“Is it done?” The eternal question that is not always easy to answer. Use this handy reference chart for deciding when your meat, poultry, or fish is ready to enjoy. Remove your food from the oven, grill, or pan when it’s still a few degrees below your desired temperature to […]
Walk into many professional kitchens today, and you’ll notice something different: chefs aren’t always cooking over open flames. Instead, sleek glass cooktops are quietly humming away, heating pans with astonishing speed and precision. This is induction cooking—a technology once reserved for restaurants and culinary schools that’s now becoming more common […]
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 […]
Pies are for every day, as far as we’re concerned. But, there are two times of the year that pies get their moment in the spotlight: Thanksgiving (apple pie! pumpkin!) and summer, when there are berries and stone fruit, like peaches and cherries with pits in the middle, perfect for […]
If you have a teenager who loves to cook, or could use a gentle nudge to help out in the kitchen, CIA is here to help! It’s not easy being a teen, nor a parent of teen for that matter, these days. If your teen is growing weary of too much time […]
For many of you, “cooking with wine” may mean holding a wooden spoon in one hand and a wine glass in the other. While there’s nothing wrong with enjoying a glass while you cook, I’d like to propose reserving a little for your recipes. You may ask, “Why use wine […]
In baking, every step matters—from mixing to baking, but just as importantly, cooling! While we often romanticize baked goods fresh from the oven, most baked items like cakes (and yes, breads!) are best once cooled. Baking is a series of chemical and physical reactions spurred by the heat of the […]
Makes 4 to 6 servings The basil is a nice bright flavor in this quick and easy broth, but you can use whatever herb you may have on hand. Substitute zucchini for the yellow squash, if necessary. We like to serve this with puréed roasted peppers or sun-dried tomatoes, if […]
Makes 4 to 6 servings This salad is simple as summer, with the season’s biggest flavor powerhouse ingredients. Serve it as a side dish or as a main course topped with grilled shrimp or stewed beans. We love it for lunch with a slice of crusty bread to soak up […]
Makes 6 servings
Makes 8 servings These corn dogs are a little bit different than the fluffy, cakey kind you find at your county fair. In this version, the cheesy coating is not sweet and is all crunch! If you find your coating is a little too thick or thin, just add buttermilk […]
Makes 2 dozen muffins These are classic corn muffins, perfect for toasting on a griddle with some salted butter or to dunk in a hot bowl of chili.