CookingThyme: links

Showing posts with label links. Show all posts

Summer Flavors: Great Grains

>> Tuesday, June 19, 2012 – grain, links, recipes, summer

It's time to expand your grain repertoire! Here are some tasty recipes using bulgur wheat and quinoa.

All-Natural Tabbouleh | Cajun Bulgur Salad | Classic Tabbouleh

Strawberry, Quinoa, and Chopped Spinach Salad | Quinoa Breakfast Cereal | Mexican Sweet Potato Quinoa Salad

Food for Thought: Weight of the Nation

>> Thursday, June 14, 2012 – documentary, food for thought, links, recommended

HBO recently released an in-depth, four-part documentary that takes a close look at the obesity epidemic in America. Much of it has to do with how we eat and how food is marketed to us. Click here if you're interested in watching.

Summer Flavors: Flatbreads

>> Thursday, June 7, 2012 – flatbread, fun ideas, links, recipes, summer

One of the best things about summer is the combo of fresh veggies and outdoor eats. One of our favorites for picnics, deck dinners or outdoor parties are flatbreads. These recipes look mighty tasty, and perfect for summer!

(clockwise from top left)

Kitchen Finds: Terrain

>> Thursday, May 31, 2012 – dishes, gadgets, kitchen finds, links

Terrain is one of our favorite places to find fun and pretty dishes and gifts. Here's a few of our recent favorites:

Mason Jar Shaker Set | Eat Sign | Porcelain Nested Measuring Cups | Weck Jar Set

Make it: weekend breakfast.

>> Thursday, April 26, 2012 – breakfast, links, recipes, spring

We think the best way to start the weekend is with delicious foods shared with your family. Here's our favorites for a tasty weekend breakfast...

Blueberry Coffee Cake

Oatmeal Brulee

Asparagus and Soft Eggs on Toast

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

-The CookingThyme Team

Quick tips: bringing butter to room temp, testing your oven and the perfect chicken breast

>> Wednesday, April 25, 2012 – links, quick tips

1. Check out these tips for bringing butter and eggs to room temperature from My Baking Addiction.

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2. Do you know your oven's hot spots? Use this bread test from Cooking Light to find out!

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3. The Kitchn has a great method for cooking moist and tender chicken breasts, perfect for salads and pastas!

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And that's a wrap on today's tips!

-The CookingThyme Team

Time for a picnic!

>> Friday, April 20, 2012 – fun ideas, links, picnic, spring

Springtime is upon us! What better way to celebrate the season than by planning a picnic with your family or friends? Here are some of our favorite ideas for a simple and tasty picnic.

photo via The Decorated Cookie

1. Mason jars are a fun way to package your picnic items! Salads, pastas, drinks and even desserts can be stacked or layered in jars. Keep dressings at the bottom of the jar and shake just before eating!

photo via 100 Layer Cake

2. For easy transport, pack individual lunch boxes for your crew.

photo via

3. Why not try a new sandwich topping? We love these ideas from Parents magazine.

photo via Honest Fare

4. We love finding a healthier take on traditional snack foods. Kale chips are the perfect picnic snack!

photo via Our Best Bites

5. Your picnic-goers are sure to love these Toffee Chocolate Chip Bars!

photo via Spoon Fork Bacon

6. Hand-held desserts are a great choice for picnic. These Baked Apple Pie Rolls sure look tasty!

What's your favorite picnic food?

Quick tips: storing cheese, dinner swaps and cutting avocados

>> Thursday, February 23, 2012 – avocado, dinner swap, links, quick tips, storing cheese

1. Did you know the best way to store your cheese is wrapped in parchment? Experts recommend not wrapping your cheese in plastic, which suffocates the cheese, reducing the flavor. Find out more on The Kitchn.
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2. Dinner swaps are a fun, cost-saving way for families to join together to manage weeknight meals. Real Simple recommends that four families each make a big-batch meal and deliver the meal to each of the other three families, resulting in four families with four complete meals for the week! Have you tried a dinner swap?
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3. We love this Cookin' Canuck tutorial, explaining the easiest way to prepare an avocado.

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Hearts abound

>> Tuesday, February 14, 2012 – breakfast, dinner, fun ideas, heart-shaped recipes, holidays, links, valentine's day

Happy Valentine's Day from CookingThyme! Spread the love with these heart-shaped recipes:

1. French Toast with Stewed Berries from Yummy Mummy

2. Delicious Roasted Potatoes from Haniela's Food and Photography

3. Heart-Shaped Eggs and Toast from Martha Stewart

4. Hot Chocolate with Marshmallow Hearts from Martha Stewart

-The CookingThyme Team

Foodie gadgets + tools.

>> Tuesday, January 31, 2012 – fun ideas, gadgets, links

Fred & Friends has quirky kitchen gadgets that will bring a smile to your face. First up, the Cakewich, a cake pan in the shape of bread slices.

The Pizzaboss is a pizza cutter that means business!

And finally, these Tea Cupcakes are fun and functional!

Party on!

>> Thursday, January 26, 2012 – fun ideas, links, parties

We love the party supplies over at Shop Sweet Lulu. They've got items to inspire any kind of party, from candles to cupcake stands and favor bags to milk bottles. We especially love their stripey straws and baker's twine.

If the idea of throwing a party seems overwhelming, let us do the work! We've got two party packages to choose from and kids love our cooking parties! More information is available on our website.

