Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

A No-Rules Guide for Rich Chicken Stock

Whether you’re facing cold and flu season or are simply craving a rich and hearty soup, preparing a high-quality chicken stock (or, bone broth as it’s sometimes called) is an essential kitchen tool. There are plenty of guidelines and ratios to help you make the perfect stock, and while these […]

Chef's Notes Plus

All About Barbecue Sauce

Barbecue sauce is a grilling basic. There are plenty of good barbecue sauces that you can buy, but they are easy to make at home in large enough amounts to last for a couple of weeks of grilling. You can double or triple any of our favorite recipes, like Classic, […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

All About Gelatin

Gelatin is used as a stabilizer in many baking preparations. In small amounts, gelatin adds body, like to a sauce or whipped cream; in greater amounts, it can set a liquid so firmly that it can be sliced or cut into shapes. Using the precise amount of gelatin is crucial: […]

Pantry, Sauces, Dressings, and Condiments

Classic Barbecue Sauce

Makes 3 cups sauce This is a classic mild, sweet-style barbecue sauce with a very slight acidity that gives the flavor balance. It is a good, thick, general-use, red barbecue sauce that works well with chicken, beef, and pork. Ingredients 2 tablespoons corn oil 1/2 cup minced onion 2 cups […]

Chef's Blog

Cooking from Your Pantry

Follow here for our best pantry-friendly recipes, using ingredients you hopefully already have on hand! We’ll continue to update this list, so check back if you’re in need of more inspiration. Cacio e Pepe—don’t get bogged down on the type of cheese here. Parm will work just fine. Quick and […]

Allergen Friendly, Free Recipes, Soups and Stews

Corn and Squash Soup

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 […]

Pantry, Sauces, Dressings, and Condiments

Dry Taco Seasoning

Makes 1/4 cup Keep this taco seasoning on hand for whenever you want to spice up some ground meat or sautéed vegetables for a wrap. It is lower in sodium than most packaged taco seasonings. Epazote is an herb used in Mexican cooking. It is similar to oregano, so you […]

Soups and Stews

Greek Egg and Lemon Soup (Avgolemono)

Makes 6 to 8 servings Add shredded chicken, sausage, cooked beans, or even some frozen veggies, like peas, to this soup to stretch it a bit. Substitute vegetable broth for the chicken broth, if you prefer. Ingredients 6 cups chicken broth 1/3 cup long-grain white rice 4 eggs, separated Salt […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Home School: Blanching Vegetables

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! […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Home School: Easy Tomato Sauce

Reasons Why You Might Want to Make Tomato Sauce This Week: It’s delicious, and pasta is a pretty efficient comfort food. It’s also versatile and good for more than pasta (read: pizza, stirred into broth to make a soup, smeared on bread, etc.) It’s easy. It’s endlessly customizable, meaning you […]

Free Recipes, Sauces, Dressings, and Condiments

Homemade Beefsteak Ketchup

Makes 4 servings This jewel of a recipe from the CIA’s own Waldy Malouf is slightly sweet, spicy, intensely flavorful sauce that will elevate any already amazing dish to even greater heights. We most look forward to sharing this recipe at our Hyde Park campus’ annual Beefsteak Dinner, a boisterous […]