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Ashley Bast

Author

Why Banana Candy Tastes Nothing Like Bananas

Gabriel Mihalcea on UnsplashSome artificial fruit flavors are better than others. Green apple, for example, almost always knocks it out of the park when it comes to mouth-puckering sourness, while cherry can end up tasting…

by Ashley Bast Jan 8, 2026

"Italian Penicillin" Is The Ultimate Comfort Food

judywitts on WikimediaWhen you're feeling under the weather, there's one food that will always make you feel better—guaranteed! No, we're not talking about chicken noodle soup. We're talking about pastina, the comfort dish known as…

by Ashley Bast Jan 6, 2026

10 American Dishes That Are Known Abroad & 10 Regional Specialties

All-American Meals. So-called "American cuisine" can be difficult to define in a country that prides itself on being a cultural melting pot. While America is a geographically and culturally diverse country, there are a few…

by Ashley Bast Jan 5, 2026

These Are The Best Appetizers For New Year's Eve

Tanya Gorelova on PexelsWhile the vast majority of us have been enjoying two glorious work-free weeks over the holiday seasons, those tasked with hosting New Year's Eve parties are scrambling to ensure they can feed…

by Ashley Bast Dec 30, 2025

10 Old World Crops & 10 New World Ones

Old Foods, New Tastes. Can you imagine Italian food without tomatoes or Indian food without chili powder? Well, that was the case for most of history. Only following the Columbian Exchange did crops cross oceans…

by Ashley Bast Dec 29, 2025

These Tips Will Take The Stress Out Of Christmas Cooking

Karolina Grabowska on UnsplashWhether you're cooking for 3 people or 30, putting together the perfect Christmas feast is one of the most stressful parts of the holidays. Luckily, every year, chefs come together to share…

by Ashley Bast Dec 23, 2025

The 20 Most Popular Pasta Shapes

Pass The Pasta. Did you know that there are anywhere from 350 to over 1000 different types of pasta? New pasta varieties are being cooked up every year, and each one serves its own special…

by Ashley Bast Dec 22, 2025

What Exactly Is Figgy Pudding? A Christmas Conundrum

James Petts from London, England on WikimediaWhen you think about it, figgy pudding takes up a lot of Christmas real estate in pop culture compared to the amount of people who actually eat it. After…

by Ashley Bast Dec 19, 2025

Does Coffee Taste Different Depending On How It's Brewed?

Ante Samarzija on UnsplashIf you've only ever drunk coffee from a rarely-cleaned machine at work, you may be surprised to learn that there are several different ways of brewing it. You may be surprised even…

by Ashley Bast Dec 18, 2025