Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus, Family Fun

All About Meringues

Have you ever tried to make a lemon meringue pie and ended up with a sort of sad, droopy meringue top? We all have! Luckily, once you master the meringue, it’s a super simple trick to have up your sleeve for pies, cookies, and even cakes! Whipping egg whites with […]

Allergen Friendly, Desserts

Candy Coated Apples

Makes 12 apples These are the crunchy-coated carnival apples of your childhood! You can skip the red food coloring if you prefer. They will be glossy and just as tasty. Keys to Success If using supermarket apples, you must wash off the wax for the candy to adhere. Be careful […]

Cookies

Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Makes 45 cookies Make these cookies super-size to take on picnics or serve at kids parties, or miniaturize them to include as part of a cookie plate to serve at a tea or reception.

Desserts

Chocolate Mousse

Makes 4 to 6 servings Heating the egg whites and egg yolks not only pasteurizes them, making them safe to eat without further cooking, but it also dissolves the sugar and denatures the proteins. This creates a smooth and strong structure in your egg foams that helps to keep your […]

Desserts

Chocolate-Dipped Anything

Makes about 25 pieces Fresh and dried fruit are both ideal for dipping in chocolate. Fresh fruit should be enjoyed within hours of dipping, while dried fruit will keep for weeks. Pretzels, crackers, and virtually any other dry food may also be dipped in chocolate to create quick, easy confections. […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Choosing a Filling for the Best Layer Cakes

You may have tried and true, favorite cake recipes. But once you get the hang of the cake and the fillings, you can mix and match to make dynamic flavor combinations that are uniquely yours and suited to your mood or special event. Two important criteria to consider when choosing […]

Chef's Blog

Cooking with Kids

Parents, this post is for you. Remember a couple of weeks ago when life was simpler? When your “only” responsibilities were holding down a job and caring for your children, without also running your very own home school?   Through our Sunday Family Fundays here at The CIA at Copia in downtown Napa (currently on pause […]