Friday, July 1, 2011 at 4:00AM 
By David Hu
Summertime is in full swing and that can mean only one thing: BBQ time! I love throwing hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill and this easy recipe for pickled Vidalia onions is going to punch up the flavors for grill season.
Vidalia onions are a variety of sweet onion grown in South Georgia from late April through mid-September.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at 4:00AM Even in their dried and canned forms, favas are, in my opinion, the most underutilized of beans. But the real treat is a fresh fava. I found them at the market on Saturday morning and there went my weekend, but it was so worth it!
My first restaurant job was at a Tuscan establishment just outside of Boston known for its ciccheti, the Italian version of small plates. One of their most beloved seasonal offerings was a simple salad of creamy favas and sharp pecorino cheese, both ingredients nutty and toothsome.
Friday, June 24, 2011 at 4:00AM 
By David Hu
If you’ve ever wanted to try Swiss chard but weren’t sure what to do with it, this recipe is a good starting point. The chard is easy to cook, the goat cheese adds a nice tang and walnuts add a contrasting crunch. You’ll even learn how to chiffonade!
To get the recipe and shopping list on your smartphone (iPhone, BlackBerry, Android device) or PC, click here.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 4:00AM 
By Lori Powell
Double Dippers are a must-have to beat the heat. I don’t own a pool so for me, “dipper” means dips to have on hand at this time of the year when the days are long and hot, and BBQ smoke is permeating everyone’s backyard.
My go-to dips are freshly made guacamole and salsa. Each time I make them I change it up a bit depending on what I might have on hand and what looks good at the grocery store or farmers’ market.
For the guacamole, seek out avocados that yield slightly to pressure but are not too soft. Simply halve them, remove the pit and with a large spoon, scoop out the flesh into a bowl.
Just recently I discovered another use for my pastry blender that has sharp steel blades. It’s the perfect tool to chop and mash avocados.
Thursday, June 16, 2011 at 4:00AM 
While searching through my recipe box the other day, it occurred to me that this little wooden box is a metaphor of my life. Every well-worn recipe tells a story, a snapshot of a particular time in my life – times when I’ve been up and times when I’ve been down.
There are recipes for celebrations (my favorite chocolate cake) and recipes for difficult times when I craved comfort food (mac ‘n’ cheese and pot pie). I can think of a recipe that has accompanied almost every milestone. These recipes tell my life story, and if a picture is worth a thousand words, then a recipe must be worth a million.
