Across the Atlantic in the United Kingdom, medjool dates stuffed with marzipan are a traditional holiday snack. But dates here in the U.S. aren’t as commonly tied to a specific season, so any time is a good one to get to know these sweet, tropical stone fruits.
Berries are wonderfully diverse — if occasionally confusing — fruits. Botanists are quick to point out that, technically speaking, bananas and eggplants are berries while strawberries and raspberries are not. Some varieties can thrive even in freezing temperatures. For others, only the tropics will do. “Heading into the cold and often gray winter months, there’s something special about adding some color to your meals.
A medium-size rutabaga has only 145 calories and delivers nearly half of your daily recommended amount of vitamin C.
In the United States, lentils are sometimes thought of as beans’ less popular cousins — that is, when they’re thought about at all. Along with beans, peas, chickpeas and peanuts, lentils are legumes, and there are plenty of good reasons for them to be pantry staples. “They are low in fat, ch…
Pears prove that good things come in small packages. Not only are they available at just about every supermarket, they’re easy to eat (no need to peel or core or pit), low in calories and high in fiber: With six grams, a single pear supplies almost a quarter of the recommended daily amount. …
Yields | 8 servings (2 tablespoons per serving)
For years doctors have cautioned that red-meat eaters have higher rates of stroke, diabetes and heart disease than those who adopt vegetarian or plant-heavy diets, so many people view poultry as a middle-of-the-road option. “When eaten in moderation, poultry can be a great source of protein …
YIELDS | 6Ingredients1lb ground turkey6 bell peppers1 cup pearl couscous, dry2 1⁄2 tablespoon olive oil1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes, low sodium1⁄2 yellow onion, diced2 cloves garlic, minced2 cups spinach, chopped1 tablespoon turmeric1 teaspoon cumin1⁄2 teaspoon paprika3⁄4 teaspoon pepper1 cu…
From the ubiquitous sweet bell peppers to the super-spicy habanero, peppers are the perfect healthy addition to any meal. While you can find them year-round in your grocery store, late summer is peak season for peppers in North America.
Think of tropical fruits, and coconuts and rambutans might come to mind: They’re gorgeous to look at, yet puzzling to cook with. Tropical fruits are simply those that originate and thrive in hot and humid climates, weather that Missouri is all too familiar with this time of year. Summer is a…
Though mushrooms are usually grouped under vegetables in pizza places and supermarkets, they aren’t vegetables. Nor are they fruit. And — biologically speaking, anyway — they aren’t really even plants. Mushrooms are fungi, a kingdom so vast it encompasses more than 2 million species. These p…
If you’re the sort of cook who reads a recipe that calls for three cloves of garlic and instead tosses in seven, you are doing a great favor for your health — if maybe not your breath. The same goes for onions, chives, leeks, ramps and shallots. All of these are alliums — a Latin word meanin…
When we think about superfoods — a relatively modern word used to describe foods known for their sky-high nutritional benefits — we often think of fruits or vegetables that are trendy or exotic in some way, like açaí berries or kale. Though beans do not enjoy as much time in the spotlight, t…
Whole grains are making a comeback — here's how to incorporate them into your cooking
Beets have a curious mix of attributes. They might be hot pink or striped, sweet or nutty. Plus, their leaves are just as edible as the root itself. From top to bottom, beets bring a sweeping range of nutritional qualities. “Beets are healthy for a variety of reasons,” says Amy Glueck, a cli…
Writing off parsnips simply as white carrots isn’t just scientifically incorrect. It greatly undersells this versatile root vegetable. Parsnips are related to carrots and parsley, but their nutritional benefits are arguably better than either one of them. Their taste is earthy, sweet and nut…
Before the word “superfood” entered everyday language, there was the grapefruit. As far back as the 1930s, people turned to it for weight loss because of an enzyme that was said to melt away pounds. Though science has long debunked that the fruit has any magical properties (and doctors stron…
November ushers in the holidays, bringing with it a bounty of seasonal food ready to take its place at the table. Sweet potatoes seem tailor-made for fall: Their deep golden insides recall the color of blazing autumn leaves, and they lend a sugary note to the savory dishes everyone craves du…
It can be difficult to get excited about leafy greens. Though their health benefits are well documented, tucking into a bowl of lettuce seems underwhelming when compared to the pizzazz of, say, exotic fruits or vegetables. But leafy greens can lend a surprising amount of depth to cooking: As…
If the old farmers’ saying is correct, stalks of corn should have long passed the “knee-high by the Fourth of July” milestone and be well on their way to reaching maturity for harvest, which can last from late summer to late fall. It’s a crucially important time: Corn is planted on some 90 m…
Melons seem like they’ve been perfectly engineered for summertime. Light and refreshing, they are right at home on the breakfast table or packed in the cooler for a poolside snack. “Melons are low in calories, filling and a natural source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. They make a g…
Though they cover 70 percent of the Earth’s surface and are full of life, oceans are also a deep mystery — about 95 percent of them remain unexplored. But the 5 percent we do know about is home to vibrant coral reefs, underwater volcanoes and countless plants and animals. King crabs, oysters…
In the long view of history, asparagus is a relative newcomer to the United States. It didn’t make its way here until the mid-1800s, even though it had been grown in the Mediterranean region for thousands of years. The vegetable was so prized by ancient Egyptians they offered it up to their …
Everyone knows how important greens are to good health, but it can be daunting to sit down to — let alone get excited about — a heaping bowl of kale. Microgreens deliver an abundance of nutrition in a fraction of the volume.
Yogurt has been the darling of the dairy aisle for years now, and a glimpse at its nutrition label reveals why: It is packed with ingredients that help keep your body healthy and strong. Calcium is among yogurt’s most vital nutrients. It’s a boost for teeth, bones and muscles, and it goes a …
Kimchi is a staple of Korean cuisine that has recently gained an enthusiastic worldwide following. Typically made from napa cabbage, daikon, garlic, scallions and red chile powder, it ferments over several days, then transforms into a beautifully crisp, piquant food that can be served as a s…
Though food and diet trends come and go, olive oil has been around for centuries as a building block of good recipes and good health alike. “It falls in that amazing food sweet spot that can seem rare these days. It is something that is both delicious and good for you,” says Hank Dart, who w…
Holidays and root vegetables go hand in hand: Mountains of buttery mashed potatoes pave the way to a sweet potato pie finale. Foods like these might not represent the healthiest choices to make this month, but that doesn’t mean root vegetables are inherently bad. Rethinking their preparation…
Missouri is right on the handle of the country’s breadbasket. Wheat grows so extensively in this region it’s easy to forget that there have been times throughout U.S. history when the government has asked Americans to scale back consumption to help conserve food, such as Wheatless Wednesdays…
It seems like you can’t swing a broomstick in October without hitting some kind of squash. The deep golds, oranges, and greens perk up porches, tumble out of cornucopias, and in general covey the awesomeness of autumn. They make up part of a huge family called Cucurbitaceae; its nearly 1,000…
September and apples go hand in hand. They’re the classic symbol of a new school year, but it turns out the humble fruit itself has many lessons to impart — far beyond “A is for apple.” It’s also for “antioxidants” and a slate of other nutritional benefits, all in a perfectly packaged fruit …
We have been told that it isn’t wise to compare apples and oranges because they are so different from each other, but few people would even bother to compare, say, mangoes and almonds when it would be quite easy to do so: They are both stone fruits. Also known as drupes, stone fruits are so …
Cherry Salsa with Serrano-Garlic-Marinated Pork Chops
Grilled Brown-Sugar-Glazed Peaches with Honey Ice Cream
