Blog Posts by The Daily Meal

Recipes, Storing tips, plus some fun new facts about these creamy delicious treatsCreamy, silky, and undeniably delicious, avocados are not a tough sell. Unfortunately, for those living on the East Coast and in colder climates, avocados do not grow on trees like they do in some parts of the world. But thanks to modern technology and transportation, cold-climate dwellers can also enjoy all that is lovely about avocados.

But as approachable and versatile as avocados are, they are also a little mysterious. Particularly when it comes to how to ripen them quickly or how to best store leftover halves that went uneaten (how that happens is beyond us - just eat it!)

Click here for the Best Avocado Recipes

To answer these pressing questions and to learn more about avocados in general, we turned to Avocados from Mexico, who sent us a sample of their fabulous product, which we used to create the tasty recipes below.

Cristy-Lucie Alvarado, a representative of Avocados from Mexico shared some tips and information that any avocado lover should know. Check out what she has to

Small towns that pack a punch when it come to foodGood food is not exclusive to metropolitan areas, this we know. A dense population and international airports are not necessarily the first ingredients in creating a thriving food scene. Across the country, there are small towns (for our purposes, they have less than 300,000 residents) where fresh ingredients are readily available and a passion for cooking and eating local foods never wanes. Where once we stumbled on these towns haphazardly, now travelers are arriving at them on purpose. As we are traveling more and more often for food (and local, fresh, seasonal food at that), it makes sense that we'd head toward the deeper cuts - why get a lobster roll in New York City when you can get one direct from the source in Maine?

Click here to see the Best Small Towns for Food

That three of these towns are adjacent to wine regions should come as no surprise - they serve the best local foods to pair with the best local wines. And what could be more inviting to winemakers and wine drinkers

A collection of the finest spuds in the countryEven though their name sounds very international, french fries are about as American as any food can be - they're deep-fried, they're the quintessential vehicle for ketchup (America's favorite condiment, hands down), and they're made from one of the country's most bountiful crops, potatoes. However, while french fries are so popular in the U.S. that they can be found on most menus, those who know fries know that the standard, mediocre orders stand worlds apart from the outstanding examples.

Click here to see Where to Find America's 15 Best Fries

So what makes a perfect fry? There's the crunchiness element for sure - that crisp exterior texture that holds up against the impending threat of sogginess. Then, the soft, fluffy interior, filled with potato that's cooked through but not dried out or raw-tasting. The color also comes into play - the best fries have that undeniable golden-brown hue. When all of these elements come together, they create the perfect fry that needs no

Healthful, energy-boosting options to make at home, buy, or pick up on the goBreakfast is important - moms have said it from the beginning, doctors can't stress it enough, and health-conscious friends love to remind us of it.

Click here to see 12 Quick and Easy Drinks to Start the Day

But no matter how many times or ways it's said - and how true it is - if you're not a breakfast person, the fact of the matter is that it can be tough to make time for a meal at the start of the day. Which is why, for this particular group of people, the quickest and easiest options are the most desirable.

Click here to see The World's Coolest Starbucks Stores

Fortunately, for those of us that prefer breakfast in a to-go cup, there are plenty of good, healthy drinks that can be made ahead or in the morning, or even picked up from the local supermarket - things like filling, energy-boosting smoothies and vitamin-rich herbal teas. And if all else fails, and the drive-thru route is the only solution, there are still good options available, ranging from fresh fruit juices to

The most iconic, local foods that feed our country, from runzas and whoopee pies to Frogmore stewThere are some foods that just don't travel well, and we don't mean in Tupperware. Some foods are so tied to a place that trying to recreate them or generate a passion behind them anywhere else would be a fool's errand. There are some foods that, for one reason or another, stick to their proverbial ponds and only a few have made a name for themselves outside those culinary boundaries. But if you were to ask a local to recommend the one thing to try in their hometown, the unanimous answer would be the this mystery dish; Pennsylvanians would say scrapple, you'd hear all about johnnycakes in Rhode Island, and in South Carolina they'd suggest a heaping helping of Frogmore stew.

Click here to see 18 American Foods You Have to Travel For

All of these iconic foodstuffs come from such different histories and were created because of very different wants and needs. The Nebraskan runza, for example, originated in Russia in the 1800s and worked its way to Germany before becoming a Nebraskan

The healthiest options at America's biggest sandwich chainsPlenty of fast-food brands are jumping on the healthy bandwagon these days. Sandwich chains like Subway and Così are particularly keen on offering low-calorie, health-conscious menu items, and several others have followed suit. While it's certainly a good sign that such influential fast-food companies are taking the initiative to help Americans maintain a more balanced diet, it's time to take a closer look at just how healthy the options are at national sandwich chains.


Click here to see America's Healthiest Fast-Food Sandwiches

What makes for the "ideal" healthy sandwich, nutritionally speaking? According to nutritionist Kelly Aronica, there are many factors to consider. Based on a diet of roughly 1,800 calories per day (for those people trying to lose weight, or closer to 2,000 for those trying to maintain their current weight) a reasonable lunch should hit close to 500 calories. In this case, the sandwich should have about 400 calories, leaving 100 for sides and a drink. When

Tips for making breakfast an easy no-fuss mealBreakfast may very well be the most important meal of the day, but few of us give it the attention it deserves. Our first meal should be an intentional one that gives us the energy we need to focus and work throughout the day, but far too often, our best efforts are left behind in favor of a quick bowl of cereal, a hurried fast-food sandwich, or worse - no breakfast at all. With a little planning, we can have the best of both worlds: a delicious, almost-instant breakfast that fuels us up without consuming our already rushed morning. Pick one day, like Sunday, to do the preparation for your breakfasts during the week. You'll thank yourself when you reach for a healthy homemade meal on your way out the door each day.

Click here for 10 Do-Ahead Breakfasts for When You're On-the-Go

All of these recipes can be made ahead of time and require only minor assembly in the morning. With only a pour, spread, or reheat, they can all be ready to eat in a couple of minutes, and most can even be

Healthy and easy breakfasts to start the morning off rightWhole grains are a fundamental part of a healthy diet, but with even Lucky Charms cereal claiming to contain whole grains these days, it's hard to get past the confusing food messages and figure out how exactly to incorporate heart-healthy grains into a breakfast routine. Though wheat is our cultural grain of choice, there's actually a huge variety of grains out there, and they're becoming even easier to find in stores. Once we get acquainted with what's available, eating more whole grains doesn't have to mean just reaching for the whole-wheat bread.

Click here to see 10 Whole-Grain Breakfasts

We've brought together 10 whole-grain breakfast recipes to get you eating more of this diet essential on a daily basis. There are recipes for familiar breakfast foods like pancakes and muffins that are chock-full of oats and whole wheat, plus there are ideas for ways to jazz up comforting staples like oatmeal. We've also included recipes that will help you discover less familiar grains and