Sheryl Cornett

I am among those who believe that when blueberries are in season, as they will be for the month of July, they are to be eaten out of hand, fresh and unadorned. I am also among those who cannot resist showcasing them in cakes, muffins and tarts. My oldest son was born on the Fourth […]

As you stroll the farmers markets this spring, plan menus using an impressive array of greens: arugula, bok choi, beet greens, cabbage, chard, collards, kale, spinach, lettuce galoreromaine, butter crunch, oak leafall with different tastes and textures. As a quick main dish, salads are refreshing and satisfying. As a side, greens sautéed with a drizzle […]

In her new book, part-time Hillsborough resident Frances Mayes takes us through the 20th anniversary of Bramasole, the rundown, neglected farmhouse-villa she and her husband, Ed, bought in 1990 and restored. That story was immortalized in the film version, loosely based on her first memoir, Under the Tuscan Sun. More than a cookbook, Every Day […]

It’s no wonder that farmers markets have become community gathering spots, places where you run into friends and neighbors and hear bits of news. There’s often live music and a surprise or two. On a recent Saturday, the surprise at the Hillsborough Farmers’ Market was Alamance Community College’s Culinary Competition Team (with culinary technology professor […]

I recently sat in the log cabin kitchen of a friend who lives in Orange County, surrounded by her peaches. Her four-year-old trees had come up trumps. Peaches would fill the freezer all winter. This makes me wish I had planted a peach tree or three when I moved into my house several years ago. […]

The annual Farm to Fork Picnic, a fundraiser that showcases the best local produce prepared by the area’s top chefs, offers many lessons along with its culinary delights. At this year’s event, the curious could find inspiration in any number of dishes that exhibit the skill and ingenuity of their creators. Zucchini fritters with basil […]

Like everybody else, I’m thrilled with the return of sun and light and longer days after what felt like an extended dark, wet winter. Spring brings with it greens and the opening of midweek farmers markets across the Triangle, where you can buy spinach or chard for frittata and main-dish salads, and tender lettuce and […]

Making truffles for Valentine’s Day is one way to say “I love you,” “thank you,” “you are appreciated” or whatever needs saying. That chocolate is an aphrodisiac has never been scientifically proven, but it is an undeniable mood elevator. No matter what the research says, chocolate is a legitimate craving this time of year. It […]

Local eggs can see us through the winter and provide a break from the meat many people rely on for protein. They’re also a good source of vitamin B12, which can be lacking in some vegetarian diets. Great-tasting local eggs bring home the truth that fresh, nonindustrial food needs only the simplest preparations to delight […]