Recipes to Keep You Fueled and Focused
Recipes and photos by Meghan Yager When it comes to starting the New Year off on the right foot, you have to focus on the first meal of each day. Whether you prefer a grab-and-go smoothie, a big bowl of warm overnight oats, or a handheld egg sandwich, we’ve got some ideas that’ll keep you fueled and focused all morning long. Freezer Frittata Sandwiches Makes: 6 Sandwiches | Time: 55 minutes Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil...
All I Want For Christmas is Food
Photos and recipes by Meghan YAGER ‘Tis the season for spending time with family, and one of the best places to make memories is the kitchen! This month, with mugs of slow cooker hot chocolate in hand, bring the gratitude and holiday feelings to life by baking classic gingerbread cookies and a seasonal eggnog pull apart loaf. Pull Apart Eggnog Loaf WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING Serves: 4 to 6 | Time: 55 minutes for the dough: 2...
An Autumn Assortment
TIPS & TRICKS These three recipes make for a great three-course dinner for your next gathering! All the recipes come together in a little over two hours of cooking time, plus dessert can cook while you eat the main course. Pumpkin Sage Fettuccine Alfredo Serves: 4 Time: 30 minutes 1 pound fettuccine 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 tablespoons flour 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 garlic cloves, minced 4 cups low-fat milk 2...
Campfire Cocktails
There’s nothing that goes together with the cool onset of autumn quite like a campfire with friends and family. Whether it’s actually tented-up in the great outdoors or just around the homestead firepit, this small batch of camping-inspired libations will be sure to keep you just as toasty on the inside as you’re feeling on the outside, with only a few small extras tossed into the camping chest. Hot Mint Chocolate Toddy Fireside Old...
Cozy Sunday Cooking
Recipes and photos By Meghan Bassett The seasons are changing and a cold breeze will be heading our way in no time. Cozy up to a weekend bowl of creamy pumpkin soup, or heat things for sports with spicy chicken tortilla soup. You can even pair them with a slice of homemade no-rise bacon and sage bread. All recipes serve from 6 to 8 people. Creamy PUMPKIN SOUP INGREDIENTS 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 small white onion, chopped 2...
Potato Puree with Roasted Garlic
1 1/2 lbs potatoes 6 cloves garlic, unpeeled 1 Tbsp olive oil 8 oz. milk 1 stick butter, at room temperature 1/2 bunch of fresh parsley salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste » Preheat the oven to 350°F. Put the unpeeled garlic cloves on a baking tray, drizzle them with olive oil, and bake for 30 minutes until tender. Peel the roasted garlic. » Wash and peel potatoes, then put them into a saucepan with cold salted water....
Craft.
When I was much younger all I really knew about beer was that it wasn’t something you were supposed to enjoy. Wine, sure—I remember the swirling of the glasses and the uncorking and hearing about how these really old “vintage” wines were supposed to be so spectacular and all the ladies gathering around the table with whites and reds and crackers, but nobody ever said anything like that about beer. Beer was the cans on the bottom...
Global Gastronomy
Incorporating the flavors of Asian cuisine in your own kitchen can be a little intimidating at first. But this month we’ll help you discover how to reinterpret a few everyday dishes with some unique twists that you and your family will love. Whether you are hosting a party or planning an easy weeknight meal, we hope we can open your eyes to a whole new world of flavor. Banh Mi Noodles 1 pound ground pork 1 inch piece of ginger, peeled...
Power Bowls
Get bowled over with nutritious meals! Eating healthy in the spring doesn’t mean that things have to be flavorless! Get your fill from a single bowl packed with protein, veggies, and grains that’s easy to make, easy to eat, and easy to clean up. Each recipe makes two bowls. Tips & Tricks You can easily make these bowls ahead of time at the start of the week to make your lunches for the week! Each recipe makes two servings so they...
Cooking for Comfort
Whether it’s to a sick loved one or a friend living across the country, send your love with comforting recipes everyone will swoon over. You know the smile will be from ear-to-ear when the recipient opens this box of goodness. Harvest Bread 3 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons salt ½ teaspoon sugar ¾ teaspoon instant yeast 1½ cups + 2 tablespoons room temperature water Add flour, salt, yeast and sugar to a large bowl. Whisk together...
Juiced!
Fresh fruit juice is a versatile ingredient that can be put in practically everything! From fruity smoothies to healthier cocktails to desserts with a pop of bright flavors, you are going to have a hard time resisting these freshly squeezed recipes! Lemon Berry Bars For the crust: 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs 6 tablespoons salted butter, melted 1/4 cup sugar zest of 1 lemon For the filling: 2 large egg yolks 14 ounce can...
From Our Table to Yours
Each year we try to round up a handful of holiday favorite recipes from some of our corporate family members—recipes that remind us of our own traditions. We’re happy to share a few of them with you this month. Maybe there are a few like them in your own family’s recipe books? Aunt Bettie’s Sausage Squares Lyle Crepes Knoephla Soup Christmas Cheer Christmas Morning Cinnamon Rolls Bakery Lemon Bars Jennifer’s Mac N Cheese Sugar Coated...
Cheers!
The taste of the holiday season The holiday season is upon us and that means only one thing—it’s party time! For all your holiday parties through the New Year, bring the class and sass with some fun new takes on cocktails and appetizers that everyone will love (and even a bonus treat they can take home at the end of the night). Happy new year! Sparkling Holiday Punch 1 cup pomegranate juice ¼ cup orange juice ½ cup 100% cranberry...
Elevate Thanksgiving
It’s funny how such an iconic foodie holiday can become a little tired. Yes, we all look forward to that giant turkey, cranberry sauce from a can, and sweet potato puffs, but this year, why not try presenting things in a new way to your guests? Roasted Garlic & Herb Cornish Game Hens 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons salt 1/4 cup granulated sugar 6 garlic cloves 1/2 tablespoon black peppercorns 1 teaspoon onion powder 1/2 teaspoon ground...
Feel Good Fall Food
When you’re trying to watch your weight, you don’t have to eat like a rabbit to get the job done. Eat healthy and stay full with fresh ingredients and flavors to make the onset of autumn a little better for your waistline. Lemon Garlic Roasted Chicken Thighs 2 pounds bone-in chicken thighs 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 2½ tablespoons lemon juice ½ teaspoon brown sugar 4 cloves garlic, minced Lemon slices Salt and pepper to...
Low and Slow
Trying tagine cooking Although the tagine’s exact origins are debated, this two-piece clay pot with a distinctive cone-shaped top is synonymous with Moroccan cuisine, famous for its fragrant, tender stews chock full of vegetables, meats, and fruits. A colorful tagine simmering on the stovetop adds to the convivial atmosphere at a dinner party, and when presented at the table for serving, it delivers the wow factor. Cooking with a...
Your Fair Share
Who doesn’t love going to the State Fair of Texas every summer? You might not be able to hit the fair more than once or twice each year, so why not take a bit of inspiration home with you? I’m bringing some of that fun right into your own kitchen with some fun fair-inspired recipes that you won’t be able to get enough of. Kick up those boots and let’s get to cooking, shall we? Fried Chicken Waffle Cones with Spicy Honey Drizzle For...
Staying Healthy, The Flavorful Way
Just because you want to eat healthy this year, that doesn’t mean that you need to sacrifice big, bold flavors! All too often there’s an assumption that healthy food is bland and often unenjoyable. This assumption couldn’t be more wrong (and coming from an avid chocolate, cheese and carb-eater, that’s a pretty big statement!). Whether it’s a quick portable breakfast, or a low-carb, high-protein meal, you can pack a lot of flavor in...
Is Your Diet Aging You?
We’ve all heard the saying, “you are what you eat.” No doubt, the foods we ingest have a big impact on what we see in the mirror — and we’re not just talking about a few extra pounds around the mid-section. I’m just going to give it to you straight. Plain and simple, your diet could be (prematurely) aging you. But, here’s the good news. A few changes to your eating habits now can help to keep your skin looking youthful, and your body...
Getting Back to the Garden
With spring just around the corner, it’s time to get back to the fresh and bright flavors, straight from the garden! As winter slowly fades away, I immediately start making plans for this year’s garden. There’s something so satisfying about growing your own vegetables, fruits, and herbs right in your backyard. These fresh, bright, and light recipes are perfect for your lunches or your next Meatless Monday dinner. You’ll get all your...
Cuisine: Heating Up – Calabrian Chiles
As a culture we’ve got a fixation with spicy foods that’s tough to ignore. The local supermarket has 80 kinds of hot sauce, harissa paste is blowing up, and Sriracha is in everything from ketchup to mayonnaise and adorns phone cases, coffee mugs, t-shirts, and everything else. If you’re looking for the next big (hot) thing, give Calabrian chiles a try! What are they? Similar in size to a peperoncino but bright red in color, Calabrian...
Winter Comfort, Texas Style
Straight to the healthy stuff in the New Year? To each his or her own, but there’s nothing right with getting back to our roots and enjoying some classics that we all know and love. This month I’m cooking up three big classics that you and the entire family can fall in love with any night of the week. Previously reserved for Sunday night suppers, you can do these as weeknight friendly meals. Whether you have a slow cooker or less than...
Hearty Holidays
This time of year can be one of the most stressful, especially when it comes to cooking. With so many recipes to choose from and an endless desire to show off for all of your friends and family, the pressure is on. No need to fear. We’ve got the ultimate meal that’ll have guests singing your praises for years to come. Happy eating! Chipotle Raspberry Braised Short Ribs Serves 4 Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 55 minutes Total time: 1...
From Our Table To Yours
Every family has their own traditions when it comes to get-together food—the recipes that get brought out when it’s time share stories and celebrate another year together. Our tradition at Living is sharing a few of our own recipes old and new with you, and we’re back with another handful. Slide up! Let us know if our recipes are a hit! The Most Awesome Chocolate Fudge Butterscotch Breakfast Rolls Christmas Strudel Dessert Potatoes...
Let’s Talk Turkey
Put the best bird they’ve ever had on the table this Thanksgiving It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve roasted a turkey, if you’re like most people, there’s still a pang of anxiety as you stand over the giant freezers at the supermarket come November. It makes sense—people pay a lot of attention to that famous fowl, and you only get one crack at it! This month, a few pointers to make sure you come through with flying colors...
Fries
Who can resist a hot and crispy plate of French fries right out of the fryer or oven? More than just the fast food variety (delicious as they are), we take a look this month at a few takes on the perfect potato provisions—ready to be prepared in the comfort of your own kitchen. – Brandon Daiker Poutine This is a Montreal classic, and it’s easy to see why, if you think about the winter weather there. A portion of fries with gravy and...
Boneified
Ensuring your family’s food is rich in vital nutrients without losing flavor can be a challenge. Rich in minerals, nutrients, collagen, and amino acids, these vital components of bone broth make it a time-honored, nutrient-dense food that cultures all over the world have used for centuries. Today, this 1,000-year-old trend is being celebrated again. Try these paleo-friendly and gluten-free recipes incorporating bone broth and see what...
A Cup of Good Health!
The power of tea You can’t beat iced tea when it comes to liquid relief from the Texas heat. And on a chilly winter day, a nice, hot cup of tea warms you up. But there’s more to tea than its thirst quenching and comforting abilities—it can actually be just what the doctor ordered. As it turns out, tea contains substances that have been linked to a lower risk for diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and other health problems, including...
Guilt-Free and Healthy!
Dinner that everyone will love Turn your dinner into something healthy this month! No need to give up on flavor; these recipes taste so incredible no one will care that they’re actually good for them. The holiday season is coming up and we all know what that means… time to get out the stretchy pants, because you’ll be packing on a few pounds by the end of the year. You want to know my solution to fending off the extra weight? I keep...
A Modern Twist on Ancient Grains
From the plains of Mesopotamia to the mountains of Mesoamerica, grains historically provided strength and nourishment to early civilizations. Today, “ancient” grains such as spelt, amaranth, teff, and of course, quinoa, are found not only in history books, but on our tables. In fact, ancient grain products that used to be carried primarily in health food stores and co-ops are almost everywhere you look these days—on restaurant menus,...
Switch to Switchel
Possibly the Best Summer Beverage You’ve Never Heard Of Tart, tangy, zippy, and packing a hint of heat, switchel is a remarkably, and somewhat oddly, refreshing drink. Just right for those so-hot-you-can-fry-an-egg-on-the-sidewalk Texas days! “Switch what?” you ask. Joining the growing group of trendy organic fermented beverages, switchel is actually a centuries-old thirst quencher. Used in the Colonial era to hydrate and energize,...
Crazy Indulgent Desserts…
No Oven Required! Turning on the oven in the Texan summer is something you want to avoid just about as much as a sunburn. As much as I would love to bake up a warm pie for dessert, the idea of adding sweltering heat to my kitchen in the dead of August is less than appealing. That’s why I head for these cool, creamy, and insanely indulgent no-bake treats. They’re quick and stress-free, and I promise you won’t miss any of those...
Fancy Dinners From Your Freezer?
Our Best Make-Ahead Meals These freezer meals aren’t your typical recipes. They’ve been elevated to make your weeknight meals extraordinary; no one will know they’re freezer meals! You just got home from work. As you slip off your heels on the way to the kitchen, your stomach rumbles and you start running through the list of meals you know by heart in your head. As you open the fridge to scour for food, you realize you don’t have half...
Dig In!
Discover Texan culinary delights you have to experience at least once in your lifetime The eateries of Texas are about as diverse as its landscape. From mom and pop diners to roadside pit-smoked barbecue, our state unabashedly serves up dishes claiming to be world-famous. But why don’t you be the judge? While taste buds are subjective and this is in no way a comprehensive list, we think you’ll experience something special at any of...
Cheers!
How to Host a Tasting That’ll Make Your Guests Say “Yay!” It sounds so simple. Let’s get together and try a few different libations! But how exactly do you turn an informal wine or beer gathering into a fun, relaxing, and interactive tasting experience for you and your guests? First you have some decisions to make. To Blind Taste or Not? We recommend a blind tasting, meaning that you’ve used something to disguise the bottle. Sampling...
Texas Smoke
The Art of Low and Slow Barbecue* *Barbecue, Barbeque, BBQ, or Bar-B-Que? The word barbecue comes from the Caribbean word barbacoa. The standard modern English spelling is barbecue, but there are several other accepted variations, including those above. No matter how it’s spelled, it means good eatin’! Nothing appeals to our primal instincts like juicy, smoke-kissed meat. If you find yourself dashing to the nearest “Q” joint every...
For The Love of Peas!
Though they may look unassuming, there’s nothing humble about tender, succulent peas plucked from the garden. Cloaked in deceptively ordinary looking pods, peas are bursting with sweet flavor and pack a snappy punch of vitamins and minerals. In fact, fresh peas are a nutrient-rich superfood considered to be beneficial for health and well-being. This year, consider starting a tradition of springtime “foraging” for new peas at your...
Simply Sous Vide
For the last two months I’ve been cooking meat in plastic bags dunked into what amounts to a bucket of hot water. It sounds weird, but the results have converted this skeptic into a believer—steakhouse quality beef, impossibly juicy chicken breast, tender fish, and better-than-barbecue ribs. That’s the miracle of sous vide—all you need is a tall stock pot, some zip-top bags, a sous vide device, and something to cook! What the heck is...
Mood Food
Perfectly romantic dinner plans Your heart is going pitter patter and you want to make sure that your Valentine plans are not just romantic, but perfect. So what’s the key to planning a great dinner and overall romantic evening during one of the most amorous times of the year? According to statistics by the National Restaurant Association, as many as 70 million Americans will be dining out on February 14. That means you want to make...
Coming to a Boil
2016’s Hottest Food Trends as Chosen by Nearly 1,600 Chefs Locally sourced meats and seafood reign atop this year’s list of the hottest food trends, fully detailed in the National Restaurant Association’s annual “What’s Hot” culinary forecast. Close runners up include locally grown produce, local sourcing, and natural ingredients produced with environmental sustainability in mind. Detecting a trend? More and more people are choosing...
Moroccan Chicken with Carrot Purée
Brighten a drab winter evening with this colorful dish. Its complex flavor profile offers a perfect balance of spicy, sweet, and bitter flavors. Serves six. TIP: Prepare the carrot purée and your homemade harissa a day or two ahead of time. 6 boneless, skin-on chicken breasts, pounded to a ¾” thickness 16 tablespoons (1 cup) olive oil Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste 4 cups chicken broth 2 pounds carrots, cut into 1⁄4”...
A Cup of Christmas Cheer
These traditional wintertime drinks are sure to spice up your holidays. Home-Whipped Bourbon Eggnog You can’t dispute the absolute excellence of a chilled glass of nutmeg-enhanced eggnog with a delightful spike of bourbon on Christmas Eve. Instead of serving your favorite folks the store-bought sludge—often pumped up with artificial sweeteners, corn syrup, carrageenan or other thickeners, and sometimes containing no actual eggs at...
From Our Table to Yours
Everyone loves the holiday potluck—and every family has their own faves that have to be on the table at each get-together, many of which come with built-in history and special stories. We’ve gathered up a few of those favorites from our family here at Living to share with you. Pull up a chair! Chess Cake Country Peach Cobbler Maple Pumpkin Pie Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie Ham and Cheese Party Sandwiches Baked Stuffing Balls...
Dining Fine
Keep your kitchen interesting by choosing some luxurious culinary standouts. We’ve all been there. You’ve decided to commemorate a special occasion by cooking something a little out of the ordinary, and now you’re faced with the prospect of dropping a bill or two on some gourmet eats that you’re not entirely sure how to cook or use. We’re here to help! In keeping with this issue’s theme, we’ve decided to spotlight a few luxurious...
Peasant Noodles
1 cup all purpose flour, per person 1 egg, per person 2 cups chicken broth pan juices from roasting, optional salt, to taste » In a large mixing bowl, add your flour (1 cup = 1 serving). Add a little salt, then stir in your eggs (also 1 per serving). » The dough will be dry—keep mixing and pressing the dough together with your fork until there’s a pretty solid dough with some remaining unincorporated flour in the bottom of the...
Pan Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
1 lb fresh Brussels sprouts 6-8 ounces thick-cut bacon 2 Tbsp salted butter salt and pepper, to taste grated Parmesan cheese » Preheat a large cast iron or non-stick pan over medium high-heat. While the pan is heating, cut your bacon into bite-sized pieces. » Add the bacon to the pan and let it fry over medium-high heat. Season it with some black pepper. Meanwhile, rinse your sprouts, then cut them lengthwise down the center into...
Roasted Garlic Chicken with Oregano, Lemon, and White Wine
8 chicken thighs 2 onions, quartered lemon, sliced 6 garlic cloves, peeled 4 Tbsp olive oil 1/2 cup dry white wine 1 1/2 cups chicken stock oregano sprigs salt and pepper, to taste » Preheat the oven to 350 ºF. While it’s preheating, prepare your onion, garlic, and lemon. » Place the chicken thighs, onion, lemon slices, garlic, oregano, and olive oil in a large bowl, salt and pepper to taste, toss to combine, then transfer to a...
Roasted Pork Loin with Bell Peppers and Zucchini
1 or 2 pork tenderloins (about 1 1/2 lbs total) 1 zucchini 1 red bell pepper 1 yellow bell pepper 2 red onions 10 oz. fresh or frozen peas 4 Tbsp olive oil salt and cracked black pepper to taste » Preheat the oven to 350 °F. Combine some of the olive oil with salt and pepper and pour the mixture over the pork loins. Cover and set aside for 30 minutes. » Cut vegetables into pieces and put on a baking tray. Add peas. Season with salt...
Homemade Feta and Nectarine Bruschetta
1 baguette, thinly sliced into ovals 6 nectarines, thinly sliced (ripe but not too soft) 1 cup feta cheese, crumbled honey dried thyme » Toast slices of bread in a hot frying pan. » Arrange nectarines on the toasted bread. » Spread feta cheese over the nectarines. » Drizzle with honey and garnish with...
Warm French Green Bean Salad
16 ounces fresh green beans 4 tablespoons olive oil 1 cup cherry tomatoes 2 tablespoons black olives, sliced 1/3 cup feta cheese, crumbled wheat croutons salt and pepper to taste » Cook the green beans in boiling water for 5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to colander. Heat a pan with olive oil, add tomatoes and roast them for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the green beans to the tomatoes and cook for 2...
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