Labor Day has been celebrated in this nation for almost 130 years.  The acknowledgment was originally enacted by the labor movement to honor workers.
Labor unions pushed for the first Labor Day.  The tribute took place on Tuesday, September 5, 1882 in New York City.  The following year, a similar reflection was held.  In 1884, the recognition moved to [...]

Mother’s Day is rapidly approaching, and a few people may still be uncertain as to what to give their mothers.  Naturally, the greatest present children can give is their time.  Still, many individuals like to complement this with something tangible.  Subsequently, here are some ideas.
Flowers. Okay, perhaps this isn’t a particularly innovative suggestion, but many women love flowers no matter what their age.  The reason?  They smell [...]

Most cooks have staple foods they serve on certain holidays.  Maybe they prepare ham for Easter or beef brisket at Passover.  Many times these dishes are so entrenched in family tradition that merely the thought of an alternate meal is culinary heresy.
But what about accompaniments?  Sometimes side dishes are an egalitarian topic.  And desserts?  Typically, they [...]

Martin Luther King, Jr., a nonviolent civil rights pioneer, will forever be remembered as a pivotal figure in America and abroad.  His advocacy came amidst a sea of controversy, demonstrations, resistance, and even bloodshed.  Still, King persevered in his convictions and went on to become one of the most critical figures [...]

It was a busy year and busy decade! But as every new year and new decade approaches, it not only provides a good opportunity to look back, but also to look forward. So,  let us mull over some thoughts for the newly-arrived 2010.

Value old friends and welcome new ones.  Friendships work to keep us [...]

In keeping with a festive theme, it is almost time to usher in a New Year (and decade!).  Can you believe it’s been 10 years since the millennium festivities?  Anyway, during celebratory periods, many people search for crowd-pleasing drinks to serve at holiday gatherings.  The recipes below might help provide a sparkle or two to your [...]

Keeping with a gastronomic theme (only this time of a sweeter nature), let’s explore some quick and easy desserts that might be a hit around the holidays.

Chocolate-covered Delights.  The real name for these luscious cookies is uncertain, but they are delightful, so this one will do.  Melt a 12-ounce bag of [...]

As the holidays quickly approach, some of us might be wondering what culinary offerings we want to prepare for family gatherings.  Now most of us prefer quick and easy, as we will likely be cooking multiple items; still, we do not want to sacrifice taste for simplicity.  The recipes below are [...]

The holiday season is upon us, and during this festive time come assorted tasks we set out to accomplish.  Because some of these expectations can occasionally lead to a measure of stress, the following tips might be helpful in keeping the joy in this joyous time.

Make Lists.  Lists bring structure [...]

Now that we covered some grill offerings, let’s look at a few accompaniments that might make our barbeque a hit!
Salads seem pivotal to a meal, and the variations are many!  Let’s look at a few options.
Pasta salad. Small-cut red pepper pieces, green olives, finely-sliced carrots, quartered artichoke hearts, chopped celery, [...]