Russian Tea Cake Recipe for National Cookie Day
Filed Under Food History, Kitchen Tips, Recipes, Special Occasions
Tomorrow is National Cookie Day, so why not dedicate a blog to everyone's favorite sweet treat? The word "cookie" originally comes from the Dutch word "koekje," meaning cake. Of course, much of the English-speaking world calls them "biscuits," but that just shows how influential Dutch immigrants were on the development of American English. Cookies were originally made as a way to test oven temperature. Bakers could use a small bit… Read
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Visiting the Fish Market in Saint-Tropez
Filed Under Destination Features, Travel Tips, France
One of the most gorgeous towns of the French Riviera, Saint-Tropez shines like a jewel in the bright sun of southern France. Its peach-walled buildings, sparkling yachts, white sand beaches, and expensive shops make it one of the most picturesque of French villages. And, as a result, one of the most popular among the world's celebrities. But Saint-Tropez is also at heart a fishing village, as The International Kitchen's Adrian… Read
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Happy National Chocolate Day & A Recipe for Easy Chocolate Mousse
Filed Under Food History, Recipes, Special Occasions
Happy National Chocolate Day! Surely one of the best food days of the year, National Chocolate Day celebrates this wonderful product. Whether you like yours hot or cold, liquid or solid, bittersweet or milk, chocolate remains one of the most beloved of foods. We're feting it ourselves with a delicious chocolate mouse recipe, below, but first, let's talk about chocolate! A History of Chocolate What exactly is chocolate? Chocolate is… Read
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Creamy Potato, Leek, and Spinach Soup
Filed Under Kitchen Tips, Recipes, What's Up at TIK
Fall is one of our favorite culinary times of the year. Not only do we love the fall produce that you can find at local markets throughout Europe, but we love the return of soup season! At our home, we have soup at least twice a week during the fall and winter. It's the easiest way for me to get my kids to eat vegetables, and who doesn't love a… Read
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Visiting the Palais des Papes in Avignon
Filed Under Destination Features, Travel Tips, France
It sometimes surprises travelers that the largest Gothic palace in the world is the Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes) and that it lies not in Rome, but in Avignon, France! It is not only one of the most visited sites in France, it is one of the most popular cultural sites explored by our culinary travelers in Provence. In fact, most of our cooking vacations in Provence include… Read
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How to Make Homemade Sauerkraut and Fermented Carrots: Fermenting 101
Filed Under Food History, Kitchen Tips, Recipes, What's Up at TIK, Wines & Spirits, USA
Fermentation is all the rage in foodie circles. From kombucha to kimchi, yogurt to sauerkraut, it may seem like the next new food fad. Fermented foods have been getting press lately as doctors and dietitians promote it as a path to better gut health. Instead of taking a probiotic pill, why not try naturally fermented foods that you can make at home? It is easy, delicious, and good for you.… Read
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Highlights of our Tuscan Villa Culinary Vacation in the Chianti
Filed Under Destination Features, Travel Tips, What's Up at TIK, Italy
Have you dreamed about renting a luxury Tuscan villa and exploring the wonderful gastronomy of Italy on a Tuscany food and wine tour? How about cooking with a friendly and accomplished local chef to learn to make traditional Tuscan and Italian dishes? We're very excited to show off our recently revamped Tuscan villa cooking vacation in the Chianti. Of course, we have a lot of amazing culinary tours in Tuscany.… Read
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The Best Labor Day Menu for 2021
Filed Under Kitchen Tips, Recipes, Special Occasions, What's Up at TIK, Wines & Spirits, USA
Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer. Kids start back to school, the weather starts to turn, and fall is just around the corner. Every year Labor Day is one of my favorite holidays. Sure, my garden by this point looks horrid, as I've invariably let the weeds take over. And my kids are usually as unruly as the garden at this point, and I am ready to send… Read
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What Is It Like to Travel to Europe Right Now?
Filed Under Destination Features, Travel Tips, What's Up at TIK, Greece
After more than a year with no travel, the experience of being on vacation in Greece felt like a breath of fresh air and gave us a newfound gratitude for being able to go abroad once again. Binging travel shows while stuck at home is no substitute for the rejuvenation you get from the real thing! What It's Like to Fly to Europe Right Now Our journey from Chicago to Athens was… Read
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5 Great Things to Do with Watermelon: The Ultimate Summer Food
Filed Under Food History, Kitchen Tips, Recipes, Special Occasions, USA
Today is National Watermelon Day, and in honor of one of our favorite summer foods we're featuring five amazing ways to use this summer staple. Of course, the best way to enjoy watermelon might just be the old fashioned way - slice by slice - but we've found a number of ways to jazz it up on a hot summer day. #1 Watermelon Salsa Ingredients: 2 cups watermelon, cut into… Read
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