A King Cake for Mardi Gras

By Joanne Lamb Hayes
For The Family Table, a blog for busy families

At my house, Mardi Gras always caused a big debate. Are we going to have pancakes, doughnuts or King Cake? Now that everyone is grown up and my grandchildren get a vote, this King Cake easily wins but I suspect some members of the family might pick up a doughnut on their way to work or home from school.

The egg-free dough is easily prepared in a food processor or mixer and even very young children like to roll out, roll up, shape and taste a bite of the dough.

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You won’t Miss the Turkey with this Stuffed Squash

By Jennifer Knapp
A new video for Video Friday

I love Thanksgiving, because it’s the one holiday where the entire country comes together to prepare a meal with friends and family. Many people have their own ways to cook the turkey and make the mashed potatoes and stuffing, but sometimes, it’s fun to mix it up and add in a new recipe that complements your traditional standbys.

Roasted Delicata Squash with Quinoa, Feta and Apple is an impressive and beautiful addition to your Thanksgiving table. It’s a side dish that features fall ingredients such as winter squash, crunchy apples, juicy pomegranate seeds and freshly-harvested walnuts. And if you are hosting some non-meat eaters at your table, this delicious recipe is hearty enough to serve as a vegetarian main course.

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Roasted Herb Chicken with Pistachio Salsa

By Zoe McLaughlin
A new video for Video Friday

Roasted chicken thighs are easy to make, but ordinary. Dress them up by rubbing an herb paste under the skin to season the meat and create a ton of flavor without a lot of work. It’s important to use fresh herbs when making the paste because fresh herbs have a brighter, cleaner flavor than dried ones.

Use a mortar and pestle or finely chop the herbs together to release the oils, intensifying the fragrance. This recipe uses chicken thighs but you could use skin-on chicken breast or even a whole chicken. The key is to separate the chicken skin from the flesh, leaving the sides of the skin attached, creating a pocket for the herbs, to seal in the flavor.

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A Good Date Meal

By Jess Ziman
A new video for Video Friday

A few months ago, a friend of mine told me a story of a near disastrous first date she went on. The whole date sounded dreamy – a dashing man had invited her to his home to cook her a romantic candlelit meal for two. She was all smiles and ready to be swept away by his gesture.

However, her face quickly fell when she found out what the meal was: boiled vegetables (from a frozen packet) and quinoa. His humdrum fare frankly muffled any mojo that may have been between them that night.

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How to Warm Tortillas

By Jess Ziman

How do you heat your tortillas? They can be soft and slightly warmed, or toasted for a smoky taste. Whether you are making gourmet tacos for a boozy night with your buddies or trying to repurpose some leftovers for a quick dinner with the family, these techniques will help you get the job done.

Once you learn this simple technique, try my recipe for Tilapia Tacos with Peach, Corn and Black Bean Salsa before all the summer produce disappear.

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