Cookies

Gingerbread

Makes enough for 1 gingerbread house or about 3 dozen cookies, depending on size This is a very mild gingerbread dough, great for kids and those who don’t typically love molasses-heavy gingerbread. You can use this recipe to make a decorated house or any shape cookie you like.

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Gingerbread: History on Display

“And I had but one pennie in the world, thou should’st have it to buy Gingerbread” -Costard in Love’s Labour’s Lost, William Shakespeare c. 1598 When I was a child, one of my favorite holiday traditions was when my family and I would visit Mystic Seaport in Stonington, Connecticut for […]

Beverages and Cocktails

Ginnie Meyer

Makes 1 serving Meyer lemons are sweeter than everyday lemons, with a flavor that might remind you of a slightly tart orange. They are also usually a brighter, more vibrant shade of yellow that looks beautiful when sliced for garnish. You should be able to find them at most grocery […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Give Angel Food Cake Another Try (at Home!)

Being a student at The Culinary Institute of America is an opportunity to learn more about food than you ever knew was possible. CIA students study, cook, bake, and taste, taste, taste—always tasting. With all of that tasting, you are bound to be surprised from time to time, and luckily, most […]

Side Dishes

Glazed Beets

Sometimes simple is best, and these classic glazed beets are a sweet, slightly tangy side dish suited for any dinner. Leftover beets can be tossed in a simple green salad or chopped and added to a warm grain bowl.

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Glazing Vegetables

When vegetables are fully or partially cooked by steaming, boiling, or roasting, they can be sautéed just long enough to reheat them or to complete cooking them—a technique known as finishing. Whole butter is a common choice for finishing vegetables, but other flavorful cooking fats, such as extra-virgin olive oil, […]

Main Dishes

Gnocchi with Duck Ragoût

Makes 4 to 6 servings This recipe is a favorite of our students in our Cuisines of the Mediterranean class at The Culinary Institute of America. The main ingredient in the dish is the gnocchi, served with a perfectly made duck ragoût to accent those fluffy little pillows.

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Go-To Convenience Foods for the Busiest Days

“From-scratch” might be what you expect at a great restaurant, or maybe for a special occasion. But for the great majority of home cooks, cooking from scratch three meals a day, every single day is an unrealistic goal, and one that so often leaves us with feelings of guilt and […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Got Almond Milk?

If you’re thinking about eliminating or limiting your dairy intake—whether for health or ethical reasons—you may be wondering about easy substitutes for your favorite recipes. Almond milk, and other non-dairy milk options, are so popular right now, as you may have noticed in the dairy aisle at your grocery store. […]