Why not have a potluck with food themed around some of the participating countries? We round up a good mix of recipes that should make for an excellent spread. More

Despite being named after a world-class ballerina, I can't help but think of the pavlova as a rather humble and homely thing. I love the way the billowy whipped cream slumps into the cracked surface of the meringue, making a cozy nest for the fruit to rest. But perhaps the pavlova was named for the way it tastes: an arabesque of sweetness, a leap of airy confection, the beloved pas de deux of fresh fruit and cream. Like Anna Pavlova herself, it's perfect. More

S'mores are the classic summer campfire dessert. The components, when eaten together, are a little bite of perfection: gooey marshmallow, crisp graham cracker and warm chocolate. What could be better? How about throwing a little bacon into the mix! More

We showed up at the tail end of our CSA distribution this week and got a little more than we bargained for. Namely, a generous, extra helping (or four) of leafy greens. In trying to use up most of them, I combined a big pile of rainbow chard and all of our beets, and made this lovely little dish. It's dressed with a light vinaigrette and served room temperature, and the leftovers made an excellent lunch the next day. More

All right people, we're in the thick of summer, so it's time to belly up to the bar for some ice cold sangria. Please don't go to that bad place in your mind of sickly sweet concoctions and hangovers so horrible that you'll swear off the stuff. Great sangria can be refreshing and it's perfect for a summer party. More

I must confess that weeknight dinners can be a major struggle in my house, which probably seems contradictory coming from someone who writes about food! It's true that my refrigerator is often filled with an eclectic group of ingredients—most of which cannot be transformed into any sort of suitable meal. I often find myself scavenging the pantry for anything I can pass off as adequate, and trust me when I tell you that a starving girl + Nutella does not equal dinner.
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It's been a stifling summer across most of the country, and it's all one can do to try and stay cool. But according to Food Republic, some foods may only make the problem worse. Check out their list of foods to avoid in hot weather, and weigh in with your own experiences: More

Let's just say it. "Wine spritzer" sounds impossibly retro, probably conjuring images of bell-bottom pants and Donna Summer on the radio, but hey — everything old is new again, right? And this low-alcohol refresher is due for a comeback. More

There really isn't any list of right and wrong ways to eat a cherry, but if there were, this one would surely be at the top of the right ways. And when you popped one in your mouth, everything would begin to glow and a large orchestra would suddenly start playing. White chocolate-covered cherries, people — oh my! More