http://archive.aweber.com/cookingwcaitlinCooking With CaitlinTue, 14 Feb 2012 11:55:13 -0500http://archive.aweber.com/cookingwcaitlin/I5Mdw/h/Happy_Hearts_Day_.htm Be mine. Only You In the following true story, names have been changed to protect a love-struck second-grader and her secretly-admired. Last night, as I tucked into bed my almost-8-year-old, she pulled my face close to hers in the darkness: Mom, I have a secret. What, babydoll? You can tell me anything. David is my...boyfriend. And just as the d popped from her hush, she released my face and exhaled. Still whispering, Wow. He is very cute. How exciting! Did you make him a special valentine for tomorrow? Oh Mom, I could never tell DAVID he's my boyfriend. (I guess if he pulls her hair on the playground today we'll know it's love.) Enjoy this day, my foodie valentines. I hope it's hot and exciting as an oyster on the half shell. Open some tasty little X's and O's from all of us below. In Lieu of Doilies and Glitter Take today's after-school activities to a whole new level of lovely with three edible ideas from Caitlin inspired by her handsome little valentines. Read More » Hello Gorgeous Never mind rosewater, dab the juices of this delectable Porchetta on your pulse points and watch the suitors swarm. It's a whole lotta lovin' in every bite, and just right for sharing. Read More » Repin THIS We've been in a committed relationship with social media for quite a while now. But we are downright smitten with Pinterest. Jump into the mix with us -- we can learn together. Start by taking a gander at the oft repinned Bagel Pizza recipe pictured here. Read More » follow on Twitter | friend on Facebook | visit our website Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:55:13 -0500http://archive.aweber.com/cookingwcaitlin/GyCkQ/h/Super_Bowl_READY.htm Are you ready for some football?! Super Bowl READY Gisele Bundchen might be coming over. Eli Manning may be coming too. Shoot -- Madonna herself could be here at any moment! Of course, none of the three of them has yet replied to my Super Bowl party Evite, but I'll be ready for them if they make it. You see, this fair city of Cincinnati from which Molly, Caitlin, and I hail is awfully Indy-near. I've heard lodging is quickly running out in Super Bowl Village; by the time all supermodels, superathletes, and superstars are settled, they may be sleeping a couple doors down from us... So, I'm ready for a house full of superhungry at any given moment. I've got the Winter Brew on ice, and the Elephant Ears in the oven. And I've got quite a spread in the hopper for the big game tomorrow night -- one tasty little touchdown for the mouth after the other, and extra (edible) points to rival the halftime show. Read on for Caitlin's game-time favorites, and other good stuff too. Championship Menu From top to bottom, Caitlin's got the game mapped out bite by bite. Dig into her most recent post for a peek at her food plan. Read More » Winning Commercial Recipe Here's a recipe we had to share. It features smashed Doritos and it was designed specifically for the brothers who first won a million dollars in the Super Bowl commercial challenges. An inspiring story and a deeelicious sandwich -- a win-win as they say. Read More » After the Game, the Gala When the commercials have wrapped, the glitter's been swept from the halftime stage, and the trophy's been presented, turn your attention to another kind of big game. Think African safari now. It's the theme of The Cure Starts Now's upcoming Once in a Lifetime Gala, and it's also the flavor of February's Third Thursday event. Caitlin's been monkeying with a menu crafted to kick off the festivities, so get your khakis pressed and make sure you're there. Read More » follow on Twitter | friend on Facebook | visit our website Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:20:20 -0500http://archive.aweber.com/cookingwcaitlin/8GJiM/h/All_Dolled_Up.htm All Dolled Up There's nothing that makes my three-year-old happier than seeing me in a dress. The more sparkly the earrings, the brighter the lipstick, the twirly-er