WELCOME BREAD MACHINES YOGURT SALAD IN A JAR RECIPE INDEX A reader emailed me this week to say she strains yogurt with men's handkerchiefs. Not cheesecloth. Not coffee filters. Handkerchiefs. I've heard plenty of creative yogurt-making ideas over the years, but this was a new one. I have questions, of course. How much yogurt does she strain at one time? How large is her strainer? Is washing and drying the handkerchiefs significantly easier than using cheesecloth? Apparently, it works well for...

WELCOME BREAD MACHINES YOGURT SALAD IN A JAR RECIPE INDEX One thing I've learned about holiday meals is that people remember the favorites. You can add something new every year, but don't be surprised if someone asks, "Did you make the baked beans?" or "Where are the deviled eggs?" If you're planning a Fourth of July cookout, here are a couple of family traditions along with two more recipes that are always welcome at a summer gathering. Deviled Eggs Without Mustard (Sweet & Simple!) These...

Does the flour you use to make bread really make that much difference? It can! I was reminded of this during COVID, when we all baked with whatever flour we could find. Bread flour was especially hard to come by, and my favorite brands were replaced by empty shelves or a cheaper store brand. Even though I followed my recipes the same way, the dough didn’t always behave the same. Some batches needed more water. Some weren’t as fresh. Others didn’t have the chewiness I wanted. There are several...