I’m Maris from In Good Taste, which is the lifestyle blog I’ve had for nine years dedicated to all things cooking, dining and entertaining. If you look closely at my web address, you’ll notice that my URL does not end in ‘dot-com’ but in ‘dot-kitchen’ (.kitchen). By day, I am the director of public relations at Donuts Inc (www.donuts.domains) and Name Kitchen (www.name.kitchen) a company pioneering this “not-com” movement online, offering hundreds of new meaningful and creative naming options. I used ‘dot-kitchen’ for a very simple reason: when I have friends over, everyone aggregates in the kitchen. It’s the heart of the home, whether you’ve lived there for twenty five years or five weeks.
This week, Friday Five is all about – you guessed it – the kitchen. Here are a few of my favorite finds that relate well to everyone’s favorite room in the house – and some of the things you can cook in it.
- In the winter, I love to stay in and cook. Trying new recipes is one of my favorite things to do and trying different cuisines is a fun way to mix it up in the kitchen. This Easy Butter Chicken is healthy (Whole 30 approved!) and looks delicious, filling and a perfect way to spend a cold night in. I’d love to whip this up, invite a bunch of friends over and tell them to bring a favorite wine to share. Potluck perfection.
- Another recipe I’ve been eyeing is Asian-inspired pork tacos. I love a good Taco Tuesday as much as the next person and this crock-pot creation would be a nice swap out for my usual spicy shredded chicken taco rut.
- As much as I love to cook, it isn’t always easy to do between working long hours, blogging, training for a half marathon and having an occasional social life. And did I mention my dog, Henry? He’s really freaking cute. If you’re pressed for time to prepare dinner, these tips for making cooking at home easier are spot on. I’ve been loving my slow cooker lately and have been making and freezing meat for tacos, soups and stews so that when I’m busy, I have meals at the ready. Although sometimes, I still order pizza. I really like pizza.
- When I’m not cooking, eating or planning how to serve food, I’m probably thinking about it. I also love learning about the people that produce it. This interview with Sue McCloskey from Fair Oaks Farm sheds new light on dairy faming. The farm is open to the public, driving distance from Chicago and has a “dairy adventure barn.” I’m not going to lie to you here, I’m extremely intrigued.
- Talk of farming leads me to look forward to the summer, when I take my dog to the Green City Fulton Farmer’s Market every Saturday morning. We pick out herb plants, fresh fruits and vegetables and yes, sometimes a Hoosier Mama Pie. The one vegetable that I’m not so crazy about is zucchini, but my exception to the rule is when it’s spiralized into zoodles. This zoodle alfredo recipe sounds like one I’ll be recreating when comes patio weather.
image via Lows to Luxe