Food

Good holiday morning, my friends. Today there are many requests, and I can imagine you are mighty busy at your house, so I just may repeat them next week, when things are a little quieter.

John Lopopolo, Mount Vernon Restaurant chef, says a baked ham was the centerpiece of his family's Christmas dinner throughout his childhood.

When was the last time you had a bite of peanut butter pie you didn't like? I never have. And if it's good peanut butter pie, we're talking more than a bite.

Always on the hunt for a new place to eat, especially a place with something a little out of the ordinary, I offered to meet my son near his job at Eastgate in Brainerd for lunch. The Family Food Mart around the corner from China Moon is primarily a place to get mostly Middle Eastern groceries. They also have a small deli/kitchen in the back with a few tables and some chairs.

Good morning, good readers. I'm so full of Christmas cookies I could pop, and I'm also thinking food in other, less sugary contexts. And so are you.

\It's the most wonderful time of the year. It is also, perhaps, the most fattening. "It's amazing how quickly [calories] can add up, especially with party food," said Patricia Partain, a registered dietitian with Erlanger Health Center.

It may sound hard to believe, but I didn't have my first taste of lasagna until I left home for college. Other Italian favorites -- spaghetti and pizza -- were often on the table, but never lasagna.

Soup’s on for summer. Local chefs and foodies say that when preparing a delicious summer soup, the key is keeping it in season.

Last week’s storms left many of us faced with varying degrees of hardship and challenge. We were fortunate at the Courter house that all we lost was power. With a little luck and ingenuity, we managed to save most of what was in the refrigerator. In fact, thanks to Kelley’s talents and creativity, we ate fairly well.

It has become a tradition in this space before the second Sunday in May to let readers know what restaurants are doing to celebrate mothers.

Good morning readers. Today’s Exchange has a long-distance postmark, as we left town in the aftermath of the tornadoes that our little community of Hinkle, Ga., suffered.

It’s all about the comfort.

It won’t be long until our gardens will be bursting with fresh produce. I’ve already planted my tomatoes, onions and lettuce, and I can’t wait until they’re ready to pick.

Whether they are stuffed with chicken, pork or beef, home-cooked tamales have become one of my new favorite dishes. The flavor and texture are completely different than what I have tasted in restaurants. There are bold flavors and subtle flavors, and you can taste them all.

I’m not much of a golfer, but this time of year, my thoughts turn to The Masters. I’ve been able to attend this tournament of champions at Augusta National Golf Club many times.