Summertime means party time! And for all of the fun of an outdoor party, we know there’s also a lot of work. If the stress of organizing a get-together is keeping you from hosting this year, take a look at our Four Rules of Summer Party Prep. Like most food […]
Making Marzipan Shapes
In many parts of the world, sweet shops produce dazzling marzipan confections shaped and colored to look like fruit fresh from the tree and an array of other tempting shapes. Although the town of Lübeck in Germany is credited with making some of the best marzipans in the world, it […]
Add a Twist to Your Kitchen Routine with Homemade Soft Pretzels
Coming across a warm soft pretzel is usually happenstance at a fair or football game. But wouldn’t it be a dream to have a chewy pretzel whenever you wanted it? We agree, and we’re sharing our family-friendly recipe for you to try at home! They begin with a dough, not […]
Soft Pretzels
Makes 4 large pretzels Big pretzels are easier to shape, but if you would like more than 4 big pretzels, you can make eight that are half-as-big. The resting and baking times will be shorter, so just keep an eye on them. Ingredients Dough 2 cups bread flour 1 1/2 […]
Cute and Easy Christmas Toppers for Festive Cakes, Pies, and other Treats
Though some may favor a minimalist holiday, we like to believe the more the merrier when it comes to festive decor and Christmas spirit! Bring on the sprinkles! Festive doesn’t have to mean complicated, though, and one of our favorite tricks for Christmas cheer just happens to also be one […]
Healthy Cooking with Picky Eaters, from a CIA Chef
Food preference may feel instinctual, but like everything our kids learn, it all begins with education, and participation is an integral part of the learning process. I started a tradition with my children to help spur their curiosity around healthy foods. Every Wednesday after school, we make a trip to […]
Flavoring Homemade Ice Cream
As the summer settles in, there is no greater joy than a scoop of ice cream on a hot day. No matter your favorite flavor, from simple vanilla to the rockiest rocky road, an ice cream cone is the ultimate way to treat yourself. Near our San Antonio campus, where […]
In Defense of Spam
Early in the semester, CIA students in my Food Writing course read “On Chicken Tenders,” by Helen Rosner, published in 2015 in Guernica. In this amusing but sincere defense of a derided, children’s menu staple, Rosner effectively argues against those who look down on ordering, eating, and celebrating the “perfect” […]
Colorful Easter Eggs, Naturally
Dying colorful Easter eggs is such a fun craft (yes, for adults, too!), but if you aren’t a fan of store-bought artificial dyes, you may have been avoiding it. But, like, everything, there’s a way to use food to make the experience better! Namely, making your own dyes from colorful […]
Strawberry and Rose Mini Cupcakes
Makes about 60 mini cupcakes This recipe makes about 60 mini cupcakes, which feeds about 30 people. If you need less, you can half this recipe, or bake any leftover batter in a cake pan. Spread it with leftover jam for a little chef’s treat! You can use any cake […]
Design Your Own Gingerbread House
Nothing says “Christmas!” like an old-fashioned gingerbread house, and this year, we’re going all out! These cookies are the ideal canvas for all sorts of decorative touches. The dough can be made and baked off in advance and stored in an airtight container until ready to decorate or finish. Use […]
Celebrate Apple Cider Donut Season with a Twist
And just like that, it is apple season! For those of us near our Hyde Park, New York campus, visiting our local apple orchards is an unmissable autumn tradition. Sure, you pick apples to bring home for snacks and pie, but most important is the season’s first apple cider donut. […]