Getting to the root of the matter

Martha came to my house this Christmas. The doyenne of American entertaining showed up in the form of Martha Stewart's Cooking School: Lessons and Recipes for the Home Cook, a gift from my mother that encapsulates the core of Martha's cooking world.

Souper easy: Come home to a dinner that's done

Inexpensive cod, haddock or whitefish is ideal for this long-simmering creation.

Get buffalo flavor minus the guilt

When you place an order for boneless buffalo wings with blue cheese dressing, more than 1,200 calories and about 90 fat grams could land on your table. But my homemade version of this appetizer offers the flavor you crave without the extra calories.

Salads with unexpected ingredients perk up dinner

Most of us are orange obsessed and tickled about tangerines. But grapefruits, it seems, most people can take them or leave them.

Red-flag words: Yummy terms vs. fatty truths

ATLANTA — Menu descriptions of dishes are written to entice diners to say, 'That sounds good!'

Healthiest choices for fast food restaurants

Is there such a thing as a healthy fast-food option? We asked two registered dietitians to consider some top choices.

Understanding the differences between polenta, cornmeal and grits

Are polenta, cornmeal and grits interchangeable? If not, can you explain the differences?

The Gourmet Touch: Go nuts about good desserts

Southerners use a lot of pecans in our baking specialties so it is good that there has been a bumper crop this year.

Uncorked: Raise a glass to Napa's female winemakers

Cathy Corison is a female winemaker in Napa and she is not alone. Some 20 to 25 percent of winemakers in the region are female. Margo Van Staaveren of Chateau St. Jean was just named Winemaker of the Year by Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Corison who owns Corison Vineyards is making her mark on the wine world as well. Her namesake winery is in the heart of one of the most prestigious winegrowing regions in the world.

Restaurant ratings

Here are food service establishments recently inspected by the Calhoun County Health Department, along with scores.