Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

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 […]

Chef's Blog

Making Quick and Easy Vegetable Stock

Stocks and broths are the literal foundation of every soup, stew, and braise we make, and that’s why we are extra enthusiastic about using homemade stocks (or broths, but let’s just say stocks from now on!) whenever possible. We aren’t oblivious to the absolute convenience of the store-bought versions—or to […]

Desserts, Pies and Tarts

Maple Pecan Pie

Makes one 9-inch pie The complementary flavors of maple and pecan combine in this pie to create an earthy, buttery, robust dessert. Be sure to purchase Grade B maple syrup as the darker amber color and deeper maple flavor are essential to this pie. In the variation that follows, adding […]

Chef's Blog

Meal Prep Time Savers

Starting a new cooking routine doesn’t have to be daunting, and accepting your limitations for time, space, budget, and skill is the first step to creating a realistic strategy. At the CIA, we think food is fun, so we make a lot of our ingredients at home, but that doesn’t […]

Chef's Blog, Salads, Side Dishes

Meal Prep: Grain Salad

It’s that time of the week again when we have to start thinking about the meals to come for the week. We think that Sunday is the perfect day to batch cook a few simple dishes and ingredients to make the work week go by smoother. Today we are talking […]

Beverages and Cocktails

Mediterranean Cooler

Makes 8 servings Look for bottled pomegranate juice the produce section of well-stocked supermarkets or health food stores. You can substitute other juices for those we recommend here. Grapefruit and cranberry juice makes a Seabreeze. Orange and cranberry makes a Madras. A modest amount of club soda gives the drink […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Meltaways to Celebrate your BFF!

The best part of Valentine’s Day (besides the chocolate!) is celebrating the people we love—whether that’s our parents, our brothers and sisters, girlfriends and boyfriends, or just our besties! And, sure, we think part of celebrating your BFFs is doing something fun, a special little treat can certainly help. We […]

Side Dishes

Mexican-Style Street Corn Salad

Makes 4 to 6 servings Ingredients 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 2 cups corn kernels, fresh or frozen 1 tablespoon lime juice 3 tablespoons mayonnaise Hot sauce, to taste 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 1/4 cup chopped cilantro 1/2 cup crumbled queso fresco 1/2 teaspoon cayenne powder […]

Soups and Stews

Minestra Maritata

Makes 4 to 6 servings This is a typical dish of the Campania region in which the meat “marries” with the vegetables. The broth can be prepared a few days before the rest of the soup, making it a quick and easy spring time supper. Ingredients 8 oz pork ribs […]

Main Dishes, Soups and Stews

Minguichi (Chile and Cheese Soup)

Makes 6 servings This soup, from Michoacán in Western Mexico, is perfect at the end of summer when the tomatoes and corn are at their best, but it’s just as flavorful in the winter, and even quicker to make from canned tomatoes and frozen corn. If you wish, you can […]