Decorating cookies is fun any time of the year, but ‘tis the season for extra special treats to share with your friends and family! Whether you bring them as a gift to your teachers or to grandma’s house, there are so many easy ways to dress up your favorite cookies […]
As recipe writers, we come back to the same phrases over and over. “Mix until light and fluffy…” “…until it doubles in size…” “Working in batches, sear the beef until it is browned all over…” That last one seems the simplest, but it actually tends to cause the most headaches […]
Ready for at-home bread baking with your very own sourdough starter? Follow this schedule to create your own starter in 5 to 7 days. For more information about starters, see Sourdough Starters: 101. DAY 1 Mix equal amounts of flour with water (at 85°F) until the mixture is homogenous. Use […]
Although it may seem intimidating at first, fabricating a chicken, or cutting it into smaller parts for cooking, is actually a very simple technique. First, cut from the neck opening down the center of the bird, following the keel bone. Cut away the breast, following the contour of the rib […]
Classic Corned Beef and Cabbage is one of our favorite food rituals, but it’s a home-cooked dish that folks seem to struggle with! So, we’re offering up some answers to the questions we get most often regarding this St. Patrick’s Day staple! Question: Um, what is corned beef? Answer: Fair […]
Whether tried-and-true or new-to-you, some cake recipes leave you guessing when it comes to filling the pan. Here are some basic pan-filling standards for sheet cakes, layer cakes, or the ever unpredictable bundt or tube cakes.
Seafood lovers! You don’t want to miss the joys of grilling this summer! With just a few tips and tricks from our seasoned CIA chefs, your next barbeque is sure to go swimmingly! Chef Sandy Sauter A clean and well-seasoned (with oil) grill is crucial for seafood, since it tends […]
When you work in food and recipes every day, converting cups to tablespoons and ounces to grams becomes sort of second nature. But if like most people, your brain space is occupied with… well, more important things, here are a few handy reference charts for when you need them. We’ve […]
There are plenty of reasons why you might not have a turkey on your Thanksgiving table this year, but our firm stance is that no turkey does not have to mean no gravy. Whether you are vegan, vegetarian, flexitarian, or just not a big fan of turkey, gravy is still […]
Our new feature, Home School, will highlight the methods and techniques that we use in the kitchen everyday. Whether you’re new to daily cooking or just need to freshen up on some of your skills, we’ll focus on the basics to help you deal with limited ingredients and limited time! […]
Frying is not something most of us do often. Spoiler alert: t’s not the healthiest method of cooking, but also, it’s a little messy, it makes our houses smell like a fast food restaurant, and for some people, it can seem scary! But deep frying does have its place in […]
Many pie and tart shells require partial baking (par baking) or fully prebaking the empty crust prior to filling. This method is termed blind baking. A pie or tart shell can benefit from partially baking before filling if it will be filled with a fruit that produces a significant amount […]