Here is what's cookin' these days...
Vietnamese summer rolls are as fresh and crunchy as they are beautiful. Making these homemade spring rolls are easier than it may seem. Plus, even if they don’t look as pretty as you’d like during your first go-round, they will still taste just as delicious.
Read MoreThis is how to make peanut sauce right at home! We made this dipping sauce during our Asian tapas date night the other weekend. It reminded us so much of our trip to Thailand earlier this year. This peanut sauce recipe made enough sauce for our chicken satay, fresh shrimp spring rolls, AND took into account the sauce we were licking off of our fingers! This Thai peanut sauce is super easy to make and acts as THE BEST satay sauce.
Read MoreThis pizza bite recipe is relativity similar to making the traditional Pao De Queijo Brazilian Cheese Bread, but it substitutes some of the cheese for mozzarella, includes a taste of pepperoni and comes with a side of (you guessed it) marinara. Think of it as a better-for-you pepperoni roll or homemade pizza roll. Plus, each bite only has about 50 calories and is full of flavor. These light and fluffy bread bites are super addicting!
Read MoreTexas is so well known for their breakfast tacos, but we’re kicking the standard ones up a notch by lining the tortilla with BACON! The recipe is packed with juicy bacon and is a breakfast you won't soon forget. Share this dish with a bacon lover in your life!
Read MoreWhen most people think of Thailand, they imagine the bustling city of Bangkok or the picturesque beaches of Southern Thailand. We didn’t really know what to expect while traveling to Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand, and we were pleasantly surprised.
This was another stop on our tour of Thailand with Chang Beer, a trip of a lifetime to immerse ourselves in Thai cuisine and culture. Read more about the best things to experience in Chiang Mai, Thailand!
Read MoreWe’re throwing out our traditional pasta bowls and making one out of giant baked portobello mushrooms. Because bread bowls are SO 2002. These are a fun spin on stuffed Portobello mushroom caps. But this time we stuffed the inside of a portobello mushroom with a nice scoop of pasta and then we covered it in cheese!
Read MoreThe coastal town of Krabi was one of our three stops in Thailand with Chang Beer, and our journey could not have been more fun! Krabi is on the west coast of Southern Thailand, and is an extremely beautiful beach, diving, island hopping, and rock climbing tourism destination. Read about the best things to eat, what to do, and where to stay in Krabi, Thailand!
Read MoreIn celebration of Ragu’s 80th anniversary, we were tasked with recreating a classic recipe from Ragu’s retro cookbook. We decided that we wanted to take the same ingredients and modernize the presentation. We gained some inspiration from the classic French dish, Ratatouille. The only ingredient substitution we made was to swap out the green beans for yellow squash. The dish uses mini ramekins to create individualized portions. They are seriously adorable and remind us of bacon-topped flowers. The pepperoni layered between the veggies makes this dish reminiscent of a pizza, but it feels much fancier. Make these ahead of your dinner party for a fun, individual side dish or meal!
Read MoreWhen we asked Gavin’s mom what else we could bring to our Easter luncheon and she requested Sangria, it was time to get creative with what we had available in the kitchen. Since we discovered we were reaching a shortage of red wine, we grabbed a bottle of white and looked for whatever fruit we had in the fruit bowl. This low calorie sangria is light, refreshing, and full of citrus flavor.
Read MoreWe decided to create a new pasta recipe that was something different than the same ‘ol spaghetti and meatballs. We started with some springtime greens. Asparagus is at peak season as well as peas. Cooking seasonally helps you to bring in additional flavor in a healthy way. These two veggies added a brightness to this dish to contract against the salty pancetta. You can never go wrong with a touch of bacon in ANY recipe, right?!?
Read MoreIt’s officially spring! We are looking forward to longer days, fresh veggies, and new recipes. As April approaches, we set out to come up with an easy spring recipe, something that you could make as an Easter recipe to serve at your family table. Nothing seemed better fitting than making a carrot soup recipe. We kicked up the flavor a bit and brought in a slight Asian twist with this Carrot Ginger Curry Soup with Turmeric. It is loaded with health benefits and is a super easy lunch idea to make ahead for the week. We just stored the soup in individual mason jars and (ta-da!) we had a number of tasty grab-and-go lunches prepared that cost basically nothing.
