Here’s a taste of our upcoming grilling issue, which will be in the Post-Dispatch and at STLtoday.com/food on Wednesday, May 27.

Food writer Joe Bonwich wrote about nine of his favorite new grilling/barbecue cookbooks, and I’ll feature some of the recipes from…

Chocolate-orange torte

I discovered this recipe when I was looking for a Passover dessert, but this torte is so delicious — and so simple — that it can be enjoyed year round.

Each of the ingredients contributes greatly to the torte’s flavor.…

Shutterstock photo

NEED HELP with holiday cooking or baking? Dial these numbers and talk with an expert:

U.S. Department of Agriculture Meat and Poultry Hotline. 888-674-6854. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays year-round (8 a.m.-2 p.m. Thanksgiving Day). Online: www.fsis.usda.gov.

Butterball Turkey Talk-Line. 800-288-8372. 6 a.m.-6 p.m.…

Eggplant is often compared to a sponge because it can soak up vast amounts of oil as it cooks. This recipe from Cook’s Illustrated avoids that problem with a clever technique: salting the eggplant and precooking it in the microwave before…

One of my favorite cookbooks published last year was “America’s Best Lost Recipes,” compiled by the editors of Cook’s Country and Cook’s Illustrated, not coincidentally two of my favorite food magazines.

The cookbook grew out of a request that readers contribute…