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Pizza is pizza, right? Not quite. This beloved cheese-and-sauce-crafted masterpiece is much more complex than fans may imagine. At its core, pizza consists of a crust, sauce and a cheese. But pizza can be crafted in myriad ways thanks to toppings and crust styles. But wait … there’s more. As it turns out, pizza, which TripSavvy notes is a $30 billion global industry, has many different incarnations. Pizza was first introduced in North America in the late 1800s when thousands of Italian immigrants arrived. Nowadays pizza is part of just about everyone’s common vernacular and ...

The perfect baked potato begins with russets

A fluffy baked potato is a glorious thing, but too often you slice into the potato and it is shiny and waxy, not light and creamy in texture. Baking a potato is the easiest thing in the world, right? Then why are so many potatoes lacking in texture and flavor? First, for the traditional baked potato that is going to be loaded with toppings, you must buy a Russet potato. Russets have a thicker skin and a beautiful starchy, snowy — almost meaty — interior that soaks up all your butter, cheese and sour cream. I love making smashed potatoes with red new potatoes or baby Yukon gold ...

Best bets for nighttime snacks

Calorie-conscious individuals may wonder if eating at night or after a certain time can derail their diets and fitness regimens. The jury is still out on whether eating at night can pack on the pounds or not, with various health recommendations contradicting one another. However, if one does choose to snack at night, there may be a smart way to do so. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Weight Control Information Network says that a calorie is a calorie no matter when it is consumed. That means it doesn’t matter if calories are consumed in the morning, afternoon or evening. It is ...

9 essential gadgets worth the real estate in your kitchen

I love a shiny new kitchen object as much as the next cook, and at times my kitchen has resembled a kitchen specialty store. But if you have a small kitchen, counter space and cabinet storage are at a premium. Here are some of my all-time favorite gadgets to make your cooking life better. I'm skipping the bigger appliances like slow cookers and air fryers. I'm also skipping knives, cutting boards, pots and pans, measuring cups and the like, because you pretty much know you need those. This is about great gadgets, both low- and high-tech, that deserve a spot in your kitchen because ...

Got lots of leftover champagne? No worries, get cooking

From the beginning of December through Jan. 1 (or maybe 2nd or 3rd, depending on how fervently you party during the holidays) the pop of a champagne or sparkling wine cork is a welcome and frequent sound. Fizzy wine is just the most festive of all of the drinks, whether sipped straight up in a flute, or mixed into cocktails. And of course in most places a New Year's Eve toast would feel incomplete without a glass of bubbles. Whether you are quaffing French champagne this season, or prosecco from Italy, or cava from Spain, or something domestic and sparkly, you may end up with some left ...

The food isn’t ready til you add the ‘finishing touch’

If you've ever wondered why food made by your favorite restaurant chef tastes better than the food you make at home, chances are you are missing the crucial "finishing touch." That's the final seasoning that chefs sprinkle or drizzle on the food once it is cooked. You can add the finishing touch when you take the dish out of the oven, or off the stovetop or grill, or once the food is plated. If you serve your meals family-style, then add the finishing touch to the whole dish. If you individually plate your food, add it once it is plated. So what is the finishing touch? It can be as ...