This June 12, 2017 photo shows a meat and potatoes steakhouse salad in Coronado, Calif. This dish is from a recipe by Melissa d’Arabian. (Melissa d’Arabian via AP)

Meat and potatoes can be made healthier as a dinner salad

Generations of Americans have grown up heralding meat and potatoes as the classic dinner of choice. Who doesn’t love the taste of that time-honored combination,… Continue reading

  • Jun 20, 2017
  • By MELISSA D’ARABIAN
  • LifeFood
This June 12, 2017 photo shows a meat and potatoes steakhouse salad in Coronado, Calif. This dish is from a recipe by Melissa d’Arabian. (Melissa d’Arabian via AP)
This April 6 photo shows a fried halibut fish sandwich in New York. This dish is from a recipe by Katie Workman. (Sarah E Crowder/Katie Workman via AP)

COOKING ON DEADLINE: Halibut Fried Fish Sandwich

I love a deep-fried, puffy-battered fish sandwich, with a tempura-like coating, but I’m not doing that at home. That’s for an indulgent summer seafood shack… Continue reading

This April 6 photo shows a fried halibut fish sandwich in New York. This dish is from a recipe by Katie Workman. (Sarah E Crowder/Katie Workman via AP)

Pioneer Potluck: Mom, her purple hat, and leaving the Denver Airport

Colorado vacation, 1995 Author’s note: This article is a repeat and after reading it again, I am so surprised to see that this happened 22… Continue reading

  • Jun 20, 2017
  • By ANN ‘GRANNIE ANNIE’ BERG
  • LifeFood
This June 15 photo shows a shrimp, avocado and orange salad with spicy orange dressing in New York. This dish is from a recipe by Sara Moulton. (Sara Moulton via AP)

Shrimp salad with spicy orange dressing is tasty summer dish

Summer’s here and the time is right for summer salads gussied up with light proteins. Boiled shrimp is the perfect candidate, especially when it’s paired… Continue reading

This June 15 photo shows a shrimp, avocado and orange salad with spicy orange dressing in New York. This dish is from a recipe by Sara Moulton. (Sara Moulton via AP)
This May 29, 2017 photo shows grilled ratatouille in Coronado, Calif. This dish is from a recipe by Melissa d’Arabian. (Melissa d’Arabian via AP)

Outdoor grilled ratatouille creates lovely summertime char

Ratatouille is a classic vegetable dish starring eggplant, zucchini, peppers and tomato that is deeply steeped in the culture of Mediterranean France. When I married… Continue reading

  • Jun 6, 2017
  • By MELISSA D’ARABIAN
  • LifeFood
This May 29, 2017 photo shows grilled ratatouille in Coronado, Calif. This dish is from a recipe by Melissa d’Arabian. (Melissa d’Arabian via AP)
This May photo shows a grilled chicken Caesar wrap in New York. The chicken can be made ahead of time, and leftover chicken can be tossed into salads, either green salads or grain or pasta salads. (Mia via AP)

COOKING ON DEADLINE: Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad Wraps

Chicken Caesar Salad is one of the world’s greatest lunches, but it isn’t the prettiest thing to eat with your hands while on the go.… Continue reading

This May photo shows a grilled chicken Caesar wrap in New York. The chicken can be made ahead of time, and leftover chicken can be tossed into salads, either green salads or grain or pasta salads. (Mia via AP)
This May 30, 2017 photo provided by The Culinary Institute of America shows a Summer Berry Trifle in Hyde Park, N.Y. This dish is from a recipe by the CIA. (Phil Mansfield/The Culinary Institute of America via AP)

This Summer berry trifle is perfect for a July 4 barbecue

The stars aligned when our forefathers signed the Declaration of Independence right in the middle of berry season. And while maybe that wasn’t part of… Continue reading

  • Jun 6, 2017
  • By The Culinary Institute of America
  • LifeFood
This May 30, 2017 photo provided by The Culinary Institute of America shows a Summer Berry Trifle in Hyde Park, N.Y. This dish is from a recipe by the CIA. (Phil Mansfield/The Culinary Institute of America via AP)

Pioneer Potluck: About Alaska summers

Fishing, camping, traveling, visitors and mosquitoes: you are truly an Alaskan if you smell like mosquito repellent and fish in the summer. Or campfire smoke… Continue reading

  • Jun 6, 2017
  • By ANN ‘GRANNIE ANNIE’ BERG
  • LifeFood
This 2016 photo shows flaky fish tacos in New York. This dish is from a recipe by Katie Workman. (Laura Agra via AP)

COOKING ON DEADLINE: Flaky Fish Tacos with Vegetable Slaw

A good fish taco is in a class by itself. My kids tried their first in a beachside restaurant in Florida, and suddenly the world… Continue reading

