Food & Drink

Homage to the Waters

The northern border of Madison County is formed by the Big Black River. The Pearl River maintains the county's southern and eastern borders. It's from this geographical configuration that Carol Lynn Mead drew the title for her book on the history of Madison County, "The Land Between Two Rivers," published in 1987.

Healthy Substitutes

Healthier alternatives to tasty but fattening ingredients in foods we eat every day are plentiful. You can make some substitutes to reduce risks for diseases and obesity.

Different Kind of Brunch

Whether it takes the form of a lazy Saturday morning for two or a gathering of a multitude of friends and family, brunch can be a celebration that takes us away from our everyday routines.

The Neelys Return to Jackson

Pat and Gina Neely of the popular Food Network TV show, "Down Home With the Neelys," are coming to Lemuria Books to sign their latest cookbook, "The Neelys' Celebration Cookbook: Down-Home Meals for Every Occasion" (Knopf, 2011, $28.95).

Bringing the Real Treats Back

Cyndi Lauper and a punk rocker. Those were the costumes my best friend and I wore the last Halloween I went trick-or-treating in the mid-1980s. We always went in her neighborhood because that's where the good treats were passed out—whole candy bars, popcorn balls, caramel apples, and the one household that apparently forgot each year and decided to just hand out money.

Go Fruity

I can definitely see the appeal of being a fruitarian. Not only are fruit beautiful in color and texture, they taste great and are light and refreshing. They also provide us with nutrients we need to stay healthy and live longer. But why limit yourself to apples and oranges?

Everything's Better On a Stick

What is it about the simple act of putting something on a stick that just makes it irresistible? Is it the convenience of having an easy way to transport food from plate to mouth? Is it some childhood remembrance of popsicles long past?

Salad Bowl Diversity

A good salad can go far beyond the traditional iceberg-lettuce blend. You can mix together almost anything you have in your fridge and end up with a treat. Sometimes, however, unhealthy, fatty dressings and toppings can find its way into a bowl. Here are a few ingredients to keep your salad healthy but interesting.

Doing it For Jackson

In spring 2010, Grady Griffin received an urgent phone call from Craig Noone. A large oak tree had fallen in Greenwood Cemetery, close to Eudora Welty's grave.

Livin' Easy

I am a devoted procrastinator. That admission not withstanding, I have come upon the best weekly habit to make my life so much easier: prepping in advance for the week's meals.

Brent's Drugs Turns 65

When you step through the glass double doors of Brent's Drugs (655 Duling Ave., 601-366-3427), you walk into history. The tinkle of a doorbell announces your entrance into the oldest soda fountain in Mississippi. Located in the historic Fondren District, in the shopping strip known today as Woodland Hills Shopping Center, Brent's recently celebrated its 65th birthday.

My Big, Fat, Cheap Family

I come from a frugal family. Jan, my stepmother, saves everything that can be re-used—seriously, everything. When Jan and my father moved a few years ago, my father put his foot down and said there was no way he was moving used Ziploc bags or twisty ties across the country.

Foods That Heal

Having a healthy immune system through proper nutrition is a key to combating illnesses. Supplementing your diets with foods high in nutrients like antioxidants, phytochemicals and enzymes will have a direct effect on your health.

What Is It About the French?

What gives? They drink wine, they eat baguette after baguette, they love rich sauces and pasta, they inhale cheese like it's air. Yet, French women tend to look fabulous, and thin, every time you see one out in public. Don't believe me? Go get lost on the subway in Paris and just observe; I'm speaking from experience here.

You might be a foodie if ...

• You have every menu in Jackson memorized.

• You eat at Parlor Market three times a week even if can't afford toilet paper. At least at the bar.

Ellington