Chef Kara Tips

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,…

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…

The best part of summer is spending time outdoors with family and grilling. There are so many ways to be creative on the grill and incorporating fruits and vegetables with your meal can enhance the experience.

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…

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…

The start of a new year is a great time to be mindful of eating healthy + helping your body function at its very best. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when shopping + choosing foods to eat. EAT WHOLE. Add more whole foods, fruits, veggies + grains to your diet. When…

The holiday season has kept me especially busy in the kitchen + as any great chef knows, it’s so important to have the best working tools available to you. I am especially enjoying my bench scraper this season. Here’s why: Built in ruler at the bottom: Great for quickly measuring dough and keeping things uniform.…

It’s incredible how quickly the Thanksgiving season has approached this year. With all the excitement around Flavor 360 + Something Elegant Catering it’s time to sit down + start making plans for the holiday season. If you are like me, you want to make sure that the focal piece, the turkey, is deliciously prepared. Here’s…

My chives have been taking over my herb garden already this year, so I came up with ways to use up excess. My first thought was an herb butter, but decided to make the butter myself! It was so fun and easy. So chive butter with lemon zest.

Some get nervous about using lavender in food, feeling like it might end up tasting too much like soap, but just a small amount can really add a zingy, herbaceous flavor to your dishes. I love adding it to my lemon scones in the summer.