It used to be that we depended on parents and grandparents for on-the-spot kitchen instruction. Now, as changing lifestyles and the necessity of multitasking transform our society, we look elsewhere. But in our complex, fast-paced world, it seems that plain-old "recipe-only" cookbooks just don't cut the mustard. Today, home cooks are hungry for practical information, while armchair culinary enthusiasts want...

I've been Granny Smithed and Red Delicioused to death these past few weeks. Everyone is apple pie this and apple cider that. I say, let the pear have its day; after all, it's in season, too. So why not make it front and center in your menu? Pears, like apples, are incredibly versatile. In addition to being delicious served raw,...