Mark Bittman

Getty ImagesWhat's not to love about cauliflower? This question may sound facetious -- cauliflower has such a terrible reputation among picky children and vegetable haters that you'd think it was arsenic -- but it's not. Cauliflower is the perfect vegetable, as far as I'm concerned: appealing ... Read More

AlamyBean sprouts are the only vegetable I can think of that you can grow very easily at home, even if you don't have a garden. Of course, they're not technically a vegetable; they're just beans that have begun to germinate and grow shoots. But they can be treated like a vegetable, and they ... Read More

AlamyI know almost no one who makes tortilla or pita chips at home instead of buying them -- a shame, because homemade chips are dead easy and far better in every way than bagged chips. How to Make Your Own Chips To make tortilla or pita chips, you follow the same process as making ... Read More

AlamyLike their cousin the apple, pears are often sold hard and crunchy. But unlike apples, pears aren't at their best this way; biting into a hard, green pear is almost as much of a disappointment as biting into a mealy apple. Luckily, pears continue to ripen even after they've been picked, ... Read More

AlamyWith the possible exception of garlic, no vegetable is more indispensable to me than the onion, an essential component of a well-stocked pantry that I reach for daily, sometimes more than once. And in winter, when many other vegetables are either out of season or unappealing, onions ... Read More

Getty ImagesRice and beans aren't a seasonal dish; they're a staple, arguably one of the world's most important combinations, and you can (and should) eat them all year round. That said, in winter, when your produce options are limited, pantry staples become all the more important. ... Read More

AlamyAmazingly -- even though a good portion of artichokes are inedible and preparing them is a somewhat arduous task -- artichokes are ridiculously versatile, and they're wonderful cooked any number of ways, with any number of other ingredients. Steaming or Boiling ... Read More

Getty ImagesIn the dead of winter, when most good fresh fruit is a distant memory, oranges are a godsend. Juicy, sweet, and vibrant in color and flavor, they're sometimes the only bright spot in an otherwise sad and wilted supermarket-produce landscape. Citrus Geographics Oranges are ... Read More

AlamyCabbage gets a bad rap that I don't understand. It's dirt cheap, lasts forever in the refrigerator (compared to most vegetables, at least), tastes great both raw and cooked, and responds well to all kinds of seasonings. It's also available year round, which is perhaps why many people take ... Read More

AlamyLeeks -- generally the most expensive member of the onion family -- are also the most interesting in flavor and texture. They look like giant scallions (practically as thick and long as your arm, maybe) with dirty, hairy roots and tough, unwieldy leaves. When you cut off the root end and ... Read More