March marks the beginning of the peak season for okra, a Southern specialty worth exploring in the microwave. Okra has a mild, sweet flavor, somewhat akin to fresh green beans. Nutritionally, it`s a ...

Garlic turns sweet and nutty when cooked, adding a special flavor to fish. A whole head of garlic is cooked first to make it easier to remove the skin (one of the great tricks of the microwave), then ...

COMMENT: Okra, or "gombo" in African dialect, was brought to Louisiana by the Africans in the early 1700's. The vegetable was quickly adapted for use in many dishes, especially its namesake, gumbo.