If you have ever watched Food Network, you know Chef Robert Irvine. He has had several shows including “Restaurant Impossible” and “Dinner Impossible,” has been on “Worst Cooks in America,” “The Next Iron Chef” and appeared on “Iron Chef” several times.

If you think that the Arizona State Fair is just cotton candy and rides, you may want to think again.

There is some exciting news for northeast Mesa. Smashburger has opened at 2837 N. Power Road.

With summer temperatures sizzling right now, many of us like to get away to the high country for a day or two. Prescott is my favorite place to cool off, and, being a foodie, I enjoy finding places where I can try out different ingredients or purchase kitchen stuff.

Grilling season is upon us. Stores are bursting at the seams with gadgets you can purchase to use with your grill. I am definitely a gadget girl and have purchased more than my share of grilling gadgets. There are quite a few that I just cannot live without.

The weather is beautiful this time of year, and many of us want to spend as much time outdoors as we possibly can before summer arrives. I love to go up to the high country for a walk in the pines and end the day with a picnic.

Spring is definitely in the air. It’s one of my favorite seasons here in Arizona. I love the wildflowers blooming, spring training games and the smell of orange blossoms. I also love seeing my favorite spring foods in the grocery store.

When February rolls around, my mind wanders to thoughts of chocolate. I guess that is because every time I go into a store, I see those cute little heart-shaped boxes filled to the brim with candy. I always thought of chocolate as an indulgence, but lately I keep hearing that dark chocolate has many health benefits — so, bring it on! 

For many of us, the new year brings resolutions to eat healthier. Some of us will start diets, some will begin reading labels and some will just want to make a change or two for healthier eating options. 

Throughout the year, I like to try new or different kitchen gadgets. While some are great time savers, others are not worth buying. After years of testing, here are some of the tools that have become so helpful that I find I can’t live without them.

Many of us entertain more during the holiday season. No matter whether you entertain all the time or just occasionally, it is not uncommon to get a little nervous when planning for the big day.

Many of us entertain more during the holiday season. No matter whether you entertain all the time or just occasionally, it is not uncommon to get a little nervous when planning for the big day.

Many of us entertain more during the holiday season. No matter whether you entertain all the time or just occasionally, it is not uncommon to get a little nervous when planning for the big day.

Have you ever stood in front of the myriad apples at your grocery store and wondered what the difference is? Rather than make a mistake, do you grab the same apples you’ve always purchased?

Whenever someone asks me about my most essential kitchen tool, I tell them my must-have tools are my knives.

Regarding the letter to the editor from Rod Livdahl ("Conservatives need to remove the blinders"): Since you can't find a liberal to explain why the Democratically controlled House and Senate failed to pass a budget last year prior to the mid-term elections, I would like to explain to the totally blind why they didn't. The liberal policies of the first two years of (as you pointed out) "The first black president" had been a total failure that increased our deficit at a rate never before seen in the history of our republic. Your courageous liberal buddies punted their responsibility to the new Congress which they knew would be loaded with new Republicans who were elected to try and change the catastrophic course liberals had put us on in just two long years. They had all the votes they needed and a more than willing president to sign any budget they sent to him. So why not get it done?

I don’t know about you, but when I used to think about canning, I pictured a grey-haired grandmother in her apron, with jars of food everywhere. But times change. Today, people young and old are canning. What made canning cool? We read so much about fresh, whole food without a lot of processing, additives or preservatives — and we want to eat that way, too. 

By Judy A. Toth, contributing columnist

By Judy A. Toth, contributing columnist

All-Tribune First Team

The newcomer succumbed to the old veteran Saturday night.