Although florals and frills can make a grand impact on a wedding cake, so too can geometric shapes, mod detail, and other unexpected contemporary flourishes. For the nontraditional couple, we've rounded up 25 eye-popping cakes that are guaranteed to serve guests an impressive bite. Take a peek and get inspired!
Before my nose fully reached the countertop, my grandmother would show me how to fry up a piece of bacon just to render the bacon fat for my favorite lady pea recipe. After all, the Southern attitude is of the "who needs spices or herbs when bacon's flavor will saturate and perfect just about any dish?" mentality. I've maintained that perspective in my kitchen today, and urge you to do the same. If you've been prone to toss out the liquid gold after frying up a few pieces of bacon, for goodness' sake, stop! Let me show you how to handle, store, and use bacon grease.
Leeks may look (and taste) lovely, but all it takes is one bite of tragically sandy potato leek soup to realize that there's a surprising amount of gritty soil lurking between their many layers. Over the years we've tried a few methods to deal with this unglamorous task — some more successful than others — and have since then settled on a quick and dirty method that'll help you speed through meal prep. Keep reading for our step-by-step tutorial.
When building salads, it's far too easy to get stuck in a rut. You know what works, buy the same ingredients, and inevitably eat green leaf lettuce with black olives, sliced tomatoes, and shredded carrots everyday. However, with a little creativity and an open mind at the grocery store, you can enjoy a fabulous variety of healthful yet crave-worthy salads on a regular basis. To get inspired, take a walk around the produce section and be inspired by the vegetables and fruits you come across. Try a new lettuce or pick up a veggie you're unfamiliar with. Just remember: from crunchy to creamy to crispy, a good salad has an assortment of textures (and colors). Here are a few ways to shake things up in the salad department.
Filling Proteins
If you or someone you know is about to graduate from college, then it's time to move on from the days of dorm food, meal plans, and affordable campus eateries and get cooking instead. Should the kitchen be somewhat of a foreign place, fear not. Start with basic (but delicious) recipes and meals and work your way up to more complicated adaptations. Here are 10 tasty and essential recipes to start your culinary education.
Sure, Mother's Day brunches are all the rage, but I love getting grateful by celebrating Mom with a big supper. The matriarch of your family will appreciate a delicious dinner in her honor, and maybe she'll even get a chance to kick back and relax for once. Instead of a classic seated dinner where someone is busy serving up a storm, consider these family-style dishes that will allow everyone to lounge around the table and talk. Prepare to pass around the platters and get inspired as you click.
Are you guilty of skipping the common recipe directive to freshly grind spices like nutmeg, coriander, and the subject at hand: cardamom? Sure, it tacks on time to your recipe prep, but the results are more than worth the minimal time and effort. As soon as spices are ground (often months earlier, if buying preground spices), aroma and flavor begins to dissipate; wait a year to use your spice stash, and you'll be working with what's essentially lightly scented dust. Instead, make the extra effort; trust us, you'll be a freshly ground convert once you taste the difference.
Add an extra dose of elegance to your Great Gatsby-themed soiree — or any night, really — with a set of inspired Champagne coupes. No mere one-trick pony, coupes are equally at home housing Champagne, classic cocktails (in lieu of a martini glass), or even custard and sorbet desserts.
Make this Mother's Day memorable and delicious with an impressive brunch spread. Don't hold back here — more is more when it comes to brunch. We've got an idea for a tasty menu that will make any mom feel so loved . . . and full.
Daytime Drinks
Mimosas or Bloody Marys? Who says you have to choose? Have a wonderfully boozy start to the day (which will probably be followed by an afternoon nap) with fresh grapefruit mimosas and classic Bloody Marys to choose from.
Sweet and Savory Main Courses
An uncomplicated and filling frittata is a great way to serve eggs to a crowd. This savory recipe is chock full of veggies and it's easily adaptable to fit your taste preferences. For a sweeter counterpart, cook up a fluffy french toast strata with chicken sausage. Make life easier on yourself and put this together the night before, so you can just wake up and stick it in the oven.
A Hashed-Out Side Dish
Sweet potato hash browns are easy to put together and are especially delicious doused in your favorite hot sauce. This side dish complements the sweet and savory items of the brunch spread perfectly.
Seasonal Fruit Salad
For some freshness, grab your favorite fruit and throw together a fresh fruit salad. A rich meal like this benefits from a crisp and juicy component.
Chocolate-Covered Ending
Finally, because your mom is totally worth it, make a bunch of chocolate-covered strawberries to finish the meal that will show her just how much you love her.
What are you cooking or eating this Mother's Day?
Whether you're looking to add a fun twist to your end-of-year celebration or are simply anticipating the upcoming film The Great Gatsby, look no further than this 1920s menu. Since we couldn't help but be inspired by the glitzy parties F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote of, here are a few recipes, ranging from the fresh zing of a mint julep to pigs in a blanket, that are sure to please. Throw on your fringe and host a party with vintage charm: this menu is sure to be one for the books!
Mint Julep
This frosty, tangy beverage is too good not to be enjoyed year-round. You can make a mint julep just like in the book by following this recipe. The sweet and potent drink is impressive yet easy to make, even for cocktail beginners.
Stuffed Mushrooms
Hors d'oeuvres like stuffed mushrooms are especially fitting for a 1920s fête with a glamorous air. This recipe incorporates a creamy spinach and artichoke filling, as well as a crunchy panko topping.
Keep reading for the rest of the 1920s party menu.
