Grocery stores might try to convince you otherwise, but it's pretty tough to get a decent tomato in Western Pennsylvania in January.

The plump red fruit — preferably homegrown or sourced locally at your favorite farmers market — is at its juicy prime in late summer, forcing tomato lovers either to eat their fill before falls rolls around, ...Read more

Woe to the cookie, cake or waffle lover who discovers, often after years of stomach upset, fatigue and skin issues, that the culprit of their health issues is gluten, the protein found in grains like wheat, barley and rye.

Most everything you find in a bakery, grocery store cookie aisle or on the sweet side of a breakfast menu is made with ...Read more

CHICAGO — This time of year, with Dry January in full swing, it’s hard to ignore the sobering (pun intended) stories and stats on alcohol consumption. According to a 2025 Gallup poll, a record-low 54% of Americans reported that they consume alcohol. It was the third consecutive year the poll found declines in Americans’ reported drinking. ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Still suffering from a post-holiday drag? After the fun of Christmas and New Year's, it's completely understandable if you're having a hard time snapping back into a routine.

The fact that it's still getting light too late and dark too early — we won't set our clocks forward for spring until March 8 — only adds to the funk ...Read more

Get ready to step up to the counter for some of the year’s more anticipated cooking.

If there’s one restaurant trend to get excited about, it’s pedigreed chefs reinventing the concept of walk-up counters where customers order, then seat themselves. It’s an efficient model that allows operators to trim labor costs while featuring fine-...Read more

This tasty fajita dinner is vegetarian-friendly and is easily doubled to feed a crowd. The fajitas are mild and tender with a little bit of char from the broiler. The colorful toppings add freshness and texture, and crumbled queso fresco adds tangy flavor to each bite.

Sheet-Pan Sweet Potato Fajitas

Serves 4

Active Time: 20 minutes

Total ...Read more

Q: How can I make my diet less inflammatory?

A: While there isn’t one specific anti-inflammatory diet, experts say overall healthy eating patterns may reduce inflammation. To make your diet less inflammatory, focus on whole, nutrient-dense foods and reduce pro-inflammatory foods. Here are a few steps to try.

More anti-inflammatory ...Read more

Bread easily bests all other foods as the ultimate comfort nosh. Not just any bread, however. Something hearty, grain-filled, and homemade if possible. Warm, no matter what.

Cold January days welcome the warmth of the oven. Coming in from outside, a home that smells like fresh-baked goods always comforts. Plus, there’s no better accompaniment...Read more

If you’re looking for a guaranteed quick dinner win, stop scrolling now. My hot honey chicken bites have it all, and there’s no better way to ...Read more

When it’s cold outside this soup satisfies my wish for comfort in a bowl. Easy to put together, this bright orange puree has lots of interesting flavor notes.

Roasting the squash brings out its inherent sweetness by lightly caramelizing it. (Once you roast squash you may never cook it any other way.) Use a sheet pan that has been lined with ...Read more

Anytime someone throws an outrageous number in front of food, I’m intrigued. I mean, have you tried a 100 Grand Bar? Perfection. Or our million-dollar spaghetti? Even better.

So when I saw a video of chocolaty “billion-dollar Ritz” (yes, that�...Read more

ORLANDO, Fla. — At the start of 2025, a study by The Beer Institute revealed that 60 percent of Americans saw nonalcoholic beer as a viable alternative for long-term moderation.

But what about just for one month?

For many of us, Dry January has begun, though people do it for different reasons.

Some see the 30 days as a dependency test to ...Read more

I couldn't believe it.

Then my wife showed me the story right there in the newspaper. And I still can't believe it.

I used to work for the New York Times, by which I mean I delivered their Sunday newspapers for a few months when I was young. But I still feel a connection to them — and I assume they have equally warm thoughts of me. So I tend...Read more

A new year is often challenging. Despite knowing we should throw out old, bad habits along with the New Year's Eve party favors, change is hard.

Many of us eat more than we should. Yet nothing changes for the better — especially in terms of health — when we keep eating those bad-for-us-but-tasty processed junk foods that are high in sugar, ...Read more

Those battling chronic illness know what a long, difficult battle it is to get well again, understanding all too well that old sentiment, You don’t realize how important your health is until you lose it.

Today, too many Americans live sick. They’re fighting rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, diabetes. Many are battling cancer...Read more

This one-pot chicken and cabbage soup is topped with flavor-boosting store-bought pesto. Big, fiber-rich butter beans add a creamy bite, but you can easily swap them out for cannellini beans or navy beans if you prefer. This soup works well with leftover chicken — simply shred or chop cooked chicken and add it to the soup to reheat once the ...Read more

True to its appearance, the artichoke has a bit of a prickly lore.

The folklore

The Ancient Greeks credit Zeus with the creation of the artichoke. As punishment for the deception of his mortal seductress-turned-goddess, he transformed her into the artichoke plant, with spiky petals guarding her resilient heart. The artichoke ...Read more

Rice pudding is one of those sweet desserts I yearn for in the cold, dreary winter months. It seems many cultures have their own variations on this simple dish, including arroz con leche, India’s kheer, Greek rice pudding or Italian rice pudding, to name a few.

Rice pudding can be baked or cooked on the stovetop. I like this stovetop recipe ...Read more

Soup reigns as one of the most satisfying winter meals. Good, hot soup from the big kettle chock-full of flavors and textures warms everyone.

Canned soup reminds us of sick days home from school. On busy weeknights, we level up with soups from the supermarket refrigerated deli section. Twenty minutes gives us time to blend store-bought broth, ...Read more

The first time I went to visit my best friend in London, she insisted we go to a traditional Sunday roast. While the roast beef was exceptional, the real standout to me was the traditional sticky toffee pudding served at the end of the meal. It was decadent without being cloyingly sweet, and felt somehow celebratory and comforting all at the ...Read more