Whenever Esi Impraim’s mother made jollof — a rich, tomato-laced dish of meats, rice and sometimes seafood — the time it took to bubble away on the stove was always excruciating.

If ever a food needed a brand overhaul, it is salt cod.

When I hear the words “Holiday Spirit” I get a flood of great memories and an eagerness to continue traditions of giving. I can remember, when I was younger, the day after Thanksgiving we would start decorating for the upcoming Christmas holiday. I loved hanging the lights outside with my dad, drinking hot cocoa, watching holiday movies, trimming the tree with family and friends, shopping for that perfect present to bestow on someone.

More than 300 million people worldwide experience severe or debilitating headaches. Migraines alone affect 9 percent of the U.S. population and cost $1 billion a year in direct medical expenses. The incidence of individuals who suffer migraine headaches has increased by 50 percent within the last 20 years with 75 percent of migraine sufferers being women.

Several thousand years ago, people discovered that exposing fish to intense amounts of salt and smoke was a great was of preserving the catch for later.

The news is packed with headlines aghast at the recent report that Americans waste 40 percent of their food. Many are springing into action to connect food banks and shelters with restaurants, or find creative ways to compost or biofuel the leftovers. I’ve also seen reminders to “eat what you purchased.” Consumers are feeling guilty and to blame.

When we think of steaming, we generally think stovetop cooking. And during the heat of summer, that can make this very healthy form of cooking seem very unappealing.

Light, chilled and refreshing with a toothsome texture, ceviche is summer in a bowl. Add tortilla chips and it becomes a cross between a meal and a snack.

It may look and sound like a weed, but lemon grass actually is one of the most important ingredients in Southeast Asian cooking.

Last month I highlighted Jacqueline Winspear’s “Maise Dobbs” series and this month is dedicated to Canadian author Louise Penny and the wonderful world she has created in the fictional setting of Three Pines, a rural Canadian village south of Montreal, just kilometers from the Vermont border.

Michelle Obama, the nation’s first lady and a high-profile spokeswoman for healthy eating, has added a new book on growing and cooking nutritious food to her resume. Here’s an easy soup recipe from the White House chefs, printed in “American Grown: The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America.”

Are you tempted to skip breakfast? Are you like many Americans grabbing a bagel and coffee as you run out the door? Skipping breakfast is a guaranteed recipe to weight gain, insulin resistance and self-induced diabetes.

Are you tempted to skip breakfast? Are you like many Americans grabbing a bagel and coffee as you run out the door? Skipping breakfast is a guaranteed recipe to weight gain, insulin resistance and self-induced diabetes.

Carbs? Calories? Fat? They are so very last decade. Dieters and would-be healthy eaters know the nutrient of the moment being tallied, sought and bought is protein.

Carbs? Calories? Fat? They are so very last decade. Dieters and would-be healthy eaters know the nutrient of the moment being tallied, sought and bought is protein.

Did you catch Sunday’s unveiling of the Best of East Valley 2012 award winners?

It's Valentine's Day again, and I just want to remind people there are alternatives to chocolate when it comes to showing your love.

It's Valentine's Day again, and I just want to remind people there are alternatives to chocolate when it comes to showing your love.

Serious chili chefs from California, Nevada, Colorado, and beyond will be cooking up some competition in Ahwatukee March 10-11, and the Ahwatukee Board of Management (ABM) is inviting local chefs to get in on the action.

Thousands of Arizona veterans will be returning from the wars and 20 to 25 percent of them will suffer from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - the unseen wound.

If You Go:

If You Go:

Student journalists from Arizona State University participating in the national Carnegie-Knight News21 program are published in a major national investigation into food safety in America.

One group of restaurateurs and developers is refusing to allow the ongoing economic uncertainty or wild swings of the stock market to cast a shadow over the opening of their new Chandler restaurant, The Sushi Room.