Spice Up Your Life

Ok, yes, I did make the title of this post a Spice Girls lyric. But before you roll your eyes there is good reason for it.

I am a huge proponent of spices. They add a layer of aromatics and depth to whatever you are cooking that takes it up a notch. A lot of people have misconceptions here: that spices have to be spicy and that when you are using spices your dish is less fresh. The first is nonsense, because other than peppers and cayenne spices are only adding flavor. The second is really a sad result of the terrible and stale spices that most people use (yes, I’m looking at you with that cinnamon you bought in 2002). When my son was born everyone was shocked - SHOCKED - that he got curry powder or cumin in his purees. But why not? The more flavor we are exposed to the broader our palate will be. And by the way, that applies to adults too.

So Kanchan Koya’s book, Spice Spice Baby, was a breath of fresh air. She comes from a science background so she makes the case that, beyond being delicious, spices are actually an essential ingredient for your health. And so many of the recipes are really simple. She came over to the kitchen and actually showcased three recipes that require no cooking - so there goes the other myth that spices need to be complicated.

Blog, Cookbook, Cooking, Food, Interview, VideoAli RosenSeptember 13, 2018cookbook, cardamom, turmeric, cinnamonComment

Bring It! on the Today Show

I started my career as a Page at NBC - yes, if you've seen 30 Rock it's just like Kenneth the Page, but with a little bit more real work involved! So I was so thrilled to get to have a little bit of a homecoming and share two of the recipes from Bring It! on The Today Show this week.

We wanted two pastas perfect for summer entertaining so we did the Red Wine Pasta and the Pesto Vinaigrette Pasta.

Blog, Cookbook, Interview, Ali's RecipesAli RosenAugust 8, 2018Bring It, NBC, Today Show, pastaComment

The Healthiest Sandwich Trick

I love a good hack, and apple sandwiches are kind of my new current favorite. If you use tart apples instead of bread you create a whole new category with texture and a fun factor that is hard to beat.

Recently Siri Daly stopped by to talk about her new book, Siriously Delicious. The wife of famed tv host Carson Daly uses her book and blog to showcase her easy recipes that help her keep her busy family on the go. Siri is one of those people who tries to make life easier and I loved the fun outlook in the book. But these apple sandwiches with nut butter and granola have made me a convert.

Cookbook, Food, Recipe, Interview, Video, BlogAli RosenJuly 9, 2018recipe, cookbook, apples, granola, healthy, kids, easy, nut butter, almond butter, 30 Minutes or Less, make ahead, Served ColdComment

Take Grilled Cheese Up a Notch

Some people just make you feel like everything in going to be ok when you cook. Jenn Segal gives that confidence and her wildly popular blog, Once Upon a Chef, is proof that her recipes work and make lives a little bit easier.

So with the release of her new book, we thought we would bring Jenn into the kitchen to get a sample of one of her recipes. This grilled cheese is the perfect blend: it is easy enough that anyone can tackle it but with enough difference to make it really feel like something special. I have found myself going back to it over and over since we shot the video.

Blog, Cookbook, Food, VideoAli RosenJune 26, 2018grilled cheese, cookbook, recipe, lunch, dinner, easy, 30 Minutes or Less, gouda, sandwich, pestoComment

Hear Me Out on Adding Cheese to Your Smoothie

I was a little skeptical at the idea of cheese in my smoothie. And why wouldn't I bet? At first glance it kind of sounds like a joke.

But then Tia Keenan suggested it and suddenly I was intrigued. You might know Tia from her Wall Street Journal column or her awesome first book The Art of the Cheese Plate. But now she is out with a new addition to the Short Stack Editions all about chevre. And in it she recreates the classic Orange Julius but with a cheesy twist.

And here's the thing: if yogurt makes such a great base for a smoothie why not add a bit of chevre? It gives protein, a little bit of tang, and a firming texture to the drink. Once I tried it I was a believer.

So if you want to give it a whirl and shake up your morning smoothie, watch the video below or follow the recipe!

Blog, Cookbook, Drinks, VideoAli RosenMay 31, 2018orange juice, drinks, orange, cheese, goat cheese, chevre, cookbookComment

Your New Addictive Snack is Citrus Marinated Olives

Gaby Dalkin seems to live on of those breezy California lives that makes me question all my life choices for living in New York. Her sunny blog, What's Gaby Cooking, has really delectable recipes and now she is out with a new book based on the style her readers have grown to love.

I loved getting to bring a little bit of that California feel into my new test kitchen. I am going to be doing a lot more videos from the kitchen which will allow for a lot more cookbook authors from out of town to share recipes - and I'm doing in a series I'm calling The Easiest Recipe. The Easiest Recipe will take what I think is the simplest recipe from the book and we make it in real-time right in the kitchen. For Gaby's book we picked the citrus marinated olives. These might be the most addictive snack - be careful if you make them for a party because you might just eat them all on their own.

So watch the video, check out Gaby's new book and you can make the recipe below if you feel inspired!

Cookbook, Recipe, Interview, Video, Blog, Cooking, FoodAli RosenMay 16, 2018olives, recipe, cookbook, California, snack, appetizer, party, entertaining, thyme, red pepper flakes, lemon, The Easiest Recipe, easyComment

Kitchen Organizational Help is Here, and It Couldn't Come Soon Enough

For those of you who follow along with my instagram (hi!), you might know that I am at the tail end of a kitchen renovation. It's super exciting since I will now have a space to film that is totally set up for it - an awesome new stage for this little show.

But of course the larger issue with a new kitchen is figuring out the set up. And even those who have been in a kitchen for a long time can sometimes need to make our life more efficient. There is a little dance we do every time we cook, moving from spot to spot as we go from prep to cooking to cleanup. Anyone who can make that easier is a godsend.

Enter Melissa Coleman, author of the blog The Faux Martha and the new book The Minimalist Kitchen. I love her style and her easy bright personality. The book is full of incredible recipes but also a lot of tips and tricks for paring down the clutter and getting organized. So there was no more fitting first guest in the kitchen. You'll have to excuse the lighting (better lights coming soon) and ignore the fact that there were no cabinets above us (ha! careful framing) but the advice is about as top notch as it gets.

Cookbook, Blog, Interview, VideoAli RosenApril 27, 2018kitchen, cookbook, interview, organize, easyComment

Oh Hey, Oprah and Martha Love Bring It! Too!

It's been so amazing in the last month to see Bring It! out in the world. When you write a cookbook it is years of testing and tasting and writing and then suddenly one day everyone gets in on the action.

And it's also been super exciting to see support from all kinds of places. Oprah shared 4 of the recipes - too bad she doesn't have a book club! Martha Stewart shared some of my potluck tips. And Good Morning America recommends a girls night in.

And if you want to blow off work and watch me cook some watermelon ribs and mango puffs while getting a little bit tipsy with Food and Wine's Justin Chapple on his show Mad Genius, you can watch the video below.

And if you haven't ordered it yet, you can always do it at this link - and if you want a signed bookplate to put in the book just shoot me an email at bringitcookbook@gmail.com and I will send you one!

Blog, CookbookAli RosenApril 19, 2018Bring It, Martha Stewart, Oprah, Food & WineComment

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