It's what you ride along the canals of Venice
Gondola
They're paired with aches
(5)
Pains
It seems your doctor has prescribed Lunesta; you must have trouble doing this
sleeping
No beans about it: for your first challenge, you'll be making this dish that Texans call a "bowl of red"
chili
Abstaining from alcohol
on the wagon
It often includes rolled oats, wheat germ, honey, fruit & nuts
Granola
A head rest
(6)
Pillow
There's good news from Gillette on aisle 3; there's also Daisy & CustomPlus, all disposable ones of these
razors
Start slicing & dicing for some stir-fry made in this Chinese bowl-shaped pan
wok
Neutral or undecided, perhaps about the guy who sells the stolen goods
on the fence
This early phonograph began cranking out music in 1906
Victrola
Where floats are flaunted
(6)
Parade
When it comes to cotton swabs, it's the No. 1 brand; there are even antibacterial ones
Q-tips
Be creative & use lima beans instead of chickpeas to make this Middle Eastern pita shmear
hummus
It sounds like riding young sheep, but running from the police is sometimes called being this
on the lam
Italy's Lombardy region is famous for producing this soft (& smelly) blue cheese
Gorgonzola
Election before the election
(7)
Primary
Named for the "father of antiseptic surgery", it was once available only to doctors & dentists
Listerine
Prepare your paella, but don't waste any of this yellowish spice, the most expensive in the world
saffron
Receiving payment from the government, not a pineapple seller
on the dole
Haiti occupies a third of this island; the Dominican Republic covers the rest
Hispaniola
A dog's descent
(8)
Pedigree
Prilosec & Prevacid are 2 of the medications available for treating GERD, or gastroesophageal this disease
reflux
For dessert you'll be making Italian cheesecake with this, meaning "recooked" in Italian
ricotta
"On the" this word means recovering from ill health
on the mend