the skirt, the more delighted she is. Especially at this blustery time of year, the poor thing is accustomed to seeing me bundled up like I'm running the Iditarod; she longs to see me looking like a lady. And so, when I have a reason to really accessorize, it's quite the intimate experience for the two of us -- each wave of the mascara wand and every inch of high heel are like magic piped into our everyday. I invite you to accessorize similarly. Dress up your winter calendar with a dinner party or two. Create an intimate guest list, send out bright invitations, set your table with sparkle. In a less-Iditarod, more-twirly kind of way, serve the dishy menu below. And then, take a load off those heels and soak up the magic as it spills into your day-to-day. Parmesan Tuilles Handheld Salad Cream of Mushroom Soup Pesto Pork Tenderloin Polenta Roasted Tomatoes Fresh Orange Salad Chocolate Martini Apple Tarte Tatin **Serve the salad as a passed appetizer and start the sit-down with soup. End the evening with a potable chocolate kiss.** How to Make Squash Good luck, good eats, good times in '12. That's our wish for you in this spankin' new year. No doubt all the green and the pork in the menu above will keep your days full of fortune, and the following recipes will have your taste buds feeling lucky too. Get your squash on with this video about roasting the acorn variety. Then, dig right into some butternut with this article featuring step-by-step pictures snapped by Caitlin herself. They'll have you thinking good thoughts right on through the next twelve months. Join Us: Join in the daily conversation on Facebook and at twitter.com/cookingwcaitlin, and also... Cooking with Caitlin and the Cooking with Caitlin Logo are registered trademarks. visit our web site | sign up for newsletterThu, 05 Jan 2012 08:29:25 -0500http://archive.aweber.com/cookingwcaitlin/CMgR6/h/The_Most_Wonderful_Time_of.htm The Most Wonderful Time of the Year Can't you just hear Andy Williams chirping in a wooly sweater? It is the most wonderful time of the year, and that happens to be my most favorite song of the season. ...parties for hosting, marshmallows for toasting, and caroling out in the snow... In a few minutes of joyful lyrics, the buttery voice captures the excitement brimming from the gift that is the holidays. I wonder though, if I were to play the album backwards, if I could hear frenzy and craze in Mr. Williams' voice. If I could hear from my favorite tune the madness that accompanies the joy -- the zip of the sprint from store to store, the involuntary growl that peppers a search for parking, the clink of a lopsided grocery cart in a last-minute scramble for egg nog. I wonder if even ol' Mr. Cool-as-a-Christmas-Cucumber Williams himself is a little frazzled right now. It's possible, right? Because even the most wonderful time of the year can be a little harried from moment to moment. So, in the moments when you happen to be hungry, hunker down for some (easy and delicious) home-cooking. Following are cookingwithcaitlin.com spins on some of your favorite freezer meals made even better with the addition of fresh and fool-proof. Eat them to charge your holiday battery before caroling out in the snow and last-minute grocery scrambling. Butter-Basted Cherry Tomato Sauce Bagel Pizza (Salisbury-Inspired) Steak Sandwich Baked Catfish (Homemade Fish Sticks) with Homemade Tartar Sauce Chicken Pot Pie Sandwiches Brownie Batter Pudding Bacon Brittle Holiday Baking No doubt you could smell the cinnamon in the air. You could hear the rumble of hot-from-the-oven tweets. Perhaps you even followed the trail of fruitcake crumbs to the hottest kitchen in the Twitterverse...it's the tastiest social this side of the internet, Foodies' Night In (#FNIchat). It happened on Monday (as it does every Monday), it was presented by OXO, and it was all about Holiday Baking. Suffice to say our measuring cups runneth over. Tap into the sweet sweet highlights in Easy Holiday Baking (A Big Bowl of Whipped Tweets). And make sure you tune in this coming Monday for an aromatic exchange on Spices. Join