Food, ingredients and cooking techniques for vegetarians

Top vegetarian ingredeients

What the heck is tofu anyway?
Versatile and nutritious? Or boring and tasteless? Yes, tofu is all those ... and much more.

Vegan grilled cheese and other small miracles
Erin Pavlina tells of a happy encounter in the health food store.

Days of hummus and falafel
Mike recalls vegetarian menus with a Mediterranean flavor.

Make time for tempeh
A healthy and delicious ingredient that's too good to ignore.

Asparagus: Food hero from the ancient world
Why you should put this wonder vegetable on your shopping list today.

From herb garden to pasta bowl, basil is the king of herbs
Easy to grow, basil is a flavorful addition to many Italian vegetarian dishes.

Is peanut butter really good for you, or is it just another fat-rich processed food?
The answer depends on which brand you buy.

Is chocolate vegan?
It's delicious. It's healthy. But will it offend your vegan principles?

Go wild with blackberries
Preparing, cooking and eating blackberries: it's all so much more satisfying when you've picked 'em yourself.

When it comes to desserts, vegans can be decadent too
Just because you're a vegan, it doesn't mean you have to live without those tempting after-dinner indulgences.

All about coffee and tea

How to make a perfect cup of tea - British style
Britain perfected the art of tea-making. Time for the USA to catch up?

Is tea good for you?
It's full of health-giving antioxidants. But what about the caffeine and tannin?

Growing and harvesting coffee beans: a brief guide for coffee lovers
Ever wondered where a great cup of coffee begins? Andréanne has the answer.

Coffee bean roasting: Dark secrets revealed
Whatever method you use to brew your coffee, it's the roasting that counts.

Why espresso machines make the best coffee
There are many different ways to make a cup of coffee. But it's the brew produced by the espresso machine that is loved by millions.

Expert advice on vegetarian cooking

Is it safe to reheat leftover rice?
You don't need to throw out leftover rice, provided you follow these simple safety guidelines.

Cooking with garlic
Learn how to buy and store garlic, and how to use it in your kitchen. Discover its therapeutic properties.

Understanding different types of lentils
If you're confused by the different types and colors of lentils, read on. It's all a lot easier than you think.

How to prepare asparagus
Not sure how to deal with this tasty vegetable? It's a lot easier than you might think.

How to cook sweet potatoes
Learn how to buy, store and cook sweet potatoes - a highly nutritious and versatile vegetable.

How to cook carrots
Everything you need to know about preparing carrots - and more besides.

What exactly are neeps? (Are they the same as turnips?)
It's a staple vegetable in Scottish cuisine. But would you recognize it if you saw it?

How to prepare leeks
Add this tasty vegetable to your repertoire. It's not at all difficult to prepare, and always gives pleasing results.

Five quick and easy salad dressings
Try these light, healthy dressings that you can make in no time at all.

How to make an ultra low-fat white sauce
Cut the fat content of your sauces with this quick and easy technique.

How to make peanut butter at home
Making your own peanut butter is not at all difficult - and has several benefits.

Secrets of the stir fry
How to prepare perfect stir-fried dishes

Juicing or blending: What's the difference?
Making healthy fruit and vegetables juices at home is easy - provided you use the right device.

How to make fabulous soup the easy way - in a blender
You don't need to spend hours at the stove to prepare delicious home-made soups. Here's how to do it with almost no effort at all.

Making soy milk at home
If you can't find soy milk at your local store, why not make it yourself? It's easier than you might think.

Which type of yeast should I use for home bread-making?
Whether you make your bread by hand or in a machine, it's vital to use the right kind of yeast.

Baking with spelt flour
All you need to know about using spelt flour for baking bread, muffins, scones or quick breads.

How to bake your own bagels - and why you'd want to
Try these recipes for home-baked bagels and you might never buy the supermarket version again.

How much does a cup weigh?
Having trouble measuring ingredients? Here's the scoop.