Tips for Teaching Children to Cook
Filed Under Kitchen Tips, What's Up at TIK, USA
It should come as no surprise that food and time in the kitchen are a big part of not only my work life, but my family life as well. I was raised with the whole family around the table at dinner time, TV off, no exceptions. I learned to cook first from my mom and grandma, then from friends, chefs, and experimentation. And while I have worked in restaurants and… Read
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Piña Colada Recipe for National Piña Colada Day
Filed Under Destination Features, Food History, Kitchen Tips, Recipes, Wines & Spirits, USA
Tomorrow, July 10, is national piña colada day, and in honor of it we're all about piña coladas, including an authentic recipe straight from Puerto Rico. Did you know that the piña colada was invented in Puerto Rico? That much is certain, although there is still a lot of debate over who specifically invented it. Most people think it was invented at the Caribe Hilton Hotel in the 1950's, but… Read
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Fourth of July Dessert: "Red, White, & Blue" Ricotta with Lavender Syrup and Berries
Filed Under Kitchen Tips, Recipes, Special Occasions
Fourth of July is one of our favorite holidays. For us, it's the kickoff to deep summer, to pool days, barbecues, and get togethers at the lake. We've written before about amazing recipes and ideas for this classic American holiday, but today we have a new recipe especially for the Fourth of July. Growing up, we had a lot of flag cakes on July 4th. This was because it's my… Read
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How to Make Homemade Ricotta & Making Cheese on a Cooking Vacation in Italy
Filed Under Food History, Kitchen Tips, Recipes, Italy
One of our culinary travelers' favorite activities when they participate in our Italy cooking vacations is making cheese. This is not part of every itinerary: it depends on the region and the specific cooking vacation. But many of our culinary tours in Italy include cheese making, or at least a visit to see how cheese is produced. But did you know you can easily replicate the thrill of cheesemaking in… Read
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Tlacoyos Recipe
Filed Under Destination Features, Food History, Kitchen Tips, Recipes, Mexico
When trying to describe tlacoyos to my kids, I said they were a cross between a tamale and an empanada. They have the thick, corn-masa breading on the outside, like a tamale. But unlike a tamale, they aren't steamed in corn husks, they are cooked on a hot griddle (with our without oil) or, sometimes, deep fried. Their shape is also unique, like a football that has been flattened by… Read
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An Iftar Recipe for Ramadan: Lamb Kebabi with Watermelon, Cucumber, and Herb Salad
Filed Under Kitchen Tips, Recipes, Special Occasions, Travel Tips, Turkey
Ramadan is the holy month for Muslims around the world, a time of fasting, prayer, and charity. The dates of Ramadan change each year (moving forward by 15 days), because it follows a nine-month, lunar calendar, but the month-long rituals remain the same and are meant to commemorate the month in which the Quran was revealed to Muhammad. Each year you can find the approximate dates of Ramadan, but its… Read
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