Dubbed "a man of great taste" by his friends and family, Alberto Candelari was responsible for a sausage recipe that became a family tradition—one that even outsiders can enjoy at Candelari's Pizzeria on West Holcombe. The story goes that Alberto had just returned from a hunting trip and was experimenting with creating his own sausage in the back of the family's Houston liquor store. He struck gold with what would become widely known as Candelari's Italian sausage. But Alberto's Italian sausage was just the jumping-off point for a variety of other sausage recipes that, today, serve as the cornerstone for many pizzas and other dishes at his namesake eatery. Chefs still select the highest quality meats to stuff in each sausage, mixed with natural spices and often even a dash of liqueur.

You can sample the sausage in a grinder at lunch, on an "Autentica" thin-crust Neopolitan pizza (on a white or five-grain crust), or over linguini marinara. But Candelari's also creates dishes without sausage, such as veggie pizza, beef tenderloin (cooked over an open flame), and cedar-plank-roasted salmon. Enjoy any of the dishes with a bottle of Italian wine.

Candelari's Pizzeria
2617 W. Holcombe Boulevard
Houston, TX 77030
(713) 662-2825
www.candelaris.com
www.yelp.com/biz/candelaris-pizzeria-houston-2

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/cyclonebill

You lift weights for your muscles and use fancy creams for your skin, but what do you do to protect your eyes? The eyes are often overlooked, but they are some of the most important parts of the body. Here are a few simple things that you can do to help ensure good eye health for years to come.

1. Have a comprehensive exam. If you don’t wear glasses or contacts, you might go for years between eye exams. The only real way to know how healthy your eyes are is by having a comprehensive dilated exam administered by an eye care professional, so be sure to schedule an appointment.
2. Eat the right foods. Yes, it’s common knowledge that carrots are good for your eyes, but other foods that can help improve the health of your eyes, as well. Dark, leafy vegetables, fruits, and fish high in omega-3 fatty acids have all been linked to improving eye health.
3. Keep them protected. Sunglasses don’t just look cool, they also serve a very important purpose. Wearing sunglasses helps to shield your eyes from the harmful UV rays from the sun, so be sure to choose ones that block 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB radiation.

Eye Health Tips [Information for Healthy Vision]
10 Eye Health Tips to Protect Your Vision [Real Simple]
Five Tips For Eye Health [Eating Well]

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/T.Kiya

Going out for fondue is usually a luxury reserved only for celebrations or special date night dinners, but did you know that it’s actually easy to make your own fondue at home? Use these recipes to create a restaurant-worthy fondue station at your next dinner party.

Cheese Fondue [foodnetwork.com]
Classic cheese fondue is the cornerstone of this trendy culinary style, and this recipe incorporates a blend of shredded Swiss and flavorful Gruyere with a few basic seasonings to create a creamy cheese dip. Keep some fondue forks or wooden skewers on hand to dip crusty bread or blanched veggies into the homemade cheese sauce.

Chocolate Fondue [marthastewartweddings.com]
If you prefer to experiment with at-home fondue for dessert instead of dinner, this simple recipe will surely be a crowd pleaser. Dip fresh fruits or even marshmallows into the chocolate-y finished product.

Garlic, Spinach and Cheddar Fondue [kraftrecipes.com]
For a more casual gathering, this creamy mix of spinach and cheddar with a hefty dose of garlic is simple to make, but just as delicious as fancier fondues. Pair it with fresh veggies and a variety of crackers to avoid the mess of fondue forks. This cheesy dip can even be served in a slow cooker if you don’t own a proper fondue pot.

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/chamonze