Blog Posts by Epicurious.com

by Siobhan Adcock, Epicurious.com

Okay, yes, I may be late getting on this bandwagon, but I just finished reading the YA novel The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, because I've been hearing so much about it and about the movie that's coming out soon. It should have been obvious to me from the title, I'm sure, but none of the rabid fans who recommended the book to me made any mention of the fact: This book is actually all about food.

See also: Quick and Healthy Breakfast Recipes for the School Year

On one level, it's about violence and the psychological damage it inflicts on children, as Collins herself explains it. And it's about a love triangle, sort of. And it's basically an action-adventure story. But as a reader I can't escape the fact that The Hunger Games is obsessively, intensely focused on food: Who has it, who doesn't, what it means, when it's eaten and by whom.

Over and over again in the novel, food is held out as the primary reward for everything from a simple act of

by Carolina Santos-Neves, Epicurious.com


About a month ago, I started taking cooking classes in the Chef's Training Program at the Natural Gourmet Institute (NGI). This past Saturday we learned a lot of techniques, and one of them was how to deep-fry. What did we fry? Veggies! We made onion, carrot, and broccoli tempura.

See also: Quick and Healthy Breakfast Recipes for the School Year

After watching our instructor demo all the necessary steps we were split into two groups. Naturally, she made it look easy, but for a beginner, it wasn't.

We used refined coconut oil for frying, and our batter was made up of whole-wheat pastry flour, corn meal, salt, pepper, kuzu (a root thickener superior to corn starch), smoked paprika (for flavoring), and just a little bit of seltzer water. Our group decided that we wanted our batter to be light and not too heavy, so we opted to use less of the kuzu. We stored the batter in the fridge until it was time to fry. (Keeping the batter as cold as

Fava Beans with Red Onion and Mint. Photo: John Kernickby Epicurious.com

Healthful eating is never so easy as it is in the spring. With fresh fruits and vegetables flourishing, you only need minimal preparation to bring out maximum flavor. From salads to sides, entrées to desserts, here is a collection of our wholesome springtime favorites.

Related: Quick and Healthy Breakfast Recipes for the School Year

Tip: Preventive Medicine
Fresh fruits and vegetables are healthy in part because they contain phytochemicals, or beneficial compounds, such as beta-carotene, folate, and lycopene, which aid in the prevention of cancer.

Lemon Mint Braised Artichokes. Photo: Jonny Valiant
Fresh Starters and Sides
• Mixed Greens with Mustard Dressing
• Lemon Mint Braised Artichokes
• Spring Vegetable and Quinoa Pilaf
• Fava Beans with Red Onion and Mint (Fave con Cipolla Rossa e Menta)
• Snow Peas with Toasted Almonds
• Fresh Pea and Mint Soup
• Butter Lettuce and Radish Salad with Fresh Spring Herbs


Tip: An Apple a Day
There is truth to the old "apple a day" adage, though this time of year, think

by Carolina Santos-Neves, Epicurious.com

For many of us, it's just not Easter without a chocolate bunny in our basket. With all the options in the supermarket, we wanted to find a hollow milk chocolate bunny that would satisfy both kids and adults-without breaking the bank (this isn't the year for $100 mail-order bunnies). We purchased eight brands, with and without foil. All are available at drugstores or supermarkets, with the exception of Godiva (sold online or at its boutique stores). Prices ranged from $3.29 to $23.50.

Related: The Epicurious Guide to Easter

Methodology: In the blind taste test, nine judges compared the appearance, flavor, and consistency of the bunnies. We then ranked them according to the standard Epicurious four-fork rating system. One Epi Top Pick emerged from the group, earning a three-and-a-half-fork rating.

Best Overall

Epi Top Pick: Lindt Milk Chocolate Bunny

($4.50 per 3.5 oz. bunny)

Pros: Dressed in intensely yellow-gold foil and a red bow, this bunny

by Esther Sung, Epicurious.com

Everyone knows that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but who has time for a healthy breakfast, especially when mornings are often hectic? Feeding school-age kids a quick and healthy breakfast can be particularly challenging, but it's not impossible. Whether you can pull off a sit-down meal, or need breakfast on the go, we've got quick, healthy, and nutritionally-balanced recipes and tips to ensure everyone in the family is well-fed and ready for the day.

Related: The Epicurious Guide to Easter

Studies show that a meal packed with "brain foods" (those filled with healthy nutrients such as protein, vitamin B, and omega-3) will aid concentration, memory, and brain development, and can lessen mood swings and boost energy levels, too. Breakfast is an excellent opportunity for everyone-school-bound kids and adults heading to the workplace-to take in these foods.

Breakfast tips:

• Plan ahead and get a head start on the next morning's

by Carolina Santos-Neves, Epicurious.com

According to the National Confectioners Association, Americans consume approximately 16 billion jelly beans at Easter time. So even if you're not a fan-and we don't believe people like that really exist-Easter seems to trigger the sweet tooth in everyone. Not that it's easily escaped, as everywhere you look, there seems to be a ceramic bowl filled with pastel-colored candies just waiting to be devoured. To make certain those bowls are filled with only the best jelly beans, we tasted 17 brands, ensuring that your (and our) sugar highs and dental indiscretions are worth it.

Related: The Epicurious Guide to Easter

We split our taste test into two categories: classic (or an equivalent standard variety) and sour. Read below to find out which two we would indulge in again and again and share with friends.

Best Classic Jelly Beans

Life Saver Jelly Beans
($2.28 for a 14-ounce bag)
Pros: These jelly beans were liked for their crunchy, shiny shell and

Photos by Kimberly Sentner; styling by Ma'ayan Rosenzweig and Sara Bonisteel
by Tracey Seaman, Epicurious.com

Prepare the Eggs
You can take one of two approaches to preparing your eggs for decoration: hard-boiling or draining the egg shells. We give you tips for both.

To hard-cook eggs: Use a pot that's large enough to accommodate the eggs in a single, uncrowded layer-this will prevent cracking. Add cold water to cover the eggs. Bring to a boil, uncovered. Turn off the heat, cover with a lid, and let stand for 18 minutes. Drain the water from the pot, cover the eggs with cold water, and drain again. Then cover with ice water and let stand until cold, about 3 minutes. Return eggs to cartons to dry or transfer them to a bowl and refrigerate until ready to use. If there are any cracked eggs, separate those and save them for eating instead.

Related: Chocolate Easter Bunny Taste Test

To empty a raw egg: Wash an egg in warm water and dry. With a sterilized long needle or slender metal skewer, prick a small hole in the pointy end of the egg and a larger hole in the

Photo: LA Premier, © Mario Anzuoni/Reuters/Corbis
by Sara Bonisteel, Epicurious.com

Party planner Kevin Lee is no stranger to the nightlife that follows the Academy Awards. He's attended his fair share of Oscar parties (he's been to the Governors Ball every year for the past decade), and with his company LA Premier, created more than a few Hollywood soirées.

Related: Oscar-Inspired Movie Menus

So we turned to Lee to get his tips for throwing an Oscar-viewing party worthy of Beverly Hills. Follow his advice and you'll feel like you're living life on the A-list, if only for one night.

Make It a Black-Tie Affair
Encourage your guests to dress to the nines. That means suits or tuxedos for guys, and cocktail dresses or ball gowns for the ladies. "Your guests should wear something glamorous and very over-the-top, just for the night," Lee says. "Beautiful makeup and hair are all required, just to make sure that all your friends look fabulous, of course. The dress code has to be there. You cannot walk in with tennis shoes and wearing tank