Danielle Esposito

3 days ago | foodrepublic.com | Danielle Esposito

If you've just arrived home with a bundle of intoxicatingly fresh basil, you're probably looking to avoid common mistakes everyone makes when storing herbs. While you may be tempted to toss your basil in the fridge, you should think twice; this is one of the last places you should store fresh basil. This is because other common herbs — like cilantro and parsley — do best in a cooler environment, while basil is a warm-weather herb that thrives in warmer temperatures.

3 days ago | foodrepublic.com | Danielle Esposito

Whether you're whipping up wild mushroom risotto, making a classic seafood version, or using beans to make an even heartier risotto, there's one ingredient that's of the utmost importance when it comes to producing the right result: rice. While you may be tempted to grab any old bag of rice you have on hand to create your masterpiece, it's actually crucial that you use the right kind of grain.

4 days ago | foodrepublic.com | Danielle Esposito

Defrosting meat can be a tricky business. If you've ever forgotten to remove chicken from the freezer the night before, you may be wondering if you can just pop it into your microwave, push that defrost button, and keep it moving. This may appear to be a no-brainer, but it's actually not the best — or safest — way to get the job done. While you may be aware that you should think twice before defrosting food in the microwave, have you ever wanted to know why thawing meat this way is a bad idea?

4 days ago | yahoo.com | Danielle Esposito

Defrosting meat can be a tricky business. If you've ever forgotten to remove chicken from the freezer the night before, you may be wondering if you can just pop it into your microwave, push that defrost button, and keep it moving. This may appear to be a no-brainer, but it's actually not the best — or safest — way to get the job done. While you may be aware that you should think twice before defrosting food in the microwave, have you ever wanted to know why thawing meat this way is a bad idea?

4 days ago | foodrepublic.com | Danielle Esposito

There are so many different types of pizzas out there, but have you ever heard of a tomato pie? An Italian-American dish, it closely resembles pizza, but isn't exactly the same. To get to the bottom of what it is and how it varies from its ultra-popular cousin, Food Republic spoke to Anthony Marini, owner and chef of The Pass and The Italian Boy After Dark.