The expression "cool as a cucumber" is both figurative and literal.  On a warm day, the inside of a field cucumber may be as much as 20°F cooler than the surrounding air.  Perhaps that's the reason dishes made with cucumbers are so appealing on warm summer days. Now is a good time to find out all about cukes--how to select a good one, store it properly, and serve it deliciously.  We'll also answer these questions:  Is the cucumber a fruit or a vegetable?  Will it really reduce puffiness under the eyes? Is it actually used to make facial masks?

At the  Institute of Food Technologists' 2013 convention and food expo, I drank a smoothie laced with powdered chicken. Ancient grains high in protein--for example, amaranth, millet, quinoa, sorghum, and teff --were used in recipes I  sampled, as were peanut flours with 40-50% protein.  At one of the scientific sessions, this question  was discussed: "Will protein be the next big thing?"