Read MoreWe have officially moved into our new home! One of the things we need to get used to (among other things) is packing our lunches. Our old apartment was across the street from both of our offices, which made it so easy to swing home for lunch! For our first week in our new home, we opted to make a pasta salad, the easiest lunch to grab once it is prepped. Additionally, if you’ve ever made homemade pasta salad you’d know that it’s way better 2-3 days later. This recipe uses kalamata olive flavored pasta for an even bigger flavor kick!
Read MoreIt wasn't until we moved to Austin, Texas that we learned about Frito Pie. Upon first thought, it seems like some salty-sweet dessert. In reality, it's not even a pie. Our first Frito Pie was served up at a Texas Longhorns tailgate. A bag of snack size corn chips was sliced open, topped with Texas chili, jalapeños, cheese, and onions. This is our spin on a Frito Pie Corn Dog!
Read MoreAhhh... Valentine's Day. Some people love it, some people hate it. Most people likely think it is our favorite holiday. I was reminded yesterday as my flight landed after a business trip as Gavin waited for me at the bottom of the escalator with flowers in hand (as he always does), that little gestures of love should happen all throughout the year. We compiled our top 5 Valentines Day dinner recommendations for a segment on Studio 512 for you, but these could be used for a fantastic romantic evening, any day of the year.
Read MoreWhile in Chiang Mai, Thailand, we had the opportunity to attend the Chiang Mai Thai Farm Cooking School situated on an organic farm. We started by touring the local market. Tables upon tables were lined with fresh produce from local farms, huge buckets of so many types of rice, homemade curry pastes, and street food being cooked up hot and fresh. Check ut how to make this traditional (ans scrumptious Thai soup)!
Read MoreWhen it comes to salads, a simple lettuce and balsamic salad will not do! We will be starving in no time and not satisfied. Our favorite salads include pasta salad, potato salad, and all the other salads that are calorie laden. That is why we came up with this couscous salad recipe that is approved on the 21 day fix plan: a salad that doesn’t suck! It is an easy way to trick yourself into eating healthy veggies, it includes protein and it is seriously satisfying. If you are looking for a vegetarian 21 day fix recipe, just omit the chicken! Whether you are trying to eat healthy or not, we can bet you’ll like this as a lunch or as a side dish!
Read MoreThere is something retro about cafes, just like there is something retro about pineapple upside down cake. Maybe it is the maraschino cherries?!? Regardless, Karen has memories of her Grandma Reinsberg making this dessert when she was just a little girl, so we thought this pineapple upside down pancake recipe would be a fun twist, as everyone of all ages will enjoy this unique breakfast.
Read MoreWe have a theory that there are two types of people in the world: salty and sweet. No, we are not talking about attitudes here. We were talking about “dessert people”. When we go out to restaurants, Gavin is always the one to ask for dessert. Karen on the other hand, would opt to eat some savory buffalo wings instead. The type of dessert that Karen loves, is the kind that comes with SALT. Sea salt caramels, chocolate covered pretzels, if it’s salty, Karen is into it, just like these Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Ritz Cookies.
Read MoreEveryone in Austin, Texas is freaking out right now. “Did you see how cold it is going to be today?!? A low of 31 degrees is BELOW FREEZING.” Although this makes Karen (a girl born and raised in Minnesota and who spent half her life figure skating in brisk arenas) chuckle, it still serves as a perfect time to snuggle up with our favorite soup: Zuppa Toscana.
Read MoreBoth Karen and I are Austin transplants (just like 90% of Austin now-a-days) and know the feeling of needing a way to meet new friends. Sometimes as an adult, you might find yourself searching for how to meet people in a new city. Bumble is an amazing local Austin start-up, and they recently launched BumbleBFF so you can meet new friends or contacts in your area. In order to expand the positive impact of BumbleBFF, I partnered up with them to throw an event geared to get guys out of their own way and to make new friends; let’s be honest guys are much more stubborn when it comes to making new buddies.
Read MoreCouple in the Kitchen - from our kitchen to theirs. We provide you access to our homemade recipes, restaurant and travel guides.
