Growing up as a part of a Catholic family, our Christmas traditions were to attend, or at minimum, celebrate a midnight Mass known as ‘Missa do Gallo’ (Gallo is a rooster). The church Mass is given this name, because it is the rooster that announces the beginning of the Mass, […]
Chef’s Notes
A Modern Take on Holiday Classics
Though it is the most wonderful time of the year, some Christmas traditions are less than perfect. While faithful devotees will tout the virtues of fruit cake and eggnog, unofficial and non-scientific research shows that many people think they are, well, the pits. Fruit cake and eggnog are related in […]
Don’t Panic, It’s Just a Holiday Party
Reminders from a Reformed Over-Thinker Entertaining season is upon us, and there’s no time left to ruminate about the finer points of throwing a top-notch party. If you’re in the weeds (chef-speak for very overwhelmed!), here are some reminders to help you entertain like a person who has had plenty […]
Holiday Gifts from the Heart
Your holiday gift list seems to get longer every year. Between family, teachers, coworkers, and party hosts, there are plenty of people to celebrate, and what better than a gift from the heart that’s homemade? Holiday cookies plates, homemade jellies or preserves, and decadent chocolate truffles are treats that everyone […]
Live-Fire Cooking: It’s Not Just For Meat
Our human obsession with fire and live fire cooking dates back well over a million years. Our ancestors learned that fire, in addition to being a good heat source, could also transform food in a variety of ways. Placing meat on sticks around a fire proved to be an effective […]
Healthier Ways To Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth
Love sweets? You’re not alone. The average American consumes an average of 22 teaspoons of added sugar a day—a lot more than the six teaspoons for women and nine for men recommended by the American Heart Association.1 Sugar intake continues to draw not-so-sweet media attention, as more research suggests its […]
Sharpen Your Grill Skills
Grilling, or barbecuing, is taken even more seriously in San Antonio, TX than breakfast tacos (which are actually a close second to breathing as far as importance goes). Since moving here two and a half years ago, I have upped my grilling game and learned many more tips. Here are […]
Love Match: Veggies, Grains, and Wines
Article by: By Traci Dutton Do meatless Mondays have to be wine-less Mondays? No reason to think that! Let’s not forget that a little wine, consumed in moderation, can be part of a healthy and appealing diet based on grains, fruits and vegetables, beans, and healthy fats, including dairy. But […]
Crafting Your Own Brew
If the thought of enjoying an ice-cold beer made with your own hands appeals to you, you’re not alone. Interest in home brewing has grown over the last several years, in part due to the popularity of craft beers. You might think that making beer is very hard to do; […]
Building Your Own Food Garden
The buckeyes have leafed out, the redbuds are flowering, the magnolia flowers have come and gone, and little tomato seedlings in greenhouses across California are emerging from their little seed coats to meet the light of day. Here are a few tips as you prepare for a summer garden, no […]
Honeybees: Making Magic
Honey is an ingredient we’re all familiar with: most likely, there is a jar or squeezable bear in your cupboard right now. It’s something we love to use to sweeten tea, drizzle on berries, and include in many of our favorite dishes and desserts. But how much have you actually […]
Plant-Forward Eating
There’s a lot of buzz these days about something called “plant forward.” What exactly does this term mean? Simply put, plant-forward or plant-centric cooking and eating means to quite literally put plant foods in the center of, or as the foundation of, our eating plan. Plant foods include all vegetables; […]