#celeriac

#celeriac

Celeriac has been the ruiner of many a soup that I have been fed, overshadowing the taste of the other ingredients and dominating the flavour profile.

This mini pepper is technically known as an internal proliferation, and is due to a natural process called parthenocarpy. Parthenocarpy is when any fruit develops without fertilization, and in the case of bell peppers, it results in these small internal tissue growths. Although it can have the same shape and look like a regular pepper, if you cut open this mini pepper, you'll find it's completely seedless.

One lap around the farmers market is enough to inspire spring vegetable recipes that make the most of thick stalks of asparagus, perky pink radishes, purple-streaked spring onions, tender sweet peas, thin-skinned new potatoes, and more.

Cooking during late March can be particularly challenging due to the cold weather and lack of fresh produce. The desire for spring recipes clashes with the reality of winter ingredients still dominating the market.

Parsnips' signature sweet, nutty flavor comes from their cold-weather cultivation. That subterranean freeze is what converts the roots' starches into sugars as the veggie grows underground. This is also why spring-harvested parsnips tend to be sweetest, although parsnips can be harvested during the fall and winter months, too. Fall- and winter-harvested parsnips feature a firmer texture and earthier, subtly bitter tasting profile.

Growing your own vegetables is a fun and rewarding activity. Not only will you ensure they are at their freshest when you eat them, but you will also know how they are grown, especially if you care about pesticides and other harmful chemicals found in commercially grown produce. If you don't have an outdoor garden space, you can still grow some tasty veggies indoors - and some of the simplest (and fastest-growing) are radishes.

Coriander and cumin aren't direct substitutes. Cumin is more pungent and earthy, so if used in place of coriander, I recommend using about half the amount and adding a touch of citrus zest or fennel seed to restore brightness.

Classic spicy vodka rigatoni is such a glorious sight, beautifully orangey-red and glossy. That iconic look and luxurious texture sparked the idea for this dish. This pasta highlights the humble carrot by making it the star of the show and the base for a creamy, spicy orange sauce. I like buying carrots with the tops attached for this to make a lovely herby topping to balance the richness of the pasta, but if you can't find them, this dish is still a stunner.

Greek salads are incredibly underrated, whether you're making them at home for yourself or ordering one from your favorite local Greek spot alongside your favorite Greek dishes. A Greek-style salad is usually packed with fresh ingredients - think lettuce, red onion, Kalamata olives, cucumbers, a basic vinaigrette - and topped with the one ingredient that makes Greek salad, well, Greek salad: feta cheese. It's fatty, milky, salty, and flavorful, elevating the entire mouthfeel and giving you reason to order yours with extra on top.

This braised cabbage recipe is one of the easiest, most delicious ways to cook a humble ball of greens until it's falling-apart tender. Cut into wedges, the cabbage chars before getting bathed in a broth made from spiced tomato paste. The result is a comforting, flavor-packed dish that works equally well as a vegetarian main or as a bold side, especially when finished with yogurt, served over grains, or paired with roasted meats.

Now, on their own, right after you peel them off the cloves, garlic skins don't make a great snack. Technically you can eat them, but the tough, fibrous texture isn't exactly something that you'll look forward to either chewing on or choking down. If you do sample a bit, however, you will notice that despite seeming like a useless bit of waste all this time, these peels actually do contain a lot of flavor.

I'm not much of a cook. I can throw together a few things for breakfast, sure. I can make a sandwich. Beyond that, I stick with what I know. And that means mostly easy Mexican dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner for a guy on the go. One thing I do know really well is how to trim, chop and combine greens and fruit to make a banging Mexican-style green juice.

The humble carrot is an oft-overlooked ingredient when it comes to preparing and cooking meals. This sweet vibrant veggie is more often than not consigned to a saucepan or steamer as an unimaginative side dish, served raw as a crudite, or used as a base for stews and casseroles, taking a back seat to other ingredients. Despite this, carrots really are a kitchen carthorse as well as being available year-round and