Cuisine at home Sept/Oct 2018

I recently saw the movie “Won’t You Be My Neighbor,” the touching story about Mr. Rogers. The lessons he taught are timeless: Greet each day with wonder and always endeavor to treat people kindly. His calm humanity is something we desperately need now. And throughout history, food has played a major role in uniting people. Cooking and eating together is more than nourishment, it’s an act of kindness and a way of connecting with each other. No matter how small, sharing food is a wonderful way to show others we care. Probably not surprisingly, a USA Today Snapshot found that 67% of Americans say comfort food is the answer to keeping them calm when they’re stressed. Thus fittingly, in this issue we’re sharing some of our favorite soul-satisfying recipes for meatloaf, chili,…

TAKE IT TO THE TAILGATE It’s that time of year when people gather on the blacktop to cheer on their favorite teams and eat (and drink) some tasty vittles. Around here, there are two definitive camps — “I love to tailgate” or “I never tailgate.” What about you? Are you all in, or do you duck and run for cover when the word tailgate comes up? If you’re the former, what are your favorite bites (or sips)? Jump over to Facebook or Instagram, use the hashtag #gamedaygrub, and don’t forget to tag us @cuisineathome. Lauren is a die-hard ISU fan. Not only is it her alma mater, but she grew up in Ames, IA and has been a Cyclone fan from way back. Though as much as she loves her team, it’s…

CUTTING EDGE For a quick and easy way to decorate a cake, I head for my craft and sewing supplies. Using my pinking shears I cut a square of stiff cardboard (like a cereal box) and drag it around the frosted cake for a pretty, and easy, finish. DAVID CUMMINGS NORTH LIBERTY, IA “TEA” TIME When I make soup during the week, I don’t have the time necessary for the soup to simmer long enough to fully develop its flavor. To give the soup a head start, while I’m sautéing the vegetables, I place dried herbs and some stock or broth in a glass vessel and microwave it for a few minutes. Then I let this “herbal tea” steep until it’s ready to go into the soup pot. It works great on tougher dried…

COLLAGEN Collagen is the primary structural protein found in our skin and connective tissue, and it’s gotten considerable attention for both its proven, and unproven health benefits. Through limited research, protein-rich collagen is thought to improve numerous bodily functions, including, but not limited to, gut health, and the symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Aside from adding powdered collagen to coffee drinks, smoothies, and baked goods, it can be consumed naturally through a balanced, diverse diet. Beef bones, skin, and muscles, and chicken bones, cartilage, and tissues are some of the most abundant sources of collagen which can be unleashed by using them to make a simple stock. Collagen is also naturally occurring in many foods, including fish, eggs, dark leafy greens, red and orange vegetables, berries, and soy-based ingredients. 6 BRAND…

1 Rebbl Golden Milk This creamy beverage unlocks turmeric’s antioxidant potential by combining it with coconut milk and black pepper. Along with other warm, sweet spices, this drink has a lovely bite. rebbl.co 2 Seedlip This distilled non-alcoholic spirit is an elegant, and flavorful way to drink when you aren’t “drinking.” Serve it over ice with tonic water for a refreshing, anytime mocktail. seedlipdrinks.com 3 Spindrift Lightly flavored with fresh fruit juices, this sparkling water packs more flavor than most others on the market. spindriftfresh.com 4 Up Mountain Switchel Born with farmers in mind, this refreshing and energizing drink is simply made with fresh ginger, apple cider vinegar, and pure maple syrup. drinkswitchel.com 5 Curious Elixirs This alcohol-free craft cocktail, inspired by classics, is made by a team of renowned bartenders, herbalists, and food scientists. curiouselixirs.com…

It still feels like yesterday when the heavy news of Anthony Bourdain’s passing spread throughout the office. An absolute trailblazer for food and culture, Bourdain left a mark on most everyone in the food world. His legacy will continue to impact lives in the new book, “Bourdain: The Oral Biography,” edited by Laurie Woolever and due out Fall 2019. Woolever had been working and collaborating with Bourdain since 2004, most recently on “Appetites: A Cookbook.” “I’m honored to now be working with his estate, and talking to the people who knew him best, in order to share the story of a life that influenced so many people, in so many ways, all across the globe,” said Woolever.…