Want a dinner with easy flavor? Grab a pint of heavy cream

Sure, we're all trying to lose those pesky 10 or 15 or whatever pounds, but that's no reason to not keep a pint of heavy cream in the refrigerator.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 9 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO

An impressive way to grill a whole cauliflower

Last summer, the hip way to handle cauliflower was to treat it like a steak.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO

Charlie Trotter redefined fine dining, dies at 54

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 11 YEARS AGO

Crossing chicken Parmesan with pasta puttanesca

A chicken Parmesan that's big on flavor, but not on fat? It's easier - and more weeknight-friendly - than you might think.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 11 YEARS AGO

What if the Italians had given us hummus?

What would happen if hummus had been invented in Italy, rather than the Middle East?

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

A seafood stew that can be ladled up in 30 minutes

When fall weather has us hankering for a bowl of warmth, we tend to think of chili and beef stew.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

A delicious hot puffed pocket of curried potatoes

Puffed pastry dough is a totally underappreciated ingredient, at least as far as time-crunched families are concerned. It's so versatile and easy to use, I'm not sure why it isn't in the rotation in more homes.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Pork with a fresh take on salsa - grilled cherries

By this point in the summer, I've had about all the burgers, dogs and birds I can handle. It's time to try something a little different on the grill.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO

Lunch boxes 101: How to buy them. How to fill them

Selecting lunch gear used to be simple. Stuff your lunch into a paper bag or pick the box decorated with whichever movie, television or toy character your kid was most smitten with. Done.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO

A cheesy, buttery take on grilled corn on the cob

When I was a kid, corn on the cob was prepared one way, and only one way.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO

A fresh take on Father's Day surf and turf

When I think surf and turf, I think rich and overwrought.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO

A have-it-your-way grilled Greek chicken salad

Salad recipes that have fussy lists of ingredients generally irritate me.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO

Guacamole: Fresh takes on a Super Bowl classic

Looking for a few simple ways to freshen up the go-to dish of the Super Bowl? We cobbled together a mighty tasty basic guacamole, then came up with four ways to turn basic into unbelievably good.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO

Cookie dough dip made with cookie dough, not beans

This summer I had the misfortune to encounter the internet culinary sensation known as cookie dough dip.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO

A sweet and tangy meatball fit for a party

Sometimes failure can end up tasting pretty good. It certainly was the case with these meatballs.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO

A 'recooked' cheese that tastes anything but

When it comes to food, "recooked" isn't generally a term met with much affection. The dairy world, however, gives us a fine exception in ricotta cheese.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO

Guy Fieri takes his lashings, but was it fair?

Guy Fieri may not realize it, but being ravaged by a New York Times restaurant reviewer might have been the best thing that could have happened to him.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS AGO

Learning to love bison as the other red meat

Nothing says "Yum!" like a bit of nomenclatural confusion... Especially with a side of near extinction.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS AGO

Seasoning a winter soup with nutritional yeast

It's awfully hard to get excited about a food called "nutritional yeast flakes." It sounds like something you either need a prescription to get. Or a prescription to get rid of. Even worse, it resembles yellow flaked fish food. But trust me, this is an ingredient worth looking beyond its …

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS AGO

Use instant coffee to add java jolt to steak tips

Most of us have to be suffering from a pretty mind-blowing caffeine withdrawal migraine before we'll reach for instant coffee. That doesn't mean you shouldn't buy some, because while instant coffee makes a generally lousy cup of java, it can do astounding things for your cooking.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS AGO

Yin and yang on your plate with five-spice powder

It's all about harmony and yin-yang. And while that sounds tritely New Age, it really is the key to Chinese cuisine.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS AGO

A small, but still sweet, take on caramel apples

Have you seen the size of caramel apples lately?

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

More than just another sausage - a chorizo primer

Chorizo is a bit like pornography. You'll know it when you see it, but it's a bit hard to define in the abstract.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Learning to love the beefy flavor of flank steak

So you think you know steaks? And maybe you do.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Massive flavor in a little bottle: A hoisin primer

Mmmm. Nothing says good eats like soy residue.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Creme fraiche looks like sour cream, tastes better

Not sure what creme fraiche is or why you should care?

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Give pork big flavor without a long shopping list

Weeknight cooking is all about getting gobs of flavor from just a few ingredients, no special techniques and as little effort as possible.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

A primer on smoked fish and why you should love it

Several thousand years ago, people discovered that exposing fish to intense amounts of salt and smoke was a great was of preserving the catch for later.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

Complex barbecue flavors from an easy recipe

A few years ago I created a recipe for a killer barbecue sauce. It was exactly the way I like it - thick, rich, a lot savory, a little sweet and bursting with cumin, smoked paprika and so many other delicious seasonings.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

Wrong way sangria recipes that taste all right

There is a right way to make sangria. It usually involves a dozen or more ingredients and plenty of time.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

Fancy frankfurters

Plenty of people surely will disagree, but I firmly believe that underdressed hot dogs simply aren't worth the calories.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

Sichuan peppercorns: Big flavor with a jolt

Any food that can make your tongue tingle has got to be worth a taste.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO

Disney's new diet for kids: No more junk food ads

NEW YORK - There won't be any more candy, sugary cereal or fast food on TV with the morning cartoons.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO

Are you HUNGRY for some video?