Us: Join in the daily conversation on Facebook and at twitter.com/cookingwcaitlin, and also... Cooking with Caitlin and the Cooking with Caitlin Logo are registered trademarks. visit our web site | sign up for newsletterThu, 15 Dec 2011 10:42:49 -0500http://archive.aweber.com/cookingwcaitlin/Fx0gc/h/Thanksgiving_Menu.htm Thanksgiving Menu Happy Thanksgiving, foodie friends! Now more than ever the blessings around us seem particularly cornucopian; Molly, Caitlin, and I thank you for that. We are very clear that you are the reason we get to talk/write/film/tweet about food all day long. THANK YOU for joining us at the cookingwithcaitlin.com table, and for bringing your hungry friends with you. No doubt you've got a turkey to thaw, a potato to peel, a table to set -- no time to read love notes from us. So just take the recipes, demos, podcasts, and articles tailored to Turkey Day. I've linked to the best of the best below. Let the gobbling begin! TurkeyRight here, find the confidence to brine, roast, and carve a whole turkey. Cooking Light's Thanksgiving Tips (including how, where, why to brine a turkey) Whole Roasted Turkey with Herbed Butter How to Carve a Turkey SidesTurkey? What turkey? Cream of Pumpkin Soup Carrot-Ginger Soup Cream of Mushroom Soup Beet Soup with Goat Cheese Cream Roasted Apple-Squash Soup Bacon-Wrapped Apples with Brown Butter Thyme Sauce Aunt Norma's Spinach Supreme Aunt Patty's Stuffing Homemade Succotash Creamed Corn Roasted Root Veggies Sweet Potato Fritters with Maple Mustard Sweet Potato Dauphinois Crunchy Green Beans in Brown Butter Sauce Garlic Mashed Potatoes Braised Kale Candied Carrots DessertsBesides THE pie, of course, some (mostly) light and sweet surprises. Candied Clementines Figs with Honey Red Wine-Poached Pears Apple Tarte Tatin Cinnamon-Almond Pizzelle with Harvest Apples Pumpkin Cream-Filled Phyllo Dough Cups Pecan Pie Brownies Black Friday BreakfastPut it together and set it aside amidst the madness of Thanksgiving prep so you can just coast through Friday morning. Almond Butter and Berries Autumn Quiche Babka Join Us: Join in the daily conversation on Facebook and at twitter.com/cookingwcaitlin, and also... Cooking with Caitlin and the Cooking with Caitlin Logo are registered trademarks. visit our web site | sign up for newsletterMon, 21 Nov 2011 13:06:15 -0500http://archive.aweber.com/cookingwcaitlin/OU8Ks/h/Happy_Halloween_.htm Happy Halloween! The other day at Target, my three-year-old was not cooperating. As she twittered in every direction other than mine, I found myself whispering novenas to Super Nanny, all the while scheming how to wrestle her into the buckled seat of the basket. Just then, my five-year-old swooped in to save the day. Gently taking the hand of our tiny tornado, my dear kindergartner ducked her head down and said, Hold my hand. I'm just like a grown-up, but I don't have any rules. In an instant, my pursed lips turned up into a smile, and the wiggly one moved forward as I wished. I'm hoping that the grown-up will be similarly synergistic this evening when it is revealed that even superheros have rules on Halloween. Before she flies through the night as Batgirl, she'll have to finish her vegetables, dress in layers, and kiss her mother goodbye. Then I'll stay back on the front porch to pass out candy and pick up the novena where I left off. Be safe tonight! Have fun. And when the sugar coma subsides, make for yourself (and all the grown-ups around you) something hearty from the following menu: Roasted Apple-Squash Soup Chicago-Style Pizza Pesto Pork Tenderloin He-Man Burger Gnudi with Orange-Brown Butter Sauce Aunt Norma's Spinach Supreme Apple Cider Granita The Cooking with Caitlin Show Statewide throughout Ohio, on Time Warner Cable's On Demand Channel 411, The Cooking with Caitlin Show is in full swing. A dozen 12-minute episodes, this week we are oh-so appropriately preparing comfort food with the family and friends who make it best. The series is like our foodie scrapbook, an inside peek at our everyday. Tune in for great energy and delicious ideas. Join Us: Join in