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Rich Port, richer foods: Essential Puerto Rican dishes everyone should know

The Spanish Caribbean region's cuisine demonstrates how different and seemingly disparate cultures can contribute to a natural form of culinary fusion. Puerto Rican cuisine, in particular, can be traced back to 1493, when Christopher Columbus' expedition allowed Spain to colonize the island. La Mallorquina is one of the oldest restaurants in Old San Juan, opening in 1848, and the first cookbook, E l Cocinero Puerto-Riqueño o Formulario, was published in 1859. Three seemingly unrelated sources influence traditional Puerto Rican dishes. The indigenous Tainos tribe cultivated root ...

Why homemade purées excel over store-bought varieties

Three companies recalled fruit purée pouches in response to a Centers for Disease Control (CDC) voluntary recall announced in November. That was after reports of more than 230 cases of lead poisoning in 34 states, all linked to apple cinnamon fruit purée pouches sold by WanaBana. After the CDC recall, Schnucks and Weis also pulled similar products from stores. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) believes contaminated cinnamon is the source of the issue and is working with authorities in Ecuador to resolve it. According to the CDC, lead contamination is especially harmful to ...

Don’t toss extra rice. Use it in this curried shrimp fried rice

Though it is common knowledge throughout Asia, many American cooks may not know that the key to perfect fried rice is using previously cooked and chilled rice. Freshly cooked rice can result in a soggy, gluey dish, but chilling it changes its starches, yielding light, separate grains. That's ...

Dish up homemade beef and cheese ravioli this week

Many styles of ethnic cuisine feature a filled dough or pasta. Wontons or dumplings are common in certain types of Asian cuisine and pierogies are enjoyed in areas of Eastern Europe. For Italians and Sicilians, the stuffed delight of choice is likely ravioli. The word “ravioli” comes ...

Give comfort food classics an authentic Mexican twist

FAMILY FEATURES — If winter evenings have you stuck in a dinner rut, heat up the kitchen with family favorites everyone can look forward to. Shaking off the chill can start with a cozy blanket and comforting food that warms you from the inside out. Soup is a wintertime staple thanks to ...

Share flavorful plant-based plates with family, friends this Veganaury

This Veganaury, it is time to try some flavorful plant-based plates with family and friends. Veganaury is a non-profit organization that “encourages people worldwide to try vegan” for the month of January and beyond, according to the organization’s website. Nichole Dandrea-Russert, a ...