It may come as no surprise that the halls of The Culinary Institute of America echo with admiration for the grande dame of approachable French cuisine: Julia Child. She was not the first powerhouse woman chef—and if today’s CIA students have any say in the matter, she certainly won’t be […]
Bacon Lardons
Lardons are 1/4-inch thick pieces of bacon cut from a thick slab that are typically cooked until crisp. Commonly used in French cooking, lardons add flavor and texture to a variety of dishes, from salads and quiches to stews, potatoes, and vegetable dishes. Lardons can only be made from slab […]
6 No-Cook (or Low-Cook) Recipes to Keep You Cool
If you can’t bear to turn on your oven during these hot days of summer, try one of our go-to recipes that require little to no heat to prepare—and anything that needs cooking can be quickly done on an outdoor grill, skipped entirely, or substituted with a prepared convenience item. […]
Be Your Own Barista with Cold Brew Coffee at Home
Coffee is a big subject. Much like wine, there are layers to coffee. From the bean to the brew, this daily staple is much more complex than that office coffee pot would lead you to believe. Of course, also like wine, you don’t have to be an expert to enjoy […]
Freezing Fruits and Vegetables
Freezing is one of the easiest and most flexible preserving methods – when you’re ready to eat something, you simply thaw it and finish it – and then you can replace the space it took up in your freezer with a new item. It is also one of the most […]
Walnut-Herb Sauce is the New Barbecue Sauce
Early in grilling season, we’re all just so happy to be outside, we would eat basically anything. But as the weeks go by, those grilled chicken and veggies start to lose their luster. After all, sunshine is not a sauce. If that’s where you are right now, I would like […]
How to Choose Corn on the Cob
Sweet and tender corn is a pinnacle of summer, enjoyed raw, grilled, on the cob, or off. It is a plentiful and inexpensive ingredient that adds a burst of sweetness to any dish, and, boy, do we cherish it. Before you’re able to enjoy the perfection that is summer corn, […]
Refreshing Agua Frescas
Originating in Latin America, agua fresca is a refreshing nonalcoholic beverage based on fruits, hibiscus flowers, or, in some regions, cereals, along with sugar and water. Though some may be prepared using juice or tea, like lime or hibiscus (also known as agua de Jamaica), agua frescas are often made […]
Meats for Low and Slow Cooking
Low and slow cooking is an ideal way to turn tough cuts of meat into tender, succulent roasts, braises, and barbecue.
4th of July Side Dishes to Steal the Show
Either you’re the person who waits all year for a grilled hot dog or burger, or you’re the person testing the limits of those paper plates with a scoop of every side dish, because nothing beats a good potato salad. Of course, no food decision is a bad decision, so […]
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, […]
Using an Ice Cream Machine
Ice cream, frozen yogurt, and sherbet are easy to make with an ice-cream machine. For the best results, let your ice-cream base mixture ripen, or mellow, overnight to be sure it is very cold. An ice-cream machine consists of a canister to hold the ice-cream base and a dasher to […]