Despite being a huge fan of cheese and butter and birthday cakes, I don’t eat much dairy at home. We don’t get along. I’ve learned to really embrace dairy-free cooking, and though no one believes me when I say it, I don’t miss cooking with milk products as much as […]
Lunch used to be a welcome break at the office or a fun break at school, and now? Ugh, it just the worst. Suddenly we’re all expected to stop the 30 things we are simultaneously giving 100% of our attention to make lunch, and who has the energy? The default […]
One of my favorite flavor profiles is the Italian agrodolce, a sweet and sour sauce that makes any dish more exciting. Made simply by reducing vinegar with honey, agrodolce can be created on its own and added to dishes later, but I often prepare this sticky and sweet sauce in […]
If there is one cooking technique you really need to know, it’s sautéing. Sautéing is how we can most easily cook a tasty chicken breast, yummy veggies, and quick stir-fries. It’s quick, requires basic tools, and is, frankly, hard to mess up. Sautéing and the closely related technique of stir-frying […]
It seems like everyone is baking bread right now, and for some reason, if you were to believe everything you see on the internet, sourdough is where we’re supposed to be focusing our energy. And while, sure, a crusty loaf of sourdough is amazing, it is also.. sort of hard? […]
The main course is sort of the easy part. We can all grill chicken or roast a pork loin, but with limited ingredients, it can be the sides that throw us off. You can only eat boxed macaroni and cheese so many times, even during a global pandemic. Veggie sides […]
We’ve all been baking a lot while we’re stuck at home, and the demand for all-purpose flour is leading to empty shelves and empty pantries. Luckily, all-purpose flour is only one option among many, and specialty flours are more likely to be available at your local market. Let’s explore the […]
From trimming and peeling to slicing and dicing, many vegetables and herbs need advance preparation before they are ready to serve or to use as an ingredient in a recipe. Presenting perfectly cooked, aesthetically beautiful dishes begins with the mastery of these fabrication techniques. The best dishes begin with the […]
I’ve never celebrated Passover, but I am not immune to cravings for Mrs. Maisel-quality brisket when all of my friends are preparing for Seder. I put all of the ingredients for a tasty braised brisket on my grocery store order this week, and well, unfortunately, this will be a brisket-less […]
We’re all becoming quite well acquainted with our kitchens lately, and we bet you’ve encountered a question or two (or ten) along the way. Well, you’re in luck, because we are here to fill you in! Scroll to the bottom of this post and leave your questions in the comments. […]
We may be socially isolated, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make new friends. Let me start! Hi, CIA DISH! I’m Laura, and I am the editor here. You might come to recognize my voice (at least, my written one) throughout the recipes and posts on this site. I’m a […]
Cooking with limited ingredients doesn’t necessarily mean only eating 5-ingredient dishes. In addition to looking for simple recipes, look for adaptable recipes. Adaptable recipes are ones that won’t suffer from ingredient substitutions. Most recipes are adaptable, if you have the confidence to make big changes. To help you along the […]