Blogs
I recently dusted off my mom’s classic KitchenAid mixer and dove into her recipe box. Her Apple Cake recipe called for “cooking oil” (yuck!), so I brightened it up with Blood Orange Olive Oil. Fresh pears instead of apples? Oh, yes!
Ingredients
- 2 cup Sugar
- 3/4 cup Branch and Vines Blood Oran...
Hey, sourdough seekers! In my last Blog I