"Good food is the foundation of genuine happiness." – Auguste Escoffier

Minestrone is a classic Italian vegetable soup that changes with the seasons—there’s no single “correct” version. Made with simple vegetables, beans, and pasta, it’s a comforting, nourishing dish that has been cooked in Italian homes for centuries using whatever was on hand.

Makes 4 servings

During the Great Depression, meatloaf became one of the most popular dishes in America because it could stretch a small amount of meat to feed a whole family — and wrapping it in bacon later turned this humble, budget-friendly meal into a rich comfort-food classic.

Croissants, though famously French, actually trace their roots to Vienna, Austria! Their ancestor is the kipferl, a crescent-shaped pastry that dates back to at least the 13th century. Legend says Viennese bakers created it to celebrate the defeat of the Ottoman Turks — the crescent shape imitating the symbol on the Ottoman flag.