Jess and I met in college when we were members of the same sorority, Theta Phi Alpha, at the University of Cincinnati. We quickly realized our shared love of food and travel and became fast friends. Jess was always ready to join me in trying a new restaurant or spending the day cooking or baking together
Champorado – Filipino Chocolate Rice Pudding
For the next stop on the Rice Pudding Around the World series, we’re headed to the Philippines… When asked about my favorite cities and countries around the world, my two answers are Paris and the Philippines. Paris is a given, but my response of the Philippines is often met with a bit of surprise. A few years ago I studied
Brown Sugar Buttermilk Pie
I helped cater a special high-end lunch earlier this week. I’m talking stone crabs from the Florida Keys, black truffles flown in from France, and 60 day dry-aged strip steaks. I spent most of my morning making the roasted beet carpaccio course with the help of Tim, my lovely assistant (or maybe I was his
Tips for Better Baking – Secure Bowl with a Towel when Whisking (#33)
TIPS FOR BETTER BAKING – When whisking a mixture, be sure to secure the bowl by placing a towel underneath. This keeps the bowl steady and prevents it from slipping all over the counter top. This is especially helpful when it’s necessary to slowly stream in a hot liquid while continuously whisking, such as tempering eggs
Cookbook Giveaway: Ina Garten’s Make It Ahead
It’s time for the February cookbook giveaway! This month, I’m giving away Make It Ahead by Ina Garten. I remember tagging along with my mom when she went to the bookstore to buy her first Ina Garten cookbook. It was 2001, before Ina was a household name, and we had watched a segment about her on
Truffle Parmesan Popcorn
I’m not the biggest movie buff. I love going to see a movie while it’s in theaters, but at home my attention span doesn’t seem to last long enough. I’ll start a movie with every intention of watching and then soon enough I’m distracted by my computer or a magazine and I completely lose track
Buttermilk Banana Bread
Earlier this week, I finished reading Blood, Bones & Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton. It’s often regarded as one of the best chef memoirs, and up until last week, I was certain I had already read it. I had an image in my head of myself laying on the beach in the Outerbanks in North Carolina reading
Eight Great Recipe Resources
Great cooking starts with great recipes. Although we are lucky to be just a Google search away from any recipe we could ever need, not all recipes are created equal. Pinterest is a great place to look for inspiration and ideas, but I worry about the credibility and quality of many Pinterest recipes. Instead, I rely on sources
Lebkuchen – German Gingerbread Cookies
A few years ago, my boyfriend Graham and I spent the week of Valentine’s Day in Munich, Germany. As soon as we landed, the city started experiencing heavy snowfall, wicked winds, and bitterly cold temperatures that ended up lasting the duration of our trip. Within a few hours, we relented and made our way to a
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
There are a few kitchen tasks that I absolutely dread doing: peeling and deveining shrimp, cutting brussels sprouts, trimming sugar snap peas, and peeling fava beans are a few that come to mind. Usually, it’s those menial, repetitive processes that take all day and bore you out of your mind. But, there are also things that