Main Dishes

Braised Lamb Shanks

Makes 8 servings Braising is often used for cooking leaner and tougher cuts of meat like lamb shanks, which braise beautifully. As the meat slowly cooks, the connective tissue dissolves, the meat becomes tender, and the juices develop into a rich sauce. Serve with couscous or rice pilaf to soak […]

Salads, Side Dishes

Brussels Sprout Salad with Dried Cranberries

Makes 8 to 10 servings This simple salad is full of quintessential fall flavors and is a fresh and bright addition to your Thanksgiving spread. Prepare the dressing and Brussels sprouts a day ahead, if you like, but wait to toss the salad until an hour or so before serving.

Side Dishes

Caramelized Sweet Potatoes with Pine Nuts and Currants

Makes 4 to 6 servings This is a hearty side dish for simple roasted chicken or a pork loin, or serve it on its own alongside a green salad or some crusty bread. Substitute yellow or red onion for the shallots and raisins, dried cranberries, or dried cherries for the […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Drying Techniques for Preserving Foods

Whether it’s for long-term storage, sweet treats, or prep for a long hike, drying foods is a great way of not just preserving food by extending its shelf life, but also reducing their size and weight for efficient storage or carrying. There are multiple techniques for drying and dehydrating foods. […]

Breakfast and Brunch

Granola Parfait

Makes 8 servings This is a classic berry parfait, but you can use this granola or technique for virtually endless variations. Use any leftover granola to sprinkle over ice cream or keep it in a jar for an easy mid-day snack. Ingredients Granola 1 1/2 cups rolled oats 1/4 cup […]

Salads

Honey-Lime Waldorf Salad

Makes 12 servings We love this updated take on the Waldorf salad, featuring crisp apples, tender mâche greens, and a tangy vinaigrette. It’s great on its own as a light dinner, but it also shines as a bring-along weekday lunch. Ingredients 3 cups diced Fuji or Honeycrisp apples (about 2 […]

Chef's Notes Plus, Family Fun

How to Make Homemade Granola Bars

Is snack time your favorite time? Welcome to the club, because no matter how old you get or how important your job is, you will never stop loving snacks. Your tastes may change, and maybe you’ll learn to love pretzels more than cheesy crackers. Or maybe you’ll crave a cookie […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

How To Plump Dried Fruits

Plumping dried fruits by soaking them in a liquid will make them tender and juicy, eliminating any possibility of the undesirable leathery texture they can sometimes have in finished baked goods. Plumping dried fruits also serves to keep the amount of liquid in the formula balanced, as dried fruits can […]

Breakfast and Brunch, Cakes

Quark Stollen

Makes 1 loaf This recipe comes right from Bakeshop 6 at The Culinary Institute of America! A traditional German holiday treat, this stollen is leavened with baking powder, not yeast, so it’s a simple edition to your Christmas to-do list. You can find quark, a soft cultured cheese, near the […]

Chef's Notes Plus, Family Fun

Red, White Chocolate, and Blue Bark

Sometimes cooking is about the journey, not the destination. That is especially true when cooking with kids, and particularly when cooking with kids who have been inside a lot these last few months. For the Fourth of July this year, we’re keeping it simple—and fun!—with some candy crafting. White chocolate […]