School is in session and that means busy families may be in need of a few meal solutions that fit into their schedules — particularly items to grab on the way to school or work. Granola bars often fit the bill as nutritious options in portable packages. While store-bought granola bars are convenient, they tend…

Sweet potatoes are a beloved side dish come the holiday season, as they make for the perfect complement to turkey and roasts. Despite the popularity of sweet potatoes, some misconceptions about them have prevailed. The terms “sweet potato” and “yam” often are used interchangeably, but they actually are two different plants. Sweet potatoes, according to…

Dessert is often the culmination of Valentine’s Day festivities. Couples can enjoy decadent desserts while out on the town, but waiting to indulge until you arrive home gives couples time to digest and savor the rich flavors more completely. Of course, when it comes to Valentine’s Day desserts, chocolate must make an appearance. This recipe…

Warming up on cold days can be a challenge. Bundling up near the fireplace is one way to keep warm, as is dining on hearty meals that have staying power. Chili is a cold-weather staple that is full of delicious, fresh ingredients. A little chili goes a long way, and it can be spiced up…

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…