Tips & Techniques for Preparing Local Foods

Root vegetables are the starchy tubers and taproots of plants. If we let them be they would provide the plant with needed nourishment to thrive. Instead, we pull them up and eat them and all their inherent sweet, starchy, vitamin-laden yummy-ness. Find great ways to use root vegetables - be they potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, turnips,...

You have your ham or lamb ready to go, but what Easter Recipes go with it? Get ideas for fabulous Easter recipes for side dishes, salads, soups, and desserts below.

Directions on how to peel asparagus spears for an easy, elegant presentation of spring's favorite vegetable.

Baking fish in parchment paper or tin foil - known in France and gourmet cooking circles as en papillote - steams the fish with a minimum of fuss and equipment.

Recipes sometimes call for you to "blanch" fruits or vegetables - learn what it is and how to do it here (don't worry, it's easy).

Blanch stinging nettles to take the sting out of them.

See how easy it is to braise meats.

Brining eggplant boosts its flavor and helps it keep its shape when cooked.

The sweet hearts of artichokes are worth fighting through their thorny exterior. See how easy it is to cook up artichokes – whether microwaving, steaming, or sauteeing – with this guide to cooking artichokes.

Dried beans like navy beans, pinto beans, black beans, or cannellini beans are delicious when cooked properly. See how to cook beans perfectly every time with this guide.

See how easy it is to prepare this versatile fall and winter vegetable.

There are several easy ways to cook up winter squash - whether you have a butternut squash, an acorn squash, a spaghetti squash, or a pumpkin. Use these methods to cook squash simply and serve with a bit of butter and sugar or just salt and pepper for an easy, flavorful, nutrient-chocked sunny dish.

Whether you want to steam, boil, bake, or microwave wild rice, see how easy it is to cook wild rice with this guide to different wild rice cooking methods.

Sardines are wonderfully flavorful and nutritious little fish. Curing them with a bit of salt overnight softens their strong flavor and makes them perfect for topping salads or serving as an easy, elegant appetizer.

Did you know you can dry herbs quickly and easily in a microwave? See how here.

Despite what you may think, getting the seeds from a pomegranate so you can eat them is easy - see how easy here. You can find lots of crazy guides telling you to separate pomegranate seeds and from the pith and membrane in a bowl of water, but none of this nonsense is necessary. Eating a pomegranate is easy and, once you get the hang of it,...

See how easy it is to grind beef at home.

Hulling--or cleanly removing the stem--from strawberries is easy. Learn how in this step-by-step guide to hulling strawberries.

Guacamole is famous for turning an unappetizing brown all too quickly. See how to make it ahead and keep guacamole green here.

See how easy it is to make a lattice pie crust top with this step-by-step guide to weaving a lattice pie crust.

See how easy it is to make your own egg noodles with this step-by-step guide.

See how easy it is to make ice cream without an ice cream maker!

Think you need an ice cream maker to make ice cream? Not so! See how easy it is to make ice cream without an ice cream maker.

See how easy it is to make perfect hard boiled eggs every time!

Everyone has their own idea of what makes perfect mashed potatoes - creamy or fluffy? - this guide will show you how to make perfect mashed potatoes.

There are two easy ways to melt chocolate, both outlined here.

Melting chocolate is easy – and foolproof with this simple method.

A perfect tossed green salad--balanced, satisfying, well-dressed--is a mark of a great cook. When salads get overlooked or treated as an aside, it shows. But a perfectly made salad, with fresh greens and homemade dressing, can make a meal. Take a moment to learn the principles of a good salad and take your next bowl of mixed greens towards...

Enjoy steamed artichokes in a jiffy by steaming them in a microwave.

See how easy it is to bread and pan fry fish fillets with this step-by-step guide.

See how to peel fresh chestnuts.

See how to pit olives with this quick and easy method.

See the easiest way to pit cherries without a cherry pitter (and end up with whole fruit!).

See how easy it is to saute mushrooms perfectly.

See how to shell fava beans with this easy-to-follow, step-by-step photo guide.

You have beautiful fresh herbs – now how do you store them without them getting crushed or wilted? Get tips here.

See how easy it is to get the most flavor from walnuts with this guide to How to Toast Walnuts.

Snapping is a quick and easy way to rid asparagus of its woody ends for a tender, delicious spring dish.

Raw onions can add a nice bite to salads, but they can also be too much for people. See how to make raw onions less pungent.

Learn to poach eggs perfectly! Follow these simple step-by-step directions (illustrated with photographs) to create an easy, flavorful addition to healthy meals.

Learn how to quick-soak dried beans for faster, more even cooking.

How do you keep guacamole green? Share your favorite tip(s) here.

Soup can be anything you want it to be--quick, hearty, light--and once you master the basics, you can experiment endlessly with your favorite vegetables, beans, and meats to make tasty meals in no time.

Soup is simple - flavored liquid in a pot. Technically all you need is a heat-proof vessel and heat, but if you want to make soups that shine, see the handful of kitchen tools that will make is easier.

Some cooks peel almost every fruit or vegetable that comes through their kitchen, others adamantly leave all peels on in the name of saving precious vitamins and minerals. Which fruits and vegetables should you peel and why?