By Tara Bellucci

Right while the Northeast is in the grips of winter, little orbs of sunshine start arriving from California and Florida. Fragrant Meyer lemons, a hybrid of a lemon and a tangerine, are a welcome burst of Vitamin C during the cold season. If you're wondering what to do with these slightly sweet fruits, just 5 minutes of hands-on effort results in a jar of salty, savory citrus that add a pinch of umami to any dish. FULL ENTRY

By Tara Bellucci

When you pair the tried-and-true recipe testing power of America's Test Kitchen with one of our favorite topics, pantry staples, you know we're going to love it. The Brookline-based team behind Cook's Illustrated and Cook's Country hits it out of the park with this one, delivering step-by-step photo instructions for each of the 100+ foolproof kitchen projects.

I made it a whopping six pages into the cookbook before practically drooling on their version of Nutella, a chocolate hazelnut spread so warm and nutty, you may never buy the imported stuff again.

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By Tara Bellucci

Though the Pats are not playing, the Super Bowl is still happening on Sunday. If you've yet to finalize on your Game Day menu, here's an easy dip you can whip up 4 different ways using a pantry staple: cannellini beans. FULL ENTRY

By Tara Bellucci

For months, I walked by the former Hard Rock site on Clarendon Street, trying to catch a glimpse as to what was going on inside. Awaiting the arrival of Joanne Chang's latest Flour Bakery was hard. But since last Friday's opening, resisting the smells of freshly baked pastries on the way to work, even when you've already had breakfast, proves harder.

To celebrate the fourth location, I decided to make one of my favorite Flour treats, homemade pop tarts, with a DIY twist.

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By Tara Bellucci

If you have resolved to work out more and eat healthier this year, there's a snack that's sure to help keep you energized through the day. No, it's not from a juice bar or the supplements aisle at Whole Foods. It's the trail mix bar from Ula Cafe.

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By Tara Bellucci

Bracingly tart, we don't often enjoy our official state berry straight from the bog. But add a little sweetness, and the cranberry is a perfect addition to your holiday feasts and fêtes. Here are three of our favorite ways to enjoy this tangy treat.

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As far as DIY gifts go this holiday season, infused salt and flavored salt recipes have to be in the top five most popular. Not only are infused salts super quick and easy to make, but they're versatile and thoughtful when blended with a friend's favorite flavors and prettily packaged.

If you're looking for a last-minute DIY gift to make for Christmas presents with only one or two days to go, try making one of our all-time favorite infused salt recipes: Sriracha salt.

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By Tara Bellucci

I am no stranger to spices. I collect them like others collect baseball cards. I bring them back from trips overseas to recreate the flavors of a place. I have so many that spice avalanches are a likely occurrence when I open my cabinet.

But one thing I don't like is buying something you can make with what you already have. Pumpkin pie spice is the biggest offender of this. If you occasionally bake, the odds are your pantry contains all the ingredients to create your own pumpkin pie spice from scratch, no trip to the store needed.

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By Tara Bellucci

Tara Bellucci

Swappers bring vanilla extract and vanilla sugar to the Boston Food Swap.

Vanilla. It's the world's most popular flavor. If you're looking for a homemade hostess or holiday gift, here are two super simple DIYs that anyone can do and everyone will like.

Nearly every baking recipe calls for vanilla extract, and nearly everyone (no matter how infrequently they bake) has a little bottle in their pantry. Those little bottles don't come cheap, and you can actually make your own extract for pennies per ounce. It's as easy as adding beans to booze. Really! If you have a couple minutes, you can have homemade vanilla extract for you and everyone on your gift list this year.

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