Food & Dining

How Do You Roux? Have You Tried the Oven? As soon as the weather gets crisp, I start thinking about gumbo. I love to eat it, but I struggle with making it. I didn't grow up in a gumbo making family. I don't have a Cajun grandmother. What was I to do? I turned to my cookbooks, friends, and of course the internet. I watched countless videos and read recipes. I just had one problem ... they all started the same way, first, you make a roux and I was done before I started. I've made a simple blonde roux before for baked macaroni and cheese, but I struggled with that deep roux I wanted for gumbo. I didn't want to use a...

The Easiest Dinner You'll Ever Make I'm so tired of cooking; I don't mind doing it and while there are times I enjoy it during the week, I just wish I was doing something else. I want to spend those few, short, hours after school and work actually engaging with my kids and my husband, not standing at the stove while they talk and play. I want easy dinner, and no, not take out. I'm not against take out or dining out, it is a weekend staple, but my wallet and our health prefer home cooking. This chicken dish has become a go-to favorite, thanks to the variety of dishes we can create with it. It is not labor intensive, cooks...

Did You Say Charcuterie? I jumped on the charcuterie board train when they became popular a few years ago, and I’ve been riding the trend ever since because this is exactly how I like to eat! I’ve been known to forgo dinner choosing to indulge in what I call my "fancy" snacks from favorite niche grocery stores Sprouts and Trader Joes. Charcuterie boards have become a fun and fancy way to serve and eat my fancy snacks. Also, if you have finicky eaters, try introducing new foods on a charcuterie platter and watch your family turn into foodies! The nice thing about charcuterie boards is that there are so many options. They can be made to serve one person, e.g., a charcuterie...

November is Sweet Potato Awareness Month This tasty vegetable is a must on our menu for Thanksgiving. Sweet potatoes are very nutritious and have an excellent source of vitamin C, and potassium. Sweet potatoes can be prepared in several different ways, such as fried, baked and even boiled which is known to be the healthiest way to cook a sweet potato. The holiday season is near, and I have listed some names of dishes that you can prepare with your sweet potatoes. Whether you boil and drizzle with honey or mash and top with pecans and marshmallows, sweet potatoes have become a staple at Thanksgiving tables.  What is a Sweet Potato? Sweet potatoes are large, starchy, sweet-tasting vegetables that are native to...

Taco Rice Bowl :: Build Your Own Quick Dinner Ideas Our family is full of varying pallets when it comes to food. It can make dinner prep...difficult. Build Your Own anything-type bowls have quickly become fan favorites around here! This is one of our favorites! Most, if not all ingredients can be altered depending on your family's likes or dislikes. The gist is you pile rice, seasoned meat, cheese, taco seasoning, veggies, and chips--Dorito's to make it super kid friendly! In our house we cook basmati rice in bulk (because its the best) as we eat a lot of Asian inspired dishes. While this meal isn't Asian, it does help speed up dinner. We often use a rotisserie chicken, broken down and...