Feeling like you should do something for St. Patrick’s Day but missed Saturday’s downtown parade or don’t fancy a drive all the way to Fountain Hills for a spray of green water?

Sure, you know to wear green on St. Patrick’s Day, but how well-versed are you in the history and culture of Ireland?

Perhaps more than any other holiday, Thanksgiving is associated with big family gatherings. But that doesn’t mean you need a house full of in-laws, uncles and cousins to celebrate in a meaningful way.

Canned food is being collected by Ahwatukee Foothills Storage to benefit St. Mary’s Food Bank through Christmas.

I am not sure when you will be reading this, but chances are good that you have already voted, or it could be that the votes have been counted and the election is over. Regardless of the outcome I am pretty certain of two things. First, whichever candidate won, whether you voted that way or not, is likely not nearly as bad as his or her opponent told you. No matter what has been written by those who frequently write letters to the editor, no elected official is loosing a lot of sleep trying to design ways to destroy the country. The second thing I am pretty certain about is that whichever candidate won, whether you voted that way or not, is likely not a savior either.

Almost by definition, beef stew isn’t a weeknight-friendly dish.

Years ago, when I was pregnant with my kids, all the advice books swore that smart moms-to-be made sure to eat broccoli three times a day.

Finding the right combination doesn’t always happen on the first try.

Hominy is one of those foods you might think you’ve never tried, yet almost certainly have. Or at least a close relative of it.

No fruit says fall like apples. Baked into pies, pureed into sauces, sauteed with meats and stews both savory and sweet, it is one of our most comforting and versatile fruits. But which apple to use for what?

“True Blood” fans can soon concoct their own blood-red beet bisque, crimson sweet tea and other Cajun delicacies inspired by the hit HBO vampire drama and compiled in a new cookbook.

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

There are few foods as simple, delicious and complete as fresh seasonal corn on the cob. When it’s really fresh, I’ll even eat it raw. No boiling, no butter, no salt. It’s perfectly sweet and tender right off the stalk.

Pretty to look at, but what do you do with it?

When he was about 12, Hugh Acheson’s mom went through a cooking phase: recipes from magazines, nice pots and pans, and exciting new dishes, like her signature chicken piccata.

When he was about 12, Hugh Acheson’s mom went through a cooking phase: recipes from magazines, nice pots and pans, and exciting new dishes, like her signature chicken piccata.

Stir-fry and salsa aren’t traditional companions on the plate, but that doesn’t mean there can’t be a little common ground.

Stir-fry and salsa aren’t traditional companions on the plate, but that doesn’t mean there can’t be a little common ground.

If you’re a purist, Irish stew is one of the easiest dishes to make for St. Patrick’s Day.

If you’re a purist, Irish stew is one of the easiest dishes to make for St. Patrick’s Day.

It's winter. It's cold. You want something hearty. But you're also trying to eat better and don't want to ruin your diet by diving into a cream-laden casserole.

It's winter. It's cold. You want something hearty. But you're also trying to eat better and don't want to ruin your diet by diving into a cream-laden casserole.