Lauren Braun Costello
Occupation: Chef
Specialty: Catering, Food Stylist, Cooking Instructor
Education: Colgate University, French Culinary Institute
Lives: New York City
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Flipping Out For American Flapjacks
I just returned from a family weekend in Massachusetts where my cousin Marc (whom my sister affectionately and accurately calls "The Renaissance Man") prepared a pancake feast for a family of 50. In advance,...
It's Greek To Me . . . And To You Too!
March 25th is Greek Independence Day, so let's celebrate Greek food. So much more than feta cheese and phyllo (FEE-lo) dough, Greek cuisine is about fresh ingredients and vibrant, simple flavors. Although...
Taking Stock of Your Kitchen Inventory
One of the most important things you can do to be a more competent cook is to know your inventory. Not only do you need to be aware of the fresh foods and dry goods you have in stock (see New Years Resolutions...
Fondue It Yourself
My good friend, Lauren, always gives a fondue pot as an engagement present or housewarming gift. She firmly believes that every household should have this equipment because fondue is easy, fun, festive...
Chicken Soup for the Ages
When the arctic chill of winter gets the best of you, the best thing you can do is eat a bowl of chicken soup. Packed with nutrients and loaded with flavor, chicken soup can cure the common cold and even...
All the Presidents' Picks
The third Monday in February, known as Presidents' Day, is the official birthday celebration of George Washington (February 22nd) and Abraham Lincoln (February 12th). Intended now to honor all U.S. presidents,...
Valentine's Dinner Chez Vous
Like many of you, I do not much care for Valentine's Day. Although I am happily married with a loving family and friends, I find the whole holiday forced and overblown. Restaurants set overpriced prix...
Oh So Very Simple Syrup
It is always fun to impress your guests when you entertain, and one of the simplest ways to do that is with simple syrup. Simply put, simple syrup is sugar dissolved in water boiled into a thick liquid....
Indoor Football? Indoor BBQ!
There are so many things in life that beg to be done outside: bicycling, sun tanning, running, field sports and the art of barbecue. But these days, all that can be done indoors. I would never encourage...
For the Love of Nuts
What can I say? I am nuts for nuts. They come in all shapes, sizes, flavors and colors. They grow on trees as the seeds of fruit, and offer the perfect balance of savory and sweet. Unfailingly satisfying,...
The Peanut Butter Legend
Peanut butter as we know it today is undoubtedly an American creation. Other cultures have been eating ground peanuts long before Skippy and Jif hit the shelves in U.S. grocery stores. For example, ground...
New Year's Resolutions for Competent Cooks
The problem with New Year's resolutions is that they can be awfully tough to keep. We tend to make resolutions for the more trying things in life that we wish to change but somehow rarely do. This year...
Ring In the New Year the Right Way
The goal of any party is to have fun. Contrary to the experience of many, that includes the host. New Year's Eve is certainly no exception. A competent host can juggle the details as well as the cocktails....
Apple Sauce: A Latke's Best Friend
Caviar and sour cream may seem superior, but I think fresh applesauce is the perfect pairing for a potato pancake any day of the week, especially during the eight days of Chanukah. There are so many ways...
George Washington's Egg Nog
Never in my wildest dreams did I think George Washington would be my authority on the art of egg nog. He was probably our nation's greatest leader and an unparalleled general. But a master of curing...
A Gingerbread World
Gingerbread baking is as seasonal as wrapping gifts and singing carols. Gum drop bedecked houses and candy-eyed men are among the classic incarnations of this sweet, yet sometimes savory, dough. Each...