Taste of Home February/March 2020

start your ovens

Over the past several months, I’ve reconnected with an old friend: baking. A few years ago, my husband and I bought an early 1900s Victorian house with a dark, cramped kitchen and almost no counter space. Even worse, the oven temperature was never consistent. Baking was no longer fun or easy, so I set it aside. Fast forward to last year when we gave that old kitchen a complete overhaul. Counter space—lots of it. Brand-new appliances, including a range with a double oven. Light, bright colors. Aah… Just like that, baking was back in my life and I rediscovered my love for it. If you share that same love—whether you are a veteran baker or want to begin—our new Bakeable section (page 33) will give you a heaping helping of from-scratch baking…

taste of home

EDITORIAL CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER Beth Tomkiw CONTENT DIRECTOR Jeanne Sidner DEPUTY EDITOR James Schend SENIOR EDITORS Rachel Bernhard Seis, Kristin Sutter SENIOR FOOD EDITOR Peggy Woodward, RDN FOOD EDITOR Rashanda Cobbins ASSISTANT EDITOR Annamarie Higley CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Lisa A. Beach, Nan Bialek, Joann Pan Design SENIOR ART DIRECTOR Jami Geittmann SENIOR DESIGNER Julianne Petrasko CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER Sabine Beaupré Test Kitchen EXECUTIVE CULINARY DIRECTOR Sarah Farmer RECIPE EDITOR/RECIPE TESTER Alicia Rooker, RDN FOOD STYLISTS Shannon Norris (senior), Josh Rink ASSOCIATE CULINARY PRODUCERS Sarah Tramonte, Audrey Rompon PREP KITCHEN MANAGER Catherine Ward CULINARY ASSISTANTS Sarah Fischer, Maggie Knoebel, Beth McGuire Visual Production DIRECTOR Stephanie Marchese PHOTOGRAPHERS Mark Derse, Dan Roberts SENIOR SET STYLIST Melissa Franco MARKET PRODUCER/SET STYLIST Stacey Genaw VIDEO PRODUCERS Matt Fukuda (senior), Michael Rozumalski CONTRIBUTING FOOD STYLISTS Sue Draheim, Rachel Lewis Copy Desk COPY CHIEF Deb Warlaumont Mulvey SENIOR EDITOR Dulcie Shoener COPY EDITORS Amy Rabideau Silvers, Ann Walter; Nancy A.…

contact us

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texas tacos

[Indispensable] You Go, Grill! “I live in an apartment building, and there’s no grill readily available. This pan cooks on the stovetop and allows me to get those signature grill marks anytime, anywhere. So handy during frigid Wisconsin winters!” DISHING WITH Annamarie Higley TOH Associate Editor [Stuff We Love] Think you know food? This tabletop trivia game lets home cooks and food fanatics go head-to-head to test their culinary know-how. Breakfast tacos are as ubiquitous in Austin as live music. From food trucks to barbecue joints to coffee shops, dozens of establishments around the city serve up their own versions wrapped in a toasty tortilla. The Veracruz All Natural food truck fleet makes a mean migas breakfast taco. Joe’s Bakery & Coffee Shop keeps ’em simple, with bacon, egg and cheddar in a pillowy flour tortilla. Valentina’s…

treat, play, love

TOSS ’EM A NEW TOY Show Fluffy some mid-February lovin’ by adding a new toy to its collection, suggests Shian Simms, veterinarian and chief of veterinary medicine at Bideawee, an animal shelter in New York City. “A lot of cats love playing with bird toys or chasing moving objects, like balls,” she says. Draw or sew on hearts if you feel extra festive. SCHEDULE A PLAY DATE For your outgoing doggy, there’s nothing more exhilarating than puppy playtime. Have your human honey over for dinner and invite Scout along, too, for the best kind of double date. LAY OUT A LUXE BED Comfort your dog or cat with a cuddly new bed, Dr. Simms says. Choose one that’s soft and the appropriate size (the bed should be 6 to 12 inches longer than the pet).…

it’s crunch time

Protect your heart If you don’t eat seafood (the primary food source for omega-3s), try walnuts. As a rich, plant based source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), they provide more omega-3s (2½ grams per 1-ounce serving) than any other nut. And they can help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and blood pressure—both risk factors for heart disease. Fight inflammation Several plant compounds and nutrients in walnuts (including polyphenols, ALA and magnesium) may help decrease inflammation, which is at the root of many chronic illnesses, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Type 2 diabetes. Reduce cancer risks Thanks to their dietary fiber and nutrients, walnuts can improve gut functioning. Regularly eating walnuts may slow the growth of certain kinds of cancer, including colorectal cancer, so add them to salads, yogurts and stir-fries. Keep skin healthy Besides protecting your heart, omega-3s make…