cdkitchen > feeddaily blog
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As the air takes a brisk turn, it's time to start thinking about ways to celebrate the autumn season. And what better way to take the chill off than with a warm beverage that has been simmering in the slow cooker all day long? A warm drink can be a festive accompaniment to all of your favorite fall activities, from tailgating to trick-or-treating, raking leaves (well maybe that one is not such a favorite but at least a drink in hand will make it a little more fun), to hauling in some freshly cut firewood and lighting up the fireplace for the first time this season.
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Do you ever buy the dress to match the shoes? How about making dinner to match the cocktail? It is that time of year when the fashion mags are three inches thick, the stores have changed their displays in the windows from white skirts with sandals to tweed and boots, and you probably have taken the kids on the rounds for back to school shopping. If the closet deserves a make-over, perhaps inspired by a new pair of knee-high suede boots, so does your dinner table.
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Recently, we decided to take the plunge and embark on a kitchen renovation to upgrade our current kitchen. That means my home kitchen is under construction and seeing that I have no way to bake, roast, or saute, I thought now would be a good time to talk about some recipes you can make without coming near a hot stove. My current cooking options are limited to the toaster oven, the microwave, and the grill, with the occasional takeout meal thrown in. While normally I don't love to rely on the microwave for meal preparation, in this case it has saved the day many times.
by
Ideas. They're what keep the world goin' round. It's been said that there aren't any new ideas in the world, that it's the specific slant or angle that you put on an idea that makes it special, makes it worth its weight in gold. I'd have to say it's pretty much the same with recipes. Are there really any new flavor configurations that haven't been tried before? Doubtful. It's the little tweaks, the special touches that we each add to make that ____ (you fill in the blank) precisely ours, precisely extra-special. I can't help but think that's why we all enjoy...
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Do you eat enchiladas at your house? Or does the term conjure up Mexican fare that's ordered out? According to the Encyclopedia of American Food and Drink, an enchilada is: "A tortilla stuffed with various fillings of meat, cheese, chili sauce, chorizo sausage, and other ingredients." And apparently it was a Spanish-American term that meant "filled with chili" when it was first printed in America in 1885.
by
My idea of the perfect way to cap off a brisk fall day is with a glass of fresh apple cider and a spiced wafer cookie. These are thin, firm cookies flavored with ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and molasses. They are similar to a traditional ginger snap, but very dark and hard, perfect for dunking. It's my favorite type of store-bought cookie, and we have them around our house in the fall the same way many people stock those familiar chocolate and vanilla cream sandwich cookies.
by
September and October should be officially renamed as the Marathon Months. Why? Because with some of this country's most popular marathons taking place in October and November, runners across the nation are in the midst of the most intense part of the training process. If you are training for a marathon, allow me, on behalf of all of us, to apologize to family members and friends as we cancel dinner plans in favor of working out (yes, I have become "that girl"). And our rush home from our runs at night brings new meaning to the expression "racing to put dinner on the table."
by
Did you have a Sunday supper tradition growing up? When I was a kid we almost always had a big dinner on Sunday afternoon. Modern life has us so busy running around from obligation to obligation that this longstanding ritual is more important than ever. It's a way to reconnect with immediate and extended family and friends over a more leisurely paced meal and a chance to catch up while enjoying good home cooked food in the company of loved ones. The Sunday supper tradition is strong in lots of cultures since Sunday is considered a day of rest in most Western countries.
by
As you know, I'm all for kids getting their own meal- for building those vital independent, know-your-way-around-a-kitchen skills. And in the morning, I need all the help I can get. Hot, fresh coffee certainly helps the cause too. I shared that breakfast tends to be my low-point of meal inspiration during the day. No, I don't really want the kids chowing down on Cap'n Crunch or Frosted Flakes everyday (although yes, you'll find them in our pantry). I like those sugary cereals to be a once-in-a-while snack - or get this - dessert.
by
Balsamic vinegar is one of the best flavors on the planet. Combine it with tomatoes in a long, slow simmer and it's especially magical. Now that's a combo I haven't had in the slow cooker before - just what I could use to get over the mid-week hump. Balsamic vinegar comes to us from Italy. No surprise, really - from the country that has given so many divine culinary delights. It's made in the areas of Modena and Reggio Emilia and is produced from white Trebbiano grapes. Here's how: They take the must (that's the freshly pressed grape juice), cooked and concentrated until...