the daily conversation on Facebook and at twitter.com/cookingwcaitlin, and also... Cooking with Caitlin and the Cooking with Caitlin Logo are registered trademarks. visit our web site | sign up for newsletterMon, 31 Oct 2011 09:28:59 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/cookingwcaitlin/KmCN6/h/Kisses_From_Italy.htm Kisses From Italy Perhaps you can smell the garlic wafting from this email, or you can see the olive oil smudges at its corners. Perhaps you can simply sense the fury of gesticulations with which we now communicate. Team CWC has just returned from Italy, and like dry pasta that's been boiled into its best self, we might never be the same. We learned a lot and savored many glorious bites as we traveled. Through video, photo, and diary-like accounts, we documented every move we made so we could relay them to you. Link to our first installment of articles by clicking on the box below. Once you're sufficiently salivating, dig into the following recipes. Each one is a Caitlin spin on some of Italy's greatest hits, and all of them are true to the super simple food tradition in which they're rooted. Like tiny European cars, petite cups of kick-butt coffee, and little words like prego that mean just about everything, Italian fare is elemental in its composure and downright spellbinding when it hits you. It's a kiss on both cheeks because honest Italian will get your attention from the moment it greets you. Garlic-Infused Olive Oil Pear and Tallegio Crostini Fried Bologna Sandwiches Baked Prosciutto Cups Potato Pizza Red Wine-Poached Pears Figs with Honey The Cooking with Caitlin Show Statewide throughout Ohio, on Time Warner Cable's On Demand Channel 411, The Cooking with Caitlin Show is in full swing. A dozen 12-minute episodes, this week you'll find us entertaining a crowd with the help of our family. The series is like our foodie scrapbook, an inside peek at our everyday. Tune in for great energy and delicious ideas. Join Us: Join in the daily conversation on Facebook and at twitter.com/cookingwcaitlin, and also... Cooking with Caitlin and the Cooking with Caitlin Logo are registered trademarks. visit our web site | sign up for newsletterFri, 21 Oct 2011 07:47:15 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/cookingwcaitlin/Kwn7c/h/Four_Bowls_of_French_Onion.htm Four Bowls of French Onion Soup My special friend Iris and her daughters recently invited me and my girls' club over for some serious female bonding. In cozy sweaters and warm socks we compared notes on everything from the current cast of Dancing with the Stars to the best boots for fall. We talked about Justin Bieber and Harry Potter and who's going to be which superhero for Halloween. And we covered all of these super important current events over warm bowls of Iris's French Onion Soup. You can see in the picture below that I polished off four bowls of the rich and roasty potion before I had my fill. (Actually, the girls gobbled up the cheesy toast on top, and I sipped the broth. Took dessert home in a doggy bag.) As the temperature falls along with the leaves, there's just nothing better than a bowl (or four) of homemade soup. Like a Slanket for all five senses, it warms from within. Stir up any one of the following recipes from cookingwithcaitlin.com for some serious foodie bonding of your own:Creamy Butternut Squash Soup French Onion Soup Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Triangles Carrot and Ginger Soup Bride Soup Potato-Leek Soup The Cooking with Caitlin Show It starts tomorrow, statewide in Ohio, on Time Warner Cable's On Demand Channel 411. A dozen 12-minute episodes, posted weekly, begin with The Sandwich Press, a foodie adventure about everybody's favorite stack, led by Molly, Kelly, and Caitlin herself. Come hungry for a quick and tasty television treat! Italy or BUST! That's right, we're leaving for a week in Italy in just two days. We'll be filming and photographing every step of our travels, anxious to report back to you in the coming weeks. Along the way, pay close attention to our tweet stream on Twitter and our Facebook