Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

6 Recipes Ideas for Back-to-School Meal Prep

If you’re looking for lunch idea that are kid-friendly, nutrient dense, and easy to pack, we’ve got you covered. These ten recipe ideas may not all be kid-food at first-glance, but we’ve got some suggestions for easy tweaks to perfect these make-ahead lunches to streamline your mornings. Each recipe can […]

Chef's Notes Plus, Family Fun

An Apple a Day…

Apples are really healthy, and tradition says that one a day keeps the doctor away—which is an easy goal when it’s covered with candy! Sure, sure, we should eat apples that aren’t covered in caramel or a crunchy red candy shell, but it’s fall, isn’t it!? If you love those […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus, Family Fun

Back to School Recipes

Whether you’re a kid going back to school, a parent whose kids are going back to school, a hard-working teacher, or just someone who once went back to school, you know that it can be a tough transition from summer to school. To help, we’ve brought together some of our […]

Allergen Friendly, Desserts, Family Fun

Candy Coated Apples

Makes 12 apples These are the crunchy-coated carnival apples of your childhood! You can skip the red food coloring if you prefer. They will be glossy and just as tasty. Keys to Success If using supermarket apples, you must wash off the wax for the candy to adhere. Be careful […]

Desserts, Family Fun

Chocolate Cereal Crumbles

Makes 4 to 6 servings So simple and satisfying, these little treats are a snack for kids and grown-ups! Use your favorite cereal and experiment with a mix of dark, milk, or even white chocolate, if you like. We love peanuts in this recipe, but you can replace it with […]

Desserts

Churros

Makes 24 churros Ingredients 1 cup water 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 3 eggs, beaten Vegetable oil, as needed, for frying Directions Combine the water, butter, and salt in a medium saucepan and bring to a rolling boil. […]

Pies and Tarts

Cookie Crumb Crust

Makes one 9-inch pie or tart pan This master crumb crust recipe can be made with a variety of cookies, including oatmeal, gingersnap, chocolate, and sugar cookies. Be sure to select crispy, dry cookies and avoid soft or filled ones. A crust prepared with them will not hold together and […]

Chef's Blog

Cooking with Kids

Parents, this post is for you. Remember a couple of weeks ago when life was simpler? When your “only” responsibilities were holding down a job and caring for your children, without also running your very own home school?   Through our Sunday Family Fundays here at The CIA at Copia in downtown Napa (currently on pause […]

Allergen Friendly, Salads

Creamy Whole Wheat Pasta Salad

Makes 4 to 6 servings We don’t like to dumb food down for kids, but we also know that sometimes kids are picky. So this plant-forward (vegan, in fact!) pasta salad is just a good starting point. The tangy chickpea dressing is creamy like mayo, but packed with protein. Add […]

Family Fun

Decorating Holiday Cookies

Decorating cookies is fun any time of the year, but ‘tis the season for extra special treats to share with your friends and family! Whether you bring them as a gift to your teachers or to grandma’s house, there are so many easy ways to dress up your favorite cookies […]

Salads

Farro Caprese Salad

Makes 4 to 6 servings Farro is a nutty, chewy grain commonly used in Italian cuisine. Tossed with the classic components of a caprese salad, like creamy mozzarella cheese and sweet summer tomatoes, you will love it for school lunches, a take-along picnic dish, or a side for grilled chicken […]