by
What's the most essential piece of technology in the kitchen for the modern family? Nope, it's not the computer notebook or smartphone (although I'm starting to find those devices more and more indispensable to my cooking and grocery shopping). It's the good old microwave! While this appliance is not always my preferred method of cooking (ever tried baking a regular cake in the microwave?), I do rely on it pretty frequently in my kitchen.
by
Seems each summer I get a brainy idea to do some taste testing. Remember when we did the hot dog taste tests the other year? All I had to do was buy a whole bunch of different kinds and then coordinate the test day and the toothpicks and labels so that I could keep all the kinds straight. Try, taste and rate - the fun, fun, fun part of any taste-testing endeavor. If you've got some organizer in you, it can even be fun to make up some rating papers with the different "mystery items" and a range of numbers for rating, complete with a space for personalized comments.
by
Ever since the invention of the microwave oven, frozen food has become an American institution, and that is unlikely to change. From garlic bread to pizzas, at some point we Americans couldn't be bothered with the inconvenience of buttering bread. But let's face it, whether for health reasons, economy, or pure quality and taste, some foods are better fresh than frozen, and are more than worth an extra five minutes of your time to make that frozen food fresh, fast.
by
An old college friend of mine is a young mother of four children, all below the age of seven. It goes without saying that, among our group of friends from the old days, we hardly see her. Such is the life of balancing the domestic duties of raising four very young and active children, managing the household, making dinner, and ensuring that, each week, she and her businessman husband have time for themselves. We got to catch up a few weeks ago and I inquired how she manages it all: the children, children's sports, dinnertime, and marriage time. She had some great...
by
If you ever get a chance to baby sit some chickens, let me give you a tip. Do not, I repeat, do not, wear sandals into the pasture, especially if you have a brightly colored polish on. The chickens will storm your toes thinking they are some delicious new snack. This is the voice of experience speaking here.
by
It's hard to keep straight all the diets that are out there, along with what is in and what is out as far as following a balanced lifestyle. In the last few years I have known more than a few people who have gone on a low carb diet and had a lot of success with it. The slow cooker happens to be a great tool when following this type of diet since it does such a good job of cooking protein items such as meats and beans. But what if, on the other hand, your diet necessitates that you eat lots of carbohydrates? That is the position I am in right now, because I have been...
From The Editors At CDKitchen: Feed Daily
by
As the air takes a brisk turn, it's time to start thinking about ways to celebrate the autumn season. And what better way to take the chill off than with a warm beverage that has been simmering in the slow cooker all day long? A warm drink can be a festive accompaniment to all of your favorite fall activities, from tailgating to trick-or-treating, raking leaves (well maybe that one is not such a favorite but at least a drink in hand will make it a little more fun), to hauling in some freshly cut firewood and lighting up the fireplace for the first time this season.
by
Do you ever buy the dress to match the shoes? How about making dinner to match the cocktail? It is that time of year when the fashion mags are three inches thick, the stores have changed their displays in the windows from white skirts with sandals to tweed and boots, and you probably have taken the kids on the rounds for back to school shopping. If the closet deserves a make-over, perhaps inspired by a new pair of knee-high suede boots, so does your dinner table.
by
Recently, we decided to take the plunge and embark on a kitchen renovation to upgrade our current kitchen. That means my home kitchen is under construction and seeing that I have no way to bake, roast, or saute, I thought now would be a good time to talk about some recipes you can make without coming near a hot stove. My current cooking options are limited to the toaster oven, the microwave, and the grill, with the occasional takeout meal thrown in. While normally I don't love to rely on the microwave for meal preparation, in this case it has saved the day many times.
by
Ideas. They're what keep the world goin' round. It's been said that there aren't any new ideas in the world, that it's the specific slant or angle that you put on an idea that makes it special, makes it worth its weight in gold. I'd have to say it's pretty much the same with recipes. Are there really any new flavor configurations that haven't been tried before? Doubtful. It's the little tweaks, the special touches that we each add to make that ____ (you fill in the blank) precisely ours, precisely extra-special. I can't help but think that's why we all enjoy...
by
Do you eat enchiladas at your house? Or does the term conjure up Mexican fare that's ordered out? According to the Encyclopedia of American Food and Drink, an enchilada is: "A tortilla stuffed with various fillings of meat, cheese, chili sauce, chorizo sausage, and other ingredients." And apparently it was a Spanish-American term that meant "filled with chili" when it was first printed in America in 1885.
by
My idea of the perfect way to cap off a brisk fall day is with a glass of fresh apple cider and a spiced wafer cookie. These are thin, firm cookies flavored with ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and molasses. They are similar to a traditional ginger snap, but very dark and hard, perfect for dunking. It's my favorite type of store-bought cookie, and we have them around our house in the fall the same way many people stock those familiar chocolate and vanilla cream sandwich cookies.
by
September and October should be officially renamed as the Marathon Months. Why? Because with some of this country's most popular marathons taking place in October and November, runners across the nation are in the midst of the most intense part of the training process. If you are training for a marathon, allow me, on behalf of all of us, to apologize to family members and friends as we cancel dinner plans in favor of working out (yes, I have become "that girl"). And our rush home from our runs at night brings new meaning to the expression "racing to put dinner on the table."
by
Did you have a Sunday supper tradition growing up? When I was a kid we almost always had a big dinner on Sunday afternoon. Modern life has us so busy running around from obligation to obligation that this longstanding ritual is more important than ever. It's a way to reconnect with immediate and extended family and friends over a more leisurely paced meal and a chance to catch up while enjoying good home cooked food in the company of loved ones. The Sunday supper tradition is strong in lots of cultures since Sunday is considered a day of rest in most Western countries.
by
As you know, I'm all for kids getting their own meal- for building those vital independent, know-your-way-around-a-kitchen skills. And in the morning, I need all the help I can get. Hot, fresh coffee certainly helps the cause too. I shared that breakfast tends to be my low-point of meal inspiration during the day. No, I don't really want the kids chowing down on Cap'n Crunch or Frosted Flakes everyday (although yes, you'll find them in our pantry). I like those sugary cereals to be a once-in-a-while snack - or get this - dessert.
by
Balsamic vinegar is one of the best flavors on the planet. Combine it with tomatoes in a long, slow simmer and it's especially magical. Now that's a combo I haven't had in the slow cooker before - just what I could use to get over the mid-week hump. Balsamic vinegar comes to us from Italy. No surprise, really - from the country that has given so many divine culinary delights. It's made in the areas of Modena and Reggio Emilia and is produced from white Trebbiano grapes. Here's how: They take the must (that's the freshly pressed grape juice), cooked and concentrated until...
by
What's the most essential piece of technology in the kitchen for the modern family? Nope, it's not the computer notebook or smartphone (although I'm starting to find those devices more and more indispensable to my cooking and grocery shopping). It's the good old microwave! While this appliance is not always my preferred method of cooking (ever tried baking a regular cake in the microwave?), I do rely on it pretty frequently in my kitchen.
by
Seems each summer I get a brainy idea to do some taste testing. Remember when we did the hot dog taste tests the other year? All I had to do was buy a whole bunch of different kinds and then coordinate the test day and the toothpicks and labels so that I could keep all the kinds straight. Try, taste and rate - the fun, fun, fun part of any taste-testing endeavor. If you've got some organizer in you, it can even be fun to make up some rating papers with the different "mystery items" and a range of numbers for rating, complete with a space for personalized comments.
by
Ever since the invention of the microwave oven, frozen food has become an American institution, and that is unlikely to change. From garlic bread to pizzas, at some point we Americans couldn't be bothered with the inconvenience of buttering bread. But let's face it, whether for health reasons, economy, or pure quality and taste, some foods are better fresh than frozen, and are more than worth an extra five minutes of your time to make that frozen food fresh, fast.
by
An old college friend of mine is a young mother of four children, all below the age of seven. It goes without saying that, among our group of friends from the old days, we hardly see her. Such is the life of balancing the domestic duties of raising four very young and active children, managing the household, making dinner, and ensuring that, each week, she and her businessman husband have time for themselves. We got to catch up a few weeks ago and I inquired how she manages it all: the children, children's sports, dinnertime, and marriage time. She had some great...
by
If you ever get a chance to baby sit some chickens, let me give you a tip. Do not, I repeat, do not, wear sandals into the pasture, especially if you have a brightly colored polish on. The chickens will storm your toes thinking they are some delicious new snack. This is the voice of experience speaking here.
by
It's hard to keep straight all the diets that are out there, along with what is in and what is out as far as following a balanced lifestyle. In the last few years I have known more than a few people who have gone on a low carb diet and had a lot of success with it. The slow cooker happens to be a great tool when following this type of diet since it does such a good job of cooking protein items such as meats and beans. But what if, on the other hand, your diet necessitates that you eat lots of carbohydrates? That is the position I am in right now, because I have been...