Bruce Seidel is confident the future of food television won't be seen on television.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO

A quick, flavorful potato curry for a busy night

On busy weeknights, we take our dinner shortcuts wherever we can find them. But this doesn't require sacrificing healthy home cooking.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO

Producing a rich, meaty chili via canned pumpkin

Pumpkin chili? Sounds like some sort of cultural confusion, right?

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO

A fast and virtuous dip fit to serve company

My goal was simple - a company-worthy dip that didn't involve a heart-stopping volume of sour cream.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO

Throw a roll-your-own-sushi New Year's Eve party

Not a New Year's Eve partier? Me either.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO

Chicken pot pie reimagined as a party appetizer

It's chicken pot pie, only smaller, easier, faster and more party-friendly.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO

Doughnuts and hot chocolate - together at last

There is a crazy delicious new trend in milkshakes. It involves adding a slice of pie to the blender along with the milk and ice cream.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO

Blend meats, shrimp for a delicious party treat

Shrimp, sausage and bison... Together! On a stick!

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 12 MONTHS AGO

Cranberries, squash, together at last

The trouble with cranberries at the Thanksgiving table is that they so often end up alone.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS AGO

Busy, chilly nights call for a quick bowl of soup

Needing a warming bowl of chicken soup and having the time you need to make it too often don't coincide.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS AGO

How good is a $16 muffin?

So political kerfuffle aside, you have to wonder exactly what a $16 muffin would taste like.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

James Peterson: Get green, then build your salad

The basic building block for a great salad? Greens, of course.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

Can't afford lobster? Try a seafood salad roll

Lobster rolls seem to just scream summer. And they scream it with lots of dollar signs.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

Bobby Flay: With chopped salad every bite is great

For Bobby Flay, great salads are built from fresh ingredients that aren't afraid of a little contrast.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

Capers add delicious pungency to tapenade wrap

When you need to jam a lot of flavor into a simple dish, reach for an umami bomb.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO

The flavor of lasagna, the substance of chicken

The goal was a simple chicken casserole that had the rich, satisfying flavor of a lasagna.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO

Satisfy dad's sloppy side this Father's Day

Could there be a more perfect Father's Day meal than a sloppy joe sandwich?

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO

Eric Ripert: Salads start - don'tmake - a meal

For Eric Ripert, a salad can be an anything goes experience... So long as it's small.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO

A burger with the condiments built right in

No condiments needed for this high-flavor barbecue-style cheeseburger; they are built right in.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO

A quick soup with fresh spring flavor for Mom

Muffins, French toast, pancakes, waffles... All reliable Mother's Day brunch items.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO

Top that sirloin with something fatty, spicy

Guacamole is so good, I firmly believe it is wasted on tortilla chips.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO

A fresh, sweetly savory chicken soup for spring

Getting your kids interested in food and cooking really can be as simple as asking, "Hey, do you want some mangos?"

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO

Embracing garlic in a quick Valentine's Day dinner

Maybe it's just me, but there is something sensual about the pungency of garlic.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO

Stewart in the kitchen with new baking show

NEW YORK - The oven is on, Martha Stewart is in the kitchen, and class is in session.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO

Low, slow the way to go for speedy dinner

Sometimes low and slow is the best way to deal with a dinner short on time.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO

Dinner that screams cold weather comfort food

This dish started as a three-ingredient slow cooker recipe. And I completely messed it up.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO

Raw or cooked, a cranberry sauce to tart things up

Until last year, I was a firm believer that Thanksgiving dinner wasn't worth giving thanks over without a massive bowl of cooked cranberry sauce on the table.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 12 MONTHS AGO

Prepared polenta makes easy, delicious lasagna

For most people, the only time lasagna lands on the weeknight table is when they prepare it ahead during the weekend. Or when it came out of a box.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Michael Symon: Three-beef patty, English muffin

Michael Symon is a man who likes to think beyond the traditional sesame seed burger bun.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

A BLT becomes a frittata

Is there anything a BLT can't inspire?

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

Paul Kirk: Keep burgers simple and meaty

Simple and meaty. Pretty obvious and pretty good.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

Liven up your fruit salad... with meat

Following the axiom that bacon makes everything better, I decided to use it to jazz up that staple of summer celebrations - fruit salad.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

A flavorful chicken kebab

The goal here was pretty simple - a chicken kebab that was as flavorful and tender as a beef version.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO

Bison steaks

During summer, I'm likely to grill as many as four or five nights a week. It just makes sense for the weeknight kitchen.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO

Spring vegetables and brie make for an easy lunch

Finally - fresh peas for busy people.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO

Extreme hot dog

Just how maxed out can we take that simple icon of summer food - the hot dog - while still keeping it not just edible, but totally appealing? Turns out, pretty well maxed.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO

Cooking a special meal for mom

Surely, mom is worth 5 minutes work?

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO

Make a cheesy chicken burrito in a flash

Finding the time and energy to get dinner on the table is challenging enough during the week. Add picky eaters to the mix - the child who won't eat anything green, the teenager who has gone vegetarian - and it can become a nightmare.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO

Steak and potatoes

Grilled steak with a baked potato is fine. But the combination also makes for a fine canvas on which to apply some serious flavor.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO

Rescuing weeknight dinners with deli meats

For fast and flavorful weeknight meals, think deli meats. But don't think about sandwiches.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO