This version of the comforting Hunan classic, lao jiang men ji, from cookbook author Andrea Nguyen is a simple braise that gets its heat from a generous handful of unpeeled fresh ginger root.

The wonders of the wild alphabet, come in many shapes and sizes. Such as the curly caterpillar letters. They start by looping from the top, before curling out the bottom. They really are that simple.

Ginger benefits include the potential to reduce nausea during pregnancy or while undergoing chemotherapy and possibly even reducing the pain of menstrual cramps. But, many of ginger's purported ...