“Ants in a Tree” is the English translation of the Chinese name for this classic recipe. Built of spicy pork, bean thread noodles (aka cellophane noodles) and scallions, it earned its name because it’s not so far-fetched for the finished dish to call that image to mind — the noodles look like tree branches, the […]

The first of the 2018 seed catalogs will be arriving soon in the mail, signaling the start of another growing season. Savvy vegetable gardeners pore over the pages while choosing plants and drafting budgets. Planning ahead provides healthier returns for what can become a costly investment. “Food gardening, like any hobby, can get as expensive […]

For anyone who somehow missed out on Marie Kondo’s “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” or who found her de-cluttering style too quick, too cute or too oriented toward a younger set, a Swedish author “between the age of 80 and 100” has come out with her own take on the subject. In “The Gentle […]

So, what is lemon curd, and what do you do with it? Lemon curd is essentially a preserve or condiment made with lemon juice, eggs, sugar and butter. The first three ingredients get blended and softly warmed so that the eggs thicken the mixture. Whisking in cold butter finishes it off and smoothes it out. […]

Say “fall color” and many minds turn to sugar maple. Aspen, hickory, and tupelo are among other well-known trees that fuel autumn’s figurative flames. Ask about attractive bark, and many gardeners will think of white birch. But a number of lesser known trees and shrubs can also contribute to the outdoor show, and — unlike […]

With the Bangor Daily News’ recent announcement about the introduction of a paywall, I’ve randomly engaged — in the supermarket, at the post office, with my kids’ friends — in a favorite pastime of mine: asking people how they get their news. I teach journalism at the local universities, so this is an issue that […]

Colleen Haraden-Gorski uses her embroidery skills these days to embellish quilts made by students at school and community center workshops on themes of social justice and working together to make a difference. Recently, she embroidered images of barbed wire and the serial numbers of concentration camp victims on a square about the Holocaust. Another time, […]

I haven’t been consistently happy with my oatmeal cookie recipe for a while. Sometimes they turn out perfectly — fairly flat, chewy and moist in the middle, with crinkly, caramelized edges (not cakey or rounded) and a butterscotch-esque flavor. Other times, they don’t follow orders, staying too puffed, or becoming a little dry and less […]

My biggest problem with Colin Kaepernick being named “Citizen of the Year” by GQ magazine is not that he was an NFL player who began a movement of not standing for the national anthem. That might surprise some given my military family history. No, my biggest problem with Colin Kaepernick being named Citizen of the […]

NEW YORK Travel books can get you dreaming. They can provide practical information for your trips. And they can also just tell a good story. Here are a few books out this season to consider buying for your own use and entertainment, or to give as a gift for Christmas, Hanukkah or whatever you might […]