Posts by Chef Kara
Umami: The Fifth Flavor
Known as the fifth taste, umami is that savoriness your taste buds experience from foods like parmesan, cooked or cured meat, mushrooms or fermented foods. It is more pronounced in foods that have been cooked over a long period of time like a stew or dashi (Japanese cooking broth). Umami was only named about 100 years ago,…
Read MoreFamily Grilling
Sunday nights are a great time to get everyone involved in the kitchen + with the weather being so nice, our family spent a lot of time outdoors. Planning an easy meal for the grill using fresh ingredients from farmers markets is simple this time of year. Here is an easy family dinner menu…
Read MoreShopping Helpers
I am a big believer in getting kids involved in all aspects of food. I want my kids to understand how to navigate all the choices available to them + eventually know what to look for when they have to make these decisions themselves. Grocery shopping can be a great time to teach kids about food…
Read MoreSummer Garden Update
Things are growing well in our garden + we’ve been making use of the benefits as often as possible. We planted Missouri native bee + butterfly flowers to help support our local bee + monarch population. These native plants tend to adapt more easily to the climate of our region which provides them a greater opportunity to thrive.…
Read MoreElegant Summer Desserts
When I’m entertaining, it’s so nice to serve dishes that have been prepared ahead of time so that I can relax + enjoy my guests. This is especially true with desserts, because after dinner the last thing I want to do is slave over dessert + miss being with my guests. That’s why I came up this…
Read MoreEvents Aplenty
[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] It’s been a busy season with lots of events happening that we are so fortunate to take part in. It is a pleasure to create custom menus for our clients + have access to such great ingredients this time of year which makes the planning…
Read MoreDecoding the Labels
When taking a trip to the store these days it’s very important to understand where our food comes from + what we are actually consuming. Here are a few things that will help you decode the nutrition labels + make the best choices when it comes to food. INGREDIENTS FIRST. Look at ingredient list…
Read MoreKiddos in the Kitchen
Having both my girls in the kitchen with me is something I really enjoy. Now that they are both getting older, they can take on more responsibilities in meal preparation. It has become so fun to watch them learn + continue their growth. I like to get them involved in all parts of cooking, not…
Read MoreGardening With The Girls
My girls love to do anything I’m doing, so when it is time to plant herbs, vegetables + flowers at the house, they are ready to pitch in. A few years ago they received their own gardening gloves, shovels, garden hoes from the Easter bunny– in pink of course! They love using their own tools…
Read MorePlanting is Complete
[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] I spent quite a bit of time in the garden yesterday + it was fantastic. Digging up roots was probably the most challenging part + almost broke my back! I decided that I would fill the garden space with herbs + a few native Missouri…
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