Deena Prichep

As families around the country fill their freezers with matzo balls and gefilte fish in preparation for the coming Passover Seder, a new book asks: What does it mean for a food to be Jewish?

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Christian season of Lent. It's historically a time of repentance. But more and more, churches are also using it to reflect on mortality itself.

Holiday season is party season. Hosts decorate their homes with trees, flowers and candles in the windows to make them cozy and festive. Yet so many parties end up in the kitchen. Why?

The first Bush administration left the former Soviet Union with a taste for dark meat American chicken. It's all because of a Soviet food shortage, a U.S. surplus, and a deal with President Gorbachev.

On Hanukkah, many Jews fry potato pancakes called latkes in oil or maybe schmaltz. But a century ago, one company saw an opportunity to make the Jewish fat of choice truly American: Crisco.

Electric scooters zoom through traffic in many cities these days, and have the potential to take cars off the road. But experts worry that the many riders who forgo safety gear are taking big risks.

Research suggests kids who have more freedom and independence grow up to be less anxious and depressed. But in the age of helicopter parenting, giving kids freedom to roam can be difficult.

Religion offers answers to big questions about life and death, right and wrong, and who we are. But some unaffiliated parents are finding power in not knowing those answers.

If the idea of the same-old brisket is giving you the Passover blues this year, author Jennifer Abadi will inspire a lighter, brighter table with Jewish recipes from all over the world.

In Portland, Ore., little girls are soldering copper, pouring concrete and running electrical wiring. At the Girls Build camp, local tradeswomen teach them the ins and outs of construction.

For many fathers, the birth of a child is a hugely emotional moment. But not that long ago, few fathers were allowed to participate in the process.

Iftar is the nightly meal breaking the Ramadan fast. The Open Iftar project stages meals outdoors, encouraging Muslims and non-Muslims to move beyond religious divides to get to know each other.

At the turn of the 20th century, when access to professional care was spotty, many cookbooks served up recipes for the sick — some (brandy) more appealing than others (toast water).

A dish of soaked and scrambled matzo might not sound terribly exciting. But for many Jews, matzo brei is a Passover treat they look forward to all year.

Algae was long a part of Irish cuisine. Nutrient-rich, it helped some survive the Great Famine. Irish cooks reviving the practice say it's not just good for you – it's a zap of flavor from the sea.

The Jewish holiday Purim begins tonight. The celebration involves a reenacting of a story and it's called a Purim spiel. But they don't always stick to the past.

This New Year's day, consider a bowl of pasta carbonara for a hangover fix. Made with spaghetti, eggs, cheese and pork, some say it's just as effective as bacon, egg and cheese on toast.

Navigating the holidays can be hard enough for interfaith families. But especially this year — when the first night of Hanukkah falls on Christmas Eve.

So how did these prized threads from the crocus flower end up lacing through dark northern winters? It's a story of high-value seasonings, Sicilian saints and pagan rituals.

This year, Oregon's Legislature designated marijuana, which is legal there for recreational use, as a farm crop. It debuted among funnel cakes, livestock and zucchini this summer at the state fair.