page as we bring you everywhere with us. Ciao ciao for now. Join Us: Join in the daily conversation on Facebook and at twitter.com/cookingwcaitlin, and also... Cooking with Caitlin and the Cooking with Caitlin Logo are registered trademarks. visit our web site | sign up for newsletterMon, 03 Oct 2011 11:44:31 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/cookingwcaitlin/EJOH2/h/Comfortable_Like_Chicken.htm Comfortable, Like Chicken The other day, when I came to collect my 3-year-old wunderkind from preschool, I found her washing her hands at the sink beside her teacher. Here's what I heard: Wunderkind: What flavor is this soap? Mrs. Mandy: Smells like strawberry. Wunderkind: Where's the chicken flavor? Having watched the exchange as it unfolded, I am fairly certain that our kind and ever-patient Mrs. Mandy did not interpret the toddler-speak as the request for chicken-flavored suds that it was. As the mother of the little high-maintenance foodie, however, I am quite clear that she was, in fact, looking for soap that tastes like chicken. As the leaves start to change and we dust off our Snuggies, I suppose it is only natural to seek to surround ourselves with that which is most comfortable. Clearly, chicken brings warm and fuzzy to my favorite 3-year-old. I suspect the following menu just might do it for you: Homemade Bacon French Toast Sandwich Chicago Style Pizza Cream of Mushroom Soup Short Ribs Garlic Mashed Potatoes Homemade Succotash Sesame-Cardamom Cheesecake Easy Articles Like the wool socks that complement your Snuggie so well, I offer a trio of cozy posts to match the menu above. Get comfy with the videos, recipes, and love note to chicken below: Homemade S'mores Pizza Menu The Home-Roasted Chicken Join Us: Join in the daily conversation on Facebook and at twitter.com/cookingwcaitlin, and also... Cooking with Caitlin and the Cooking with Caitlin Logo are registered trademarks. visit our web site | sign up for newsletterMon, 19 Sep 2011 11:44:04 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/cookingwcaitlin/KMJ42/h/A_Labor_Less_Menu.htm A Labor-Less Menu On this, the fifth day of my 5-year-old's first week of all-day kindergarten, she is tired. The week has been a jam-packed collection of new and important and altogether brilliant moments that have got her just about tuckered out. From her footwear to her pencil case to her mastery of the sound each letter makes, she spent the better part of Sun Season prepping for Back-to-School Season. Now she's in the thick of her kindergarten fantasy, and she is beat. Yesterday, at home after school, all of the girls spilled out of the car. As I pulled the doors shut, I spotted the hardest-working kindergartner in Ohio still buckled into her seat. Eyes barely open, thumb in mouth. Mom, I'm just going to relax here until tomorrow. I was able to coax her out of the car with an afternoon snack and a hug, but I have every confidence she'd still be napping if I had let her. For laborers little and big, this holiday weekend could not come soon enough. Our wish for you is three full days of good rest, good fun, and good food. Make it all labor-less too. Start with the low-maintenance menu below, pepper in some naps, and suck your thumb right on through the fireworks if that's what makes hard-working you happy. Manmosa with Grilled Bacon-Wrapped Strawberries Asparagus Slaw Fresh Tomato and Peach Salad 7-Minute Egg with Worcestershire Whipped Cream Cordon Bleu Burger Chocolate-Pistachio Ice Cream Sandwiches Pecan Pie Brownies At the Risk of Raising Your Heart Rate... The following articles could very well get you all hot and bothered. We want you to rest, so, depending upon how hungry you are, you may want to revisit them some time on Tuesday. Color in the Kitchen Making Oatmeal: Dress It Up Stone Fruit Recipes Preserved Lemon Recipe Join Us: Join in the daily conversation on Facebook and at twitter.com/cookingwcaitlin, and also... Cooking with Caitlin and the Cooking with Caitlin Logo are registered trademarks. visit our web site | sign up for newsletterFri, 02 Sep 2011 15:05:21 -0400