Whole Grain Sampling Day

Today is Whole Grain Sampling Day! You may remember that last year I was a whole grain ambassador, and I am happy to be a whole grain ambassador again this year. What does that mean? It means I get to tell you all the great things about whole grains!

Whole grains contain the three edible parts of a grain: the outer bran layers, which are rich in fiber and B vitamins; the germ, which is full of antioxidants; and the starchy endosperm. Because refined grains have the bran and germ removed, they are missing a lot of essential nutrients. So if you're trying to get the biggest bang for your buck healthwise, whole grains are the way to go.

Making Mini Momofuku Milk Bar Blueberry And Cream Cookies

I told you it's an obsession. I made those two Momofuku Milk Bar cakes and now I'm sharing some mini Blueberry and Cream Cookies, also from the Momofuku Milk Bar cookbook. The recipe for the full-size cookies is right online on the Momofuku Milk Bar website, so I won't retype it here, but I do want to take you through the cookie-making process, in case you find it a little intimidating. (I swear it's not intimidating at all!)

Unlike the cakes I made, which had multiple components, the cookies just have two components: milk crumb and cookie dough.

Learning The Secrets Behind EHChocolatier's Chocolates

I've been a fan of EHChocolatier since I first tried their chocolate about two years ago. They are my go-to when I want to send gifts (ordering online is so easy) or indulge in some really delicious chocolate.

I got to see the secrets behind their chocolates when I recently took their Beyond the Bar chocolate demo class.

Greek Chicken And Orzo Bowls

I've been seeing dinner bowls -- basically a dish with its distinct parts artfully arranged rather than mixed together in a bowl -- a lot lately. The concept is pretty cool, and the final result is usually more aesthetically pleasing than your basic tossed salad or pasta dish.

Soup Sundays: The Recap

Way back in October,  I set a goal for myself to make a soup every weekend I was around all fall and winter. That didn't happen. But I did share 11 soups with you during that time (and made some others that were repeats of old soups so I didn't post about them), and I think that's pretty darn good! While I may not have hit my overall goal, I hit the underlying one, which was to make more soups.