If top chefs ever put it to a vote, basil would be numero uno in the kitchen, captain of the Herb Team, and Most Likely to Succeed (or end up in sauce). It’s easy to see why. This aromatic herb can bring a dish to life with a fresh, savory sweetness, from...
Green beans are native to Central and South America. 16th-century Spanish and Portuguese explorers introduced them to Europe, where they quickly became a staple food. Today, they feature prominently in stir-fries, salads, casseroles, and other favorite dishes...
A commercial tomato is harvested 20 to 30 days before peak ripeness. It’s sent to a distribution center, sorted, and shipped to the store after a few days. It sits in the store for who knows how long before being purchased. Even then, it may need a few more days...
We all know a putterer when we see one. Putterers putter in the yard — digging, planting, pruning, and mowing. It’s a form of therapy. But when temperatures soar into the 90s, with humidity to match, yard work feels less like therapy than torment. Even putterers...
The Aztecs gave us words like “chocolate,” “tomato,” and “avocado.” They developed chinampas, or floating gardens, to feed their large population. And they were the first to cultivate zinnias, a flower they called...
