Cheese is a comfort food that boasts a sizable fan base. There are all sorts of appealing cheeses to cater to any craving, ranging from soft varieties like ricotta or brie to hard cheeses like pecorino romano or gorgonzola. Cheese features prominently in many dishes, including quiche. Quiche is a rich, cheese custard tart that…

RANDOLPH— The holidays are meant to be enjoyed, so it’s not what we do one or two days a year that matters for our overall health. It’s about eating well again following those days. However, for those trying to avoid over-indulging, Gifford Medical Center’s registered dietician Stacy Pelletier has some tips to share: “Enjoy the…

The cozy pub is a welcome addition to downtown Fair Haven By Brooke Geery FAIR HAVEN—Rachel and Jon Meigs are finally getting started on their next act, with a new brew pub at 71 Main St. in Fair Haven. The couple, who previously worked at Rutland Regional Medical Center — Rachel in ultrasound and Jon…

By Curt Peterson Vicky Allard and her husband, Joe Hanglin, grew up at two extremes within the United Kingdom yet ended up in Grafton, Vermont — population 600 or so. Food was paramount in both of their childhoods — Vicky as a third-generation sustainable land-to-table farm girl, and Joe immersed in Spanish, North African and…

By Deborah J. Benoit, extension master gardener, University of Vermont Maybe you enjoy using fresh mushrooms in your meal preparations but have opened the refrigerator door and discovered to your disappointment the “mush” part of mushrooms. Or maybe you’d like something different to satisfy your inner gardener over the winter months (or any other time…

During the height of winter, people increasingly retreat indoors and look for something to within the warm confines of home. Plenty of activities can fit the bill, but some provide the rewarding prospect of a freshly made meal or dessert. When seeking recipes for cold days, consider those comfort foods that can be enjoyed warm…

Autumn is apple-picking season, and many farmers' markets, grocery stores and even roadside apple stands are chock-full of delicious apples this time of year. That makes fall the perfect time to whip up some apple-inspired foods. This recipe for stewed apples from Laurey Masterton’s “The Fresh Honey Cookbook” (Storey) requires a tad more effort than…

By Curt Peterson Word has spread across Windsor about Bistro Midva (Slovenian for “the two of us”), a newly-opened dinner spot along Route 5. Saturday, chef and co-owner Chad Lumbra arranged an outdoor dining table below the sidewalk with a view of the totally-renovated restaurant, which accommodates 25 diners. Lumbra shuns being “tied down by…

Tart and tangy, lemon-based flavors are hard to pass up. Citrus can help cleanse the palate between courses, but it also can be a refreshing component in beverages. Anyone who has enjoyed a tall glass of lemonade on a warm day understands how thirst-quenching it can be. Limoncello is a lemon liqueur mainly produced in…

Lighter fare is in season every summer. Salads may dominate menus, while vegetable-rich side dishes can dress up barbecues, brunches or outdoor buffet meals. Spinach not only packs a nutritional punch, it can add flavor to any dish. According to Judy Joo, a French-trained Korean American chef and author of “Judy Joo’s Korean Soul Food”…

Grillmasters insist that just about everything tastes a little better when cooked over a flame. Even though grilling often is reserved for lunch or dinner, there’s something to be said about preparing breakfast on those hot grates as well. According to Andrew Schloss and David Joachim, authors of the cookbook “Mastering the Grill: The Owner’s…

By Curt Peterson The Butt family opened their dream Middle Eastern style restaurant, Apana Grille, in Florida in late 2019, but it did not survive the Covid-19 pandemic. Yet their dream has risen from the ashes, like a phoenix, here in Hartland and Woodstock.   In May, 2020, Kristina Mowry, vacationing in Florida, met Omar…

By Curt Peterson Editor’s note: This is the fourth of the Covid Survival Series by reporter Curt Peterson about area restaurants and their adaptations during and plans post-Covid. There are very few people who are as genuinely optimistic as Cathy Emmons, co-owner with her husband, Bill Emmons, of Cloudland Farm in North Pomfret. When asked about…

Backyard barbecues beckon and poolside entertaining reigns supreme every summer. After guests have had their fill of fire-licked grilled burgers, hot dogs and chicken, a refreshing dessert that won’t have summertime hosts sweating preparation can make for the perfect culinary capper. “Banana Pudding Cheesecake Bars” marry tangy cream cheese with sweet and velvety banana pudding atop…

After the lazy days of summer, fall often arrives with packed schedules and everyone getting back on track, whether for work or school. Busy families may not have much time to spend in the kitchen these days, but they don’t need to devote hours to cooking. Even quick meals can serve up significant flavor. In…