Chef's Notes Plus

The Spring Pantry

While February gives way to March, you’ll still find carrots, winter squash, celery, potatoes, parsnips, and turnips in the markets coming from cold storage, along with onions, apples, and garlic. When spring arrives (March in San Antonio, but not until late April or early May in Hyde Park, New York) […]

Chef's Blog

There Is No Wrong Way to Enjoy a Peach

“I am thinking, of course, of the peach before I ate it.” Peach, D.H. Lawrence (1923). Romanticizing fruit is a task best left to the poets, who have better language for conveying what is inherently perfect about a ripe summer peach. That leaves the rest of us with the more […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Thickening with Pectin

Pectin is a thickener derived from fruits such as tart apples or citrus. It is used to make jams and jellies as well as some candies. In order for pectin to gel and thicken a mixture, the recipe must have the proper balance of acids and sugar. Since fruits contain […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Thoughtful Gifts for Your Foodie Mom

Mother’s Day is coming up, and whether you are celebrating your mom, your wife, your mother in-law, your grandma, your sister, or maybe even yourself (treat yourself!), the mom or mom-figure in your life may be a foodie like you. If your mom isn’t already a DISH member, that’s a […]

Chef's Blog

Three Sisters: If It Grows Together, It Goes Together

“If it grows together, it goes together.” This is the wisdom passed to me by my grandfather when we were harvesting squash, green beans, and tomatoes from his garden over 20 years ago (probably even 30 years ago, actually, but who’s counting!). He was referring to the idea that produce […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Tips for Creamy, Cozy Plant-Forward Soups

Chicken noodle soup and minestrone are great, but there are few things more crave-worthy than a creamy, rich, and hearty soup. Of course, the ingredients that make those soups so tasty—cream, butter, cheese, beef—are not always high on our list of healthy ingredients, or you might follow a vegan diet. […]