Foodie find: a clever bookshelf.

>> Thursday, January 19, 2012 – fun ideas, links

Here's a clever way to make a bookshelf...using old books! The shelf pictured above was made by Jim Rosenau. We love the addition of a vintage whisk, and wouldn't it be fun to use old cookbooks?

Keep things light with easy winter salads.

>> Thursday, January 12, 2012 – healthy, links, new years, recipes, salads

If you're watching your waist line or looking for lighter recipes this new year, we've got the solution: healthy winter salads that are full of flavor.

1. Pear and Blue Cheese Salad with Candied Pecans from Our Best Bites

2. Arugula with Pomegranate, Blue Cheese and Pistachios from C + C Marriage Factory

3. Warm Butternut Squash and Chickpea Salad from Smitten Kitchen

4. Weekend Glow Kale Salad from Oh She Glows

What's your favorite salad item? Share in the comments and we'll mention it in our next post! If you're looking for quick and healthy weeknight meal ideas, you might consider joining our Supper Club beginning February 2. Find out more on our website.

Festive Holiday Treats: Acorn Whoopie Pies

>> Tuesday, November 15, 2011 – baking, fun ideas, holidays, links

We love these gorgeous acorn whoopie pies from Gilt Taste, but with a $40 price tag for one dozen, we say why not make your own? These would be perfect to give as favors for your Thanksgiving day guests or as a fun baking project with your little ones. We found a cakelet pan that looks up to the task...

What holiday treats are you planning to make or bake this season?

-Katie

CookingThyme on Go Gingham

>> Monday, November 14, 2011 – First Tuesday, holidays, links, reviews, seasonal

Sara Tetreault, the blogger behind Go Gingham, attended one of our recent First Tuesday Cooking Club classes and is sharing her experience on Go Gingham today. Head over to her blog to read the full post!

Sara, also known as the "Stylishly Frugal Living Expert," blogs about just that--living in a frugal and stylish way! She shares our belief that food is best when it's cooked at home and shared with family and friends. We especially love Sara's tips for organizing a dinner group and planning home-cooked meals.

Read Sara's full review of the First Tuesday Cooking Club here.

Thanksgiving essentials.

>> Thursday, November 3, 2011 – classes, gadgets, holidays, links

Can you believe it's November already? Thanksgiving is exactly three weeks away, which means it's time to start the preparations. Bon Appetit's Thanksgiving Checklist starts today, so I'm sure you all have your guest list done and your turkey ordered or reserved, right? Before you hop on that, check out these essential Thanksgiving gadgets that will make your turkey day a breeze.

The Turkey

1. TruTemp Digital Cooking Thermometer, $15

2. Calphalon Contemporary Stainless Roaster with Roasting Rack, $130

3. Cutco 9" Carving Knife, $93

The Gravy

4. OXO 4-Cup Fat Separator, $15

5. Pottery Barn Antique-Silver Gravy Boat, $39

The Pie

6. Crate and Barrel Ruffle Pie Dish, $23

7. Terrain Pastry Board, $44

8. iSi Mini Cream Whipper, $55

The Sides

9. WMF Stainless-Steel Potato Masher, $18

10. Williams-Sonoma Vegetable Scrubbing Gloves, $12

If it's all too overwhelming for you, sign up for our Thanksgiving Dinner 101 class on Nov. 12 to learn how to execute the meal, dessert and beyond!

-Katie

The ultimate Thanksgiving guide.

>> Thursday, October 27, 2011 – classes, fall, holidays, how to, links

Need some help with your Thanksgiving meal this year? Looking for some fresh recipes? We've found the ultimate Thanksgiving guide and we're sharing it with you! Head over to Bon Appetit to find out the secret to perfect gravy, carving tips, and a checklist to make sure that your meal turns out flawlessly.

Head over to Bon Appetit's Thanksgiving HQ for more, and if you're still feeling lost or in need of new ideas, sign up for our Thanksgiving 101 class on November 12 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. We'll be making all of our Thanksgiving favorites, with lots of extras to take home and share! Sign up here.

-Katie

What's your kitchen personality?

>> Tuesday, October 25, 2011 – fun ideas, gadgets, links

You may be a sweetheart on the street, but what's your personality in the kitchen? Are you a compulsive counter-wiper? All-star dish-stacker? We're bringing you some fun gadgets that go perfectly with your chef alter-ego.

First up, the perfectionist. You want all the vegetables chopped to precisely 1/4 inch. You've got conversions memorized. Your meals turn out flawlessly, so you need flawless gadgets. Enter the OCD cutting board! Complete with all the necessary measurements and angles.

Next, the people pleaser. When entertaining guests, you really let them have it their way. Your pizzas are half pepperoni, half Hawaiian, so why can't your pie be half apple and half cherry? The Split Decision Pie Pan is for you!

Thirdly, the clean freak. You go to bed with sore wrists from all that counter-wiping! And not a drop of meat juice will come within 10 inches of your veggies. Your dishes are clean before the cookies are even half-baked. These food-specific cutting mats will help you maintain that clean kitchen you love.

And finally, the narcissist. Your win every pie contest. Your prime rib is cooked to perfection, and let's be honest, your cupcakes are the BEST. So why not show off a little bit more with these trophy cupcake holders?

All joking aside, which gadget fits your kitchen personality? Or is your alter-ego not listed here? Let us know in the comments!

-Katie

P.S. Yesterday was national food day!