While I find a simple bowl of leafy greens doused in a zesty vinaigrette to be gratifying, lately I've been opening up to the deliciousness of salad add-ins that can transform a fresh side dish into a full-blown meal. Below are some of my favorite additions. Toasted Nuts It's amazing what toasted nuts can add to a salad. A handful of almonds quickly toasted in a pan adds a layer of warmth and Read more

Photo: Camilla Salem When building salads, it's far too easy to get stuck in a rut. You know what works, buy the same ingredients, and inevitably eat green leaf lettuce with black olives, sliced tomatoes, and shredded carrots everyday. However, with a little creativity and an open mind at the grocery store, you can enjoy a fabulous variety of healthful and scrumptious salads on a regular basis. Read more

For some, savory doesn't just come before sweet in the dictionary; it also comes first in life, period. If you belong to that segment of the population, consider doing something different at your wedding or next big bash: serve a tower of cheese instead of a traditional cake. Depending on the size of your event, offer one that's elaborate and grandiose or smaller and more manageable. To get Read more

Stinging nettle: the name might lead you to believe that this plant is (1) dangerous to touch and (2) a weed. And you would be right. But despite its name and repellent nature, stinging nettles are also edible and delicious and becoming increasingly popular among foraging chefs, thanks to its abundance in the wild. Now in season, nettles could be the perfect addition to your Spring kitchen Read more

Photo: Susannah Chen For a country as large as Brazil, it's no surprise that each region has its own traditional recipes and dishes. Regional cuisines have been influenced over time by immigrants and what natural crops are available to them. In the North, you will find caruru, a dish featuring okra, onions, shrimp, peanuts, and palm oil, and in the South, you'll be able to sit down to a plate of Read more