Americans think of braised dishes – those delectable concoctions of long-simmered ingredients surrounded by, but not submerged in, liquids – as quintessentially American or (primarily West

We Glatzs have a long history of throwing surprise parties, largely due to my husband, Peter.For my first birthday after our wedding, for days ahead he’d get up after I’d fallen asleep, ro

There have been thousands and thousands of words written and spoken about Detroit’s auto bailout. On Jan. 15, the fifth annual Slow Food Springfield Film Festival will feature Urban Roots a docu

It’s a sure bet that every year around this time, I’ll be pulling Deborah Madison’s Vegetable Soups from my cookbook shelves. There’s just something so right about vegetable-ba

2012: It’s been the best of years; it’s been the worst of years. At my life’s end, I doubt I’ll be able to look at another year that contained so many highs and lows. There was

Does anyone like fruitcake? You know, that stuff with the candied fruits: green and red glacéed cherries and candied citron peel with a half-life equal to that of uranium. For me, the citron is

I’ve said it before: I like giving holiday food gifts that aren’t sweet. Not because I don’t like sweets – or getting them, for that matter. But it’s nice to give somethi

Deutschland may not be “über alles,” but German Christmas traditions are deeply ingrained in American yuletide celebrations. Many are centuries old, such as festooning the house with