Larb is a Thai minced-meat dish that some regard as the unofficial national dish of Laos. It is bursting with the quintessential flavors of this part of the world, that amazing balance between hot and sour, salty and sweet. For this version, I decided to use chicken, though you could also use beef, pork, duck […]

ALAMO HEIGHTS, Texas FOR SALE: One tiny kingdom, with many thrones. But it doesn’t come with a hereditary title. That belongs, in perpetuity, to Barney Smith — the undisputed “King of the Commode.” “There’s a lot of me in there,” he says, sitting in front of the corrugated metal garage he’s dubbed his Toilet Seat […]

Food safety often is cited as the primary reason why people grow their own edibles, but that’s frequently an illusion. Food-borne illnesses are almost as likely to be caused by homegrown produce as by fresh foods acquired elsewhere. “The odds are better there won’t be any contamination from the things we grow ourselves, but no […]

With the end of the school year looming, the proud parents of any number of soon-to-be-minted graduates are wondering how to pull off a celebratory party without spending a ton of time or money. Reuben pizza is the answer. It’s quick, easy to make, inexpensive and completely scrumptious. Even better, it’s not a typical pizza. […]

The time was 7:15 p.m. If I hurried, I could leave Lindell’s baseball game and still make the last 30 minutes of the Academic Awards Ceremony at Ford’s high school. I ran through the orange baseball dirt, kicked up by dozens of cleats scampering to the snack shack for a postgame treat, and combed my […]

SAN FRANCISCO T he unwanted were turned away from cafeteria tables. Fistfights broke out at karaoke. Dances became breeding grounds for gossip and cruelty. It became clear this place had a bullying problem on its hands. What many found surprising was that the perpetrators and victims alike were all senior citizens. Nursing homes, senior centers […]

Landscaping around an outdoor swimming pool requires no-muss, no-fuss plant selections. The pool can be a flowery focal point, but don’t open it to litter from leaves and limbs. “Both in- and above-ground pools offer unique design challenges and opportunities,” said Tim Moloney, an instructor in landscape design at the University of Missouri. “In-ground pools […]

Last October, our youngest son, Lindell, said he wanted to sign up for basketball. Lindell had never played on a basketball team before, but he had spent the previous two summers playing in the street with his older brothers, Ford and Owen, where he learned that he enjoyed shooting hoops. We were delighted that Lindell […]

Exploring nature and sleeping under the stars can be viewed as an economical vacation. But buying gear and booking campsites or renting an RV can add up. With some cost-saving strategies, camping can fit a variety of budgets, whether you’re planning a car or RV camping trip or backpacking. Try these tips to enjoy the […]

NEW YORK “I don’t even call it a bed. I kind of think of it as your grandmother.” So declares Dr. Harvey Karp, a Los Angeles pediatrician whose smart-tech baby sleeper, the Snoo, is a game-changer for some sleep-deprived parents. The Snoo has earned rave reviews from baby gear experts and parents alike, including Ashton […]