by Beth Goulart

In November, the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics published the results of its 2007 Consumer Expenditure Survey. Sounds boring enough. But there's a category for food, so it caught my attention.

Photo: A delivery of produce from Greenling stocks my fridge for the week for $34.99.

And I'm glad it did. There's a lot to think about in the numbers that summarize how much Americans spend on food. Personally, I spend a lot of time thinking about produce consumption - why so many of us eat alarmingly few fruits and veggies - so I was especially drawn to the numbers about how much we spend on those.

If you’ve got a taste for chocolate in central Texas, you’re in luck: A dozen chocolatiers populate the dessert scene in and around Austin alone.

By Beth Goulart

Local citrus is one of our greatest assets as Texans. Like so many wonderful things, though, our local citrus is seasonal. Marmalades are a great way to preserve local citrus for enjoyment throughout the year. Even better, a jar of marmalade makes a very tasty holiday gift.

By Beth Goulart

Nothing beats a homemade gift during the holidays. And whether your intended recipient is a party host or an out-of-state aunt, it's hard to beat Sweet-Hot Spiced Texas Pecans. This recipe hails from my mother's kitchen and takes only a few minutes to prepare. Alter the cayenne to taste, and make sure it's fresh. Cayenne loses its heat when it sits too long in the pantry, and its zing combined with sweetness is what makes these nuts special. To make sure you get Texas pecans, read the label before you buy. Pecans are our state's biggest crop, but you may find "foreign" ones in Texas grocery stores, too.