This 2016 photo shows flaky fish tacos in New York. This dish is from a recipe by Katie Workman. (Laura Agra via AP)
This May 20, 2017 photo shows a warm steak and potato chip salad with blue cheese dressing in New York. This dish is from a recipe by Sara Moulton. (Sara Moulton via AP)

Serve Warm Steak and Potato Chip Salad on Father’s Day

In honor of Father’s Day, I’ve conjured up a recipe featuring an arsenal of steakhouse delights, starting with steak itself and including potatoes, spinach and… Continue reading

This May 20, 2017 photo shows a warm steak and potato chip salad with blue cheese dressing in New York. This dish is from a recipe by Sara Moulton. (Sara Moulton via AP)
This May 22, 2017 photo shows miso salmon in Coronado, Calif. This dish is from a recipe by Melissa d’Arabian. (Melissa d’Arabian via AP)

Salmon on the grill gets tasty with miso and lime juice

Salmon season has arrived, and the markets are brimming with gorgeous wild varieties like King Salmon and Coho, which are perfect for grilling, poaching or… Continue reading

  • May 30, 2017
  • By MELISSA D’ARABIAN
  • LifeFood
This May 22, 2017 photo shows miso salmon in Coronado, Calif. This dish is from a recipe by Melissa d’Arabian. (Melissa d’Arabian via AP)

Pioneer Potluck: About memories and smells

Memorial Day 2017 Last week I wrote about Grandpa and Grandma Cogswell, my Mom’s parents who lived in a basement house for as long as… Continue reading

  • May 30, 2017
  • By ANN ‘GRANNIE ANNIE’ BERG
  • LifeFood

Pioneer Potluck: More memories of Mom

1937-1999, Northern Colorado Author’s note: This story was suggested by daughter Susan. Although Mom wrote extensively about our life on the farm and ranches and… Continue reading

  • May 16, 2017
  • By ANN ‘GRANNIE ANNIE’ BERG
  • LifeFood

About birthday parties

For about 8 or 9 years the gals who work or worked at Fireweed Greenhouse get together and have a once a month birthday party… Continue reading

Peninsula hungry for locally grown food

The time is ripe for central Kenai Peninsula farmers, according to a market study that found an overwhelming demand for locally grown food in the… Continue reading

This 2017 photo shows Italian stuffed strawberries in New York. This dish is from a recipe by Sara Moulton. (Sara Moulton via AP)

This strawberry season, make a dessert inspired by cannoli

I developed this recipe to take advantage of strawberry season. Some of you are naturally scratching your head. “Strawberry season? Name a time of year… Continue reading

This 2017 photo shows Italian stuffed strawberries in New York. This dish is from a recipe by Sara Moulton. (Sara Moulton via AP)
This March 24, 2017 photo provided by The Culinary Institute of America shows a Ginnie Meyer cocktail in Hyde Park, N.Y. This dish is from a recipe by the CIA. (Phil Mansfield/The Culinary Institute of America via AP)

For a summer cocktail, look no further than a Ginnie Meyer

As we ease on down that road toward spring, you might start dipping your toe back into outdoor living. It starts with two minutes of… Continue reading

  • Apr 4, 2017
  • By The Culinary Institute of America
  • LifeFood
This March 24, 2017 photo provided by The Culinary Institute of America shows a Ginnie Meyer cocktail in Hyde Park, N.Y. This dish is from a recipe by the CIA. (Phil Mansfield/The Culinary Institute of America via AP)
This March 26, 2017 photo shows Dijon and sherry chicken tenders in Coronado, Calif. This dish is from a recipe by Melissa d’Arabian. (Melissa d’Arabian via AP)

Mustard and sherry inspire adult-friendly chicken tenders

I mentioned to my husband recently that I had mastered an oven-baked chicken tender recipe, and his response was a little underwhelming; dismissive even. It… Continue reading

  • Apr 4, 2017
  • By MELISSA D’ARABIAN
  • LifeFood
This March 26, 2017 photo shows Dijon and sherry chicken tenders in Coronado, Calif. This dish is from a recipe by Melissa d’Arabian. (Melissa d’Arabian via AP)
This February 2017 photo shows a burrata and prosciutto pizza in New York. This dish is from a recipe by Katie Workman. (Sarah Crowder via AP)

COOKING ON DEADLINE: Burrata and Prosciutto Pizza

If you haven’t had the chance to try burrata, I would be honored if this recipe became the first occasion. Burrata is a semisoft, white… Continue reading

This February 2017 photo shows a burrata and prosciutto pizza in New York. This dish is from a recipe by Katie Workman. (Sarah Crowder via AP)
Gray man as a tow-head &

Pioneer Potluck: My hair, your hair, everybody’s hair

What is the first thing you notice when you talk to your friends, your neighbors or a stranger? I bet it is their hair! What… Continue reading

  • Apr 4, 2017
  • By Ann ‘Granie Annie’ Berg
  • LifeFood
Gray man as a tow-head &