Soups and Stews

Silky Zucchini Soup

Makes 4 servings This simple summer recipe is inspired by the menu at Savor on our San Antonio, Texas campus. Garnish the soup with diced, julienned, or shaved zucchini, if you like. We especially like it with a crusty piece of bread for dipping! This recipe makes about four 1 […]

Chef's Blog

Simple but Delicious Mother’s Day Brunch Recipes

For those of us still “hunkering down,” we’re sure we’re not alone in missing restaurant meals these days. If you’re lucky enough to be in the same household as mom, and grasping for ways to show your love without the usual offerings available, why not cook her brunch at home? […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Simple Syrup

Keeping a jar of simple syrup in your pantry may seem like a waste of space, but once you have it, you’ll reach for it more than you think. And sure, you can buy a bottle of prepared simple syrup for many dollars, but it’s sort of absurdly easy and […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Simple Ways to Make the Most of Your Summer Produce

Every year, we try to avoid it, but it is inevitable: summer will end eventually—though luckily, only temporarily. Summer produce doesn’t leave quietly, and in its waning weeks, our gardens and farm stands explode with cucumbers, tomatoes, summer squash, eggplants! The mountains of produce are daunting, but irresistible, since in […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Simply Put: Dutch-Process Cocoa Powder

“1/2 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder” is a phrase that strikes to the core of any baker who hasn’t yet spent hours of their time figuring out what that means. Read on for a possibly oversimplified but perfectly digestible guide to cocoa powder for your everyday baking needs. 1. There are […]

Main Dishes

Slow-Cooker Sauerbraten

Makes 4 to 6 servings Though it takes a few days, this classic German recipe is primarily hands-off, meaning the tangy marinade and slow-cooker do all the work for you. If you don’t have a slow cooker, you can treat this recipe like a typical braise: in Step 3, transfer […]

Grilling, Main Dishes

Smoked Pork Belly

Makes 5 to 6 servings Pork belly is literally the belly portion of the pig. It’s where bacon comes from, and like bacon, it is a delicious piece of meat. While it cooks, the fat renders from the belly and naturally bastes the strips of tender meat. Pair it with […]

Chef's Notes Plus, Family Fun

Snack Sushi

Sushi is generally an outside food, meaning we eat it outside of the house when someone else makes it for us. And for a lot of reasons, this is generally a fine practice. Good sushi fish can be hard to find and hard to store. Plus, who even knows how […]