From coast to coast, and everyone in between, the weather is cooling. And whether you’re live somewhere truly brisk or simply “not that hot today,” the changing seasons are best marked with something warm and cozy to eat. In that spirit, we’re sharing some of our hands-down favorite recipes for […]
On-The Go Bites for Wherever LDW Takes You
Marking the unofficial end up summer is always bittersweet. Summer is special, and we think it deserves one last farewell bash this Labor Day Weekend. Whether you’re firing up the grill or taking the party to the beach, here are a few of our favorite savory bites, sweet treats, and […]
Our Favorite Recipes for Summer Cucumbers and Tomatoes
Whether they come from your own garden, a green-thumbed neighbor, or an overly ambitious trip to the local market, you might be facing a mountain of late summer produce. By the waning days of summer, cucumbers and tomatoes give one final push that often finds us with more produce than […]
The Buzz on the CIA’s Bees
To an observer it must have looked like some bizarre heist movie. Here’s the scene: It was a warm night in late April. Ruined pillars from some forgotten structure loomed above the Hudson River. Flowers covered the apple trees nearby. A car approached, the headlights flashing, only to turn off […]
Pre-Salt Meat for Perfect Results Every Time
If may sound a little basic, but today’s lesson is about seasoning meat before you cook it. Revolutionary, right? Sure, of course, we all know how important adequately seasoning food with salt is. Salt, in all of its varieties, primes our taste buds to enjoy food. But salt also primes […]
Choosing the Right Equipment for Grilling and Smoking
Having the correct tools for the job certainly makes cooking easier, and that’s especially true when it comes to barbecuing and smoking. Think about your specific needs, and plan any equipment purchases accordingly. For example, if you don’t plan on making a lot of barbecue, you can get by with […]
Becoming a Chef: The Pivot Point
One of my biggest inspirations in the culinary field is chef Alex Guarnaschelli. As a little girl growing up, I did not really see a lot of female chefs on tv, besides Rachael Ray. Watching Alex on Iron Chef really inspired me to go into the culinary field. Then a […]
The Basics of Hot Water Canning
Our world sometimes feels much larger than it once did, and at a time when we can buy produce from half a world away whenever we want it, some traditional methods of food preservation, like canning, may seem like old news. But for many of us, there is a sort […]
Flavoring Homemade Ice Cream
As the summer settles in, there is no greater joy than a scoop of ice cream on a hot day. No matter your favorite flavor, from simple vanilla to the rockiest rocky road, an ice cream cone is the ultimate way to treat yourself. Near our San Antonio campus, where […]
Tasting (and Enjoying!) Wine
Even if you’re exploring wine for the first time, we encourage you to develop the “mental habit” of tasting wine. Not that every sip of wine that enters your mouth has to be analyzed and commented on, but you will collect lots of data if you take a few minutes […]
Introduction to South African Wines
South Africa is a land of contrasts, especially within the hundred miles from the east, south, and west coastlines that define this wine land. It is situated at a crossroads of climatic and cultural influences that have helped to define South African history and its wines. Climatically, both the Atlantic […]
Melina Hammer: Nature, Nurture, Nourishment
Like many of us, Melina Hammer came to New York City, blinded by the city of dreams’ lights, energy, and glamour. The former metal smith went to the city and carved out a place for herself in the publishing industry with grit and determination. When digital media was accelerating the […]