Food poems, like love poems, have the potential to be vague and maudlin. The New York Times' profile of a book of food poetry refers to Winston Churchill's supposed declaration, "Take away this pudding. It has no theme."

This, of course, is a sadly reductionist take on...

When you think of Texas, you do not think of martinis. Barbecue, yes. Shiner Bock, definitely. But martinis seem to be a drink designed for hurried Manhattanites, not Southerners, stereotyped as slow-talkin' and beer-guzzlin'.

But the stereotypes are just that, as the most beloved drink in the Lone Star state...

If your favorite movie of the year was "Lincoln," or if he was simply one of your most admired Presidents, you should consider whipping up some frontier-style food in honor of the sixteenth Commander In Chief.

Daniel Day Lewis might be a bit of a beef head,...

Daily Diets is a series chronicling what professionals in a variety of fields eat during a 24-hour period. We will focus on those whose eating regimes stray from the norm due to time constraints or dietary restrictions, in an attempt to reveal just how multi-faceted modern food culture is.

Michael Pollan's digestible, 65-page pamphlet, "Food Rules," made a splash that rippled out to the farthest reaches of the culinary world, setting the "Eat Local" movement in motion. It's arguable that the popularity of his small, frank book, which preached simplicity, caught on because we needed it. But...

His Doomsday predictions may have been off the mark, but Nostradamus' celebrity was not all for naught. In addition to his alleged abilities as a "seer," the famous French apothecary possessed another, perhaps more useful, skill: cooking.

His first published book did not contain premonitions, but recipes. Fittingly, the...

What Is It Anyway? is a series that examines the histories behind peculiar and obscure foods. Today, we're explaining malt.

As a kid, you probably only knew "malt" as the mysterious ingredient in Whoppers, the coveted movie theatre candy. Later, it might have become part of your drinking vernacular: Whiskeys...

What Is It Anyway? is a series that examines the histories behind peculiar and obscure foods. Today, we're explaining cream of tartar.

Frequent bakers know the ingredient, often nestled among baking soda and baking powder in cabinets and grocery stores. For the novice baker, its inclusion in recipes can seem...

You've likely heard rumors that the world as we know it will end on December 21. The theory is ascribed to ancient Mayans, who may not have believed in it themselves, and has been adopted by the worrisome and the over-prepared. Other supposed believers in the...

What Is It Anyway? is a series that examines the histories behind peculiar and obscure foods. Today, we're explaining wassail.

You've probably heard, or even sung, the popular Christmas tune, "Here we come a-wassailing," be it a high school choir rendition or a rock band cover....

What Is It Anyway? is a series that examines the histories behind peculiar and obscure foods. Today, we're explaining sugar plums.

Clement Clark Moore's "A Visit from St. Nicholas," or, as you probably know the famous, charming poem, "'Twas the Night Before Christmas," paints an idyllic picture of Christmas Eve:...

What Is It Anyway? is a series that examines the histories behind peculiar and obscure foods. Today, we're explaining spotted dick.

It's likely that you've stumbled upon this dessert, which has become more of a white elephant gift than a food item eaten in earnest, while browsing the aisles of...

The New York Times may have declared the death of the dinner party, but the presence of cheese balls on food blogs and Pinterest boards everywhere suggests otherwise.

We're certainly relieved, as we can't imagine a better appetizer to pair with red wine and small talk with...

November seems to be breezing along, and so are writers partaking in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), a 30-day sprint to pen at least 50,000 words.

To be on target to reach their word count goals, participants should have completed over 30,000 words of their works-in-progress by...

Hello Book Clubbers!

Thanks for voting for our final read of 2012. Our four nominees were selected based on their relevance to the past year, be it due to themes or publication dates. Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward was nominated because the characters remain optimistic during an impending natural...

If your favorite coffee shop seems more crowded than usual, don't just chalk it up to the annual surge of fall flavors. It's National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), so writers will be setting up shop wherever they can in an attempt to complete the challenge of penning 50,000 words before...

Stress cures range from strictly physical (tea, massages, sleep) to mental (counseling, meditations, long phone calls with friends), but books can arguably release both types of tension.

Setting aside time to curl up in a chair or stretch out on your bed with a good, slow, smart novel is...

Hello Book Clubbers!

Our next selection came down to the closest vote in the (relatively short) history of HuffPost Book Club. In the end, The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger beat out The Witches by Roald Dahl by less than 1 percent. This was my...

Will Harry Potter fans enjoy JK Rowling's first adult book, "The Casual Vacancy"? The answer, I believe, is yes.

The New York Times' notoriously inflammatory reviewer, Michiko Kakutani, says that without wands and wizards, Rowling's story is left with little more than the stodgy, petty...

In high school, no one taught me what literature is.

I don't think the school district was to blame. Although I grew up in Texas with all of its bizarre educational inclusions and exclusions (see: abstinence-only sex ed, hints at creationism, and a year-long course designed specially to ensure...