Martha Stewart going downscale? Never. But “Everyday Food,” a new monthly magazine from the quality-of-life queen bee, takes “easy” and “fast”–two concepts that are responsible for a plethora of unappetizing processed food–and turns out dozens of mouthwatering recipes, with mouthwatering photography to match. Almost all of the dishes, which include Creole chicken fricassee, lentil soup and brownie hearts, take an hour or less to make. Scads of useful tips (for starters, using a lemon half and scoop of salt to clean a cutting board) and techniques (e.g., making vinaigrette) are nestled in this digest-sized magazine, which also boasts a petite price ($2.95). The debut January/February issue is on newsstands now; the March/April issue is due on March 3.
Cooking for the environment
The Green Guide is a good destination for cooks interested in food costs–as they apply to the environment, that is. Some issues of this bimonthly publication are heavier on lifestyle topics (cosmetics, cleaning, etc.) than others, though “Amy’s Green Kitchen” is a regular online feature with recipes. Product reports give the pros and cons of a foodstuff’s impact on the environment, and provide earth-friendly purchasing practices. Archives are available for accessing previous articles, such as the November/December “Healthy Foods” issue. The Green Guide can be purchased as an eight-page newsletter for $25, which includes full access to its Web site. An online subscription (which offers the same content as the newsletter) is $18. Or check it out in a 30-day trial membership for $3.95. Call 212-598-4910 or visit online, thegreenguide.com.
Wine events on the Web
Localwineevents.com offers a menu of Chicago-area tastings, dinners, lectures and other wine-related doings, as well as articles and essays on wine. The organizers of the respective events submit their own listings, so the site is only as good as the people contributing information. But a recent visit found an up-to-date lineup that was succinct and well edited. When available, it also includes links for visitors to obtain more information on events.