Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Holiday Hygge

If there has ever been a time to embrace the Scandinavian concept of “hygge,” now is certainly it. Hygge, pronounced hue-gah, is a Danish word that generally means cozy, intimate, or special, and it is used to identify small moments of comfort and contentment in the everyday. It can’t be […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Home School: Risotto (yes, it’s easy!)

Risotto is a dish we most often eat at restaurants, reinforcing the illusion that it’s difficult to prepare. Sorry to spill the beans, restaurant chefs of the world, but despite being creamy and decadent, risotto is actually really easy to make and not nearly as time consuming as you might […]

Beverages and Cocktails

Hot Chocolate

Makes 4 to 6 cups Ingredients 4 cups whole milk 12 oz dark chocolate (about 64%), chopped 1/2 teaspoon fleur de sel or other sea salt Marshmallows, for serving (optional) Directions In a medium saucepan, bring the milk to a boil. Remove from the heat and add the chocolate. Let […]

Breakfast and Brunch, Desserts

Hot Crossed Buns

Makes 12 servings Never mind bunnies and eggs…the surest sign of Easter season may be the hot crossed bun. These yeast-raised treats were first made as spiced fruit buns and were popular during the Tudor period in England. They were later decorated with a cross on top and sold “hot […]

Chef's Blog

How a Foodies Editor Enjoys Corned Beef and Cabbage

Though I’ve lived in Texas long enough and eaten enough breakfast tacos to feel like an honorary Texan, I was not born in the Lone Star State. I grew up in the northeast, where St. Patrick’s Day is a big deal. There is a mad dash to the grocery store […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

How to Carve Your Thanksgiving Turkey

To make the most of large roasted foods, such as turkey, they must be carved into portions correctly. After roasting a turkey and letting it rest, transfer the bird to a carving board (a cutting board with an indentation around the edges that captures the juices released during carving). If […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

How to Prepare a Bisque

A good bisque reflects the flavor of the main ingredient. If you have added cream to round out and mellow the soup, it should not mask the main flavor. All bisques are slightly coarse or grainy, with a consistency similar to heavy cream. A crustacean bisque is pale pink or […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

It’s Turkey Time!

Spooky season is behind us, which can only mean one thing. It’s turkey time, and by that we mean it is truly turkey time, so call your favorite farm, market, or restaurant to pre-order your bird. If it’s too soon to order, set an alarm! If you get a jump […]

Desserts

Jelly Donuts (Sufganiyot)

Makes 10 donuts Whether you save them as a special Hanukkah treat or enjoy them year round, there is no wrong reason to eat a jelly donut. Use any jelly or jam that you like best, or fill the donuts with dulce de leche, vanilla cream, or chocolate-hazelnut spread. Ingredients […]

Beverages and Cocktails

Kir Royale

Serves 5 Kir royale is made by combining champagne with crème de cassis, a deep-red liqueur made from black currants that was first made by French monks in the 16th century as a cure for snakebites and jaundice. Try other fruit-flavored liqueurs (peach, orange, or raspberry) instead of cassis, if […]

Uncategorized

Lace Nut Tuiles

Makes about 24 tuiles The name for these delicate stenciled cookies means “tiles” in French. They are traditionally shaped to look like the terra-cotta tiles used on roofs throughout the Mediterranean. The batter is soft enough to spread in a thin layer. You can spread the batter into simple circles […]