Food & Dining

IT'S HERE! King cake season is upon us, and both grocery stores and bakeries alike are stocking their shelves with the most delicious southern sweet treats of the year. And just in time, too, influencing us to cheat on our New Year’s Resolutions, piece by delectable piece. Some of us have to be extra careful when indulging in these scrumptious sweets. Whether we have a medical condition preventing us from spoiling ourselves with decedent desserts, or we are restricting our choices because we are sticking to rigorous diet routines, we are begging for healthy alternatives to arguably the most coveted cakes in our city. Be sure to check out the Mardi Gras Guide for a list of all parades and activities, grab...

Have Kids, Need Coffee :: Ways To Save With Homemade My husband texted me the other day. He was listening to a podcast and the host mentioned how he never drank coffee prior to having kids, but now, it’s a necessity. My husband’s comment, #relatable. He was a proud non-coffee drinker, that is…until we had kids. He wasn’t a morning person, but he could get through the day without that morning, and let's be honest moms, afternoon jolt. I, on the other hand, have always had a love for coffee, and now I feel like I need coffee to be a functional human.  I've been exploring all of the ways to get great coffee at home. It saves me time and...

How Do You Roux? Have You Tried the Oven? As soon as the weather gets crisp, I start thinking about gumbo. I love to eat it, but I struggle with making it. I didn't grow up in a gumbo making family. I don't have a Cajun grandmother. What was I to do? I turned to my cookbooks, friends, and of course the internet. I watched countless videos and read recipes. I just had one problem ... they all started the same way, first, you make a roux and I was done before I started. I've made a simple blonde roux before for baked macaroni and cheese, but I struggled with that deep roux I wanted for gumbo. I didn't want to use a...

The Easiest Dinner You'll Ever Make I'm so tired of cooking; I don't mind doing it and while there are times I enjoy it during the week, I just wish I was doing something else. I want to spend those few, short, hours after school and work actually engaging with my kids and my husband, not standing at the stove while they talk and play. I want easy dinner, and no, not take out. I'm not against take out or dining out, it is a weekend staple, but my wallet and our health prefer home cooking. This chicken dish has become a go-to favorite, thanks to the variety of dishes we can create with it. It is not labor intensive, cooks...

Did You Say Charcuterie? I jumped on the charcuterie board train when they became popular a few years ago, and I’ve been riding the trend ever since because this is exactly how I like to eat! I’ve been known to forgo dinner choosing to indulge in what I call my "fancy" snacks from favorite niche grocery stores Sprouts and Trader Joes. Charcuterie boards have become a fun and fancy way to serve and eat my fancy snacks. Also, if you have finicky eaters, try introducing new foods on a charcuterie platter and watch your family turn into foodies! The nice thing about charcuterie boards is that there are so many options. They can be made to serve one person, e.g., a charcuterie...