• NECCO Sweethearts have a place in the hearts and minds of the many of Americans, especially around Valentines Day, but most people don't know much about them. So we traveled to the NECCO Factory in Revere, Massachusetts to meet up with Jeff Green, the Vice President of Research and Quality at NECCO, to learn everything there is to know about this iconic candy.

    The History

    The founder of NECCO, Oliver Chase, and his brother were English immigrants. They loved a popular confection in England known as a "cockle" that had a message inside of it and wanted to create something similar with their own candy. In the early 1860's, Oliver's brother found a way to print on the candy that they were already making (NECCO Wafers) and decided to experiment with different shapes. As Valentine's Day became more popular and marketable, they decided to stick with a heart shape with romantic or popular sayings. The early Sweethearts were larger pieces of candy with whole poems

    Read More »from The Story of the Sweetheart
  • Fabio's Easy Minestrone

    Looking for a comforting warm way to fill up on everything that's good? Try Fabio's take on classic Minestrone.

    Tips:

    • Super charge your soup! Greens are an easy way to add flavor, iron, fiber, and other vital nutrients to your food. Even if your kids pick out the greens, your broth will still be full of good stuff.
    • For best results cut all your veggies (whichever you choose) the same size before cooking.
    • Easy stock secrets: Vegetable stock is a flavorful way to use up unsightly ends of carrots, onions, celery, and herbs.

    Minestrone Soup

    Recipe by Fabio Viviani

    Yield: 6 servings

    Ingredients:

    3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

    1 cup diced yellow onion

    ½ cup diced red onion

    3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

    1 cup diced carrots

    1 cup diced celery

    1 cup diced fennel

    1 cup diced red potatoes

    1 cup diced zucchini

    ½ bunch Swiss chard, bottom stems removed

    ½ bunch kale, bottom stems removed

    ½ bunch collard greens, bottom stems removed

    ½

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  • A Low Country classic gets a spicy, colorful update. It's the perfect thing to serve when you've got lots of company. Try this recipe next time you have friends and family over.

    Georgia on my mind. Atlanta, actually. My mother's kitchen, circa 1975, and guests are coming over for lunch. It's a Saturday in March, and it's going to be a buffet for 50. That was the first time I'd ever heard the words "Chicken Country Captain," and I will never forget it. That name!

    This dish, even though it has a zillion ingredients, is super-easy and can feed an army. And it's truly beautiful, special, and impressive. You'll see how satisfying it is to make it, watching all these gorgeous things come together. Prepare it at least one full daybefore you serve it, to make sure all the fantastic ingredients have a chance to get to know each other. But take note: Chicken Country Captain freezes wonderfully, so you can easily prepare it way in advance, to make sure you have it on hand for that

    Read More »from Alex Hitz's Chicken Country Captain Recipe
  • By Rachel Wilkerson, Lover.ly

    Summer Days Inspiration Shoot026

    Photo by: Insight Creative on Polka Dot Bride via Lover.ly

    The morning wedding has fallen out of favor in recent years; when most people think weddings, they think dinner and dancing. But while an evening ceremony has tons of great perks (a wild dance floor! yummy cocktails!), that doesn't mean a morning ceremony and breakfast or brunch reception can't be amazing. Here are some reasons to re-consider the early-bird wedding.

    pinwheel wedding ideas

    Photo by: Marianne Wilson Photography on Wedding Chicks via Lover.ly

    1. You'll save money.
    Not only do most venues offer discounts on Sunday mornings, you can also save a lot of money on the food. Even the most generous bride or groom can feel stressed by what it costs to feed loved ones dinner, but you can splurge on breakfast or brunch food and still come out ahead. And you can still serve alcohol (we recommend mimosas and Bloody Marys!), but people are likely to consume less drinks overall. But even though it's

    Read More »from 5 Reasons to Say Yes to a Morning/Brunch Wedding Reception
  • by Brides

    Whether you're rooting for the Baltimore Ravens, the San Francisco 49ers or just want a surprise Beyonce-Jay Z halftime duet (put us in that category!), Super Bowl XLVII is the perfect excuse to put on your fat pants and have the gang over. To secure your status as the host with the most (and throw the biggest and best bash in town), stock up on entertaining essentials like a genius wine chiller, super simple corn popper, and more. Newly engaged? Add 'em to your registry check list and you'll be ready for the big game next year!


    More from Brides:
    64 Engagement Rings Under $5000
    2013 Wedding Dress Trends
    50 Most Beautiful Wedding Cakes
    Modern Lace Wedding Dresses

    Read More »from Kitchen Must-Haves for Your Super Bowl Party
  • introduction by Alyssa Bereznak, Vanity Fair



    All Nate Silver Super Bowl predictions, Beyoncé halftime rumors, and Kate Upton commercials aside, one of the most important things about this Sunday's game is what you will be mindlessly munching as the Ravens and the 49ers battle it out in New Orleans for the championship. We, the American people, have advanced Super Bowl cuisine to astounding heights. What was once a day to eat overly chewy chicken wings and watery celery has now become a gastronomical event of epic proportions, where sauces are extra tangy, fries are soaked in truffle oil, and the beef is Kobe. To honor this sacred feast, we asked America's famous chefs to share what they'll be eating this Sunday--see personal, camera-phone shots of everything from Mario Batali's "eggs in hell" to Michael Ferraro's merguez lamb sausage and truffle corn dogs.



    For more celebrity food photographs visit Food Porn at VanityFair.com.




    More from Vanity Fair:


    Cutest Pajama Sets


    Lady Gaga,

    Read More »from America's Famous Chefs Share Their Super Bowl Spreads
  • By Bon Appétit

    Baking wings yields crisp skin without the mess and constant tending of frying. Divide the wings between our two sauces, or double one sauce recipe and use it on all 60 wings.

    Read More: 25 Ways To Use Sriracha

    Crispy Baked Chicken Wings
    Recipe by The Bon Appétit Test Kitchen
    Makes about 60

    Ingredients
    Buffalo Sauce
    1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
    1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
    1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
    1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
    1/4 cup hot pepper sauce (such as Frank's)

    Ginger-Soy Glaze
    1/4 cup honey
    2 tablespoons soy sauce
    3 large garlic cloves, crushed
    1 2x1" piece of ginger, peeled, sliced

    Wings
    5 pounds chicken wings, tips removed, drumettes and flats separated
    2 tablespoons vegetable oil
    1 tablespoon kosher salt
    1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

    Read More: 24 Pasta Recipes to Try Right Now

    Preparation
    Buffalo Sauce
    Mix first 4 ingredients in a medium bowl; let stand for 5 minutes. Whisk in hot sauce; keep warm. DO AHEAD:

    Read More »from Forget Bar Food: Make Crispy, Baked Chicken Wings at Home
  • Ultimate Twice-Baked Potatoes

    The buttery, creamy indulgence of mashed potatoes meets the joy of digging into a baked potato in this iconic side dish: crispy potato skins are filled with soft whipped potato mixed with cheddar cheese, bacon, sour cream, butter, Tabasco, and herbs, topped with more cheese, and baked until golden brown and bubbly. It's the perfect accompaniment to game day wings, chili, or pulled pork.

    SERVES 4

    INGREDIENTS
    4 russet potatoes (about 2½ lb.), scrubbed
    1 cup grated aged cheddar cheese
    1 cup grated Gruyère cheese
    ½ cup sour cream
    4 tbsp. unsalted butter, softened
    2 tbsp. finely chopped chives
    1 tbsp. finely chopped parsley
    ¼ tsp. Tabasco hot sauce
    ¼ tsp. Worcestershire sauce
    8 slices cooked bacon, cut into ¼" strips
    Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
    ¼ tsp. paprika

    RELATED: Perfect Super Bowl Party Snacks »

    INSTRUCTIONS
    1. Heat oven to 450°. Put potatoes on a baking sheet and bake, turning occasionally, until tender, about 1 hour. Transfer to a rack and

    Read More »from Ultimate Twice-Baked Potatoes
  • CheeseCheeseBarb Stuckey, author of Taste: Surprising Stories and Science About Why Food Tastes Good, shares why we think "mmm" or "eww" for certain foods, and what our preferences really mean.

    Do you abhor stinky cheeses? You might be a "tolerant taster" who sports fewer tastes buds. Tolerant tasters are generally unfussy eaters, unless they happen to also have an excellent sense of smell. Then strongly scented foods like blue cheese are out of balance: The taste doesn't match up with the smell, which leads to dislike.

    PLUS: 27 foods to never buy again >>

    Would your dream meal be french fries and ice cream? You might be a survivor of multiple ear infections, which can damage the "taste nerves." Instead of experiencing sensations like bitterness and fattiness in balance, you may perceive a more pronounced fatty sensation, making rich foods extra tempting.

    Does dark chocolate remind you of coal? You could have damage to your trigeminal "touch nerve," which often happens during mouth surgery. In

    Read More »from The Secret Life of Your Taste Buds
  • In the bleak midwinter, it can be tough to get inspired by the veggies that are in season. Root vegetables are traditionally served in the winter, being hardy enough to withstand months in a cool place. Fortunately, although they're not often celebrated for their fresh, lustrous image like other seasonable veggies tend to be, root vegetables are sweet and delicious, perfect for roasting, braising, sauteing, grilling -- even grated into salads and baked goods. - By Julie Van Rosendaal



    MORE ON BABBLE


    16 skinny soups to warm up with this winter


    20 delicious salads hearty enough for dinner


    The 25 healthiest foods under $1


    Read More »from Get Back to Your Roots: 7 Ways to Cook with Root-vegetables

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