Sometimes you just need. dessert. NOW. And when that moment strikes, there is one easy solution: Make a fruit crisp! Call it a crisp or a crumble, but the bones are the same. Fresh or frozen fruit baked under a crispy, crumbly, slightly sweet topping made from the most basic baking […]
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 […]
Makes 4 servings Matzo brei is a simple Jewish comfort food that’s popular at Passover, or really any time of year! Every family makes this dish a little bit differently, and while we like to fry the matzo until it is crisp and toasty, you may prefer to leave it […]
Passover begins on Friday, and of course, we’re planning our seder menu. But when there is matzo in the house, there is admittedly only one thing on our mind. Matzo is significant during Passover when unleavened bread is forbidden by tradition, hence flat and crispy matzo. And while you can […]
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 […]
Sandwiches are a staple in most of our weekly routines. Something about putting together a sandwich brings comfort and nostalgia to some and dread to others. Sandwiches are as easy as putting an ingredient between bread to as elaborate as chopping, slicing, spreading, toasting, grilling, baking and even frying! What […]
Makes 6 servings In the heart of summer, we’re always looking for ways to use super ripe peaches that may have gotten way from us, and this quick and easy iced tea is one of the most refreshing. Adjust the sweetness depending on the sweetness of your peaches, and don’t […]
Makes 8 servings Sweet and spicy crisp vegetables wrapped in paper thin pancakes make a healthy and easy alternative to ordering in. Moo shu pancakes are available in Asian groceries and well-stocked supermarkets, but if you cannot find the pancakes, flour tortillas can be used as a substitute. Don’t be […]
It’s hot, but you need dessert. What do you do? Sure, you could scoop ice cream or break out the popsicles, but the 4th of July calls for something special, and when we think special, we think cake. And not cake that you have to bake. No no no! July […]
Makes 4 servings When we say one pot, we mean it! All of the ingredients cook together—pasta included—and the finished dish is flavorful and saucy with less than 10 minutes of work! If you like, you can top the cooked pasta with sautéed shrimp or flaked tuna.
There is no greater joy than a dinner that is truly 15 minutes prep-to-table. Especially on a busy weeknight, but honestly, any night. Opening a jar of store-bought pasta sauce and boiling a pound of spaghetti is easy, but how about something a little more homemade in just as much […]
Roasting tomatoes concentrates the bright sweetness of the ripe fruit. You can use roasted tomatoes in place of fresh tomatoes in nearly any recipe for added richness, or in recipes that call for canned “fire-roasted” tomatoes. Choose ripe, flavorful tomatoes for oven roasting. Plum tomatoes are a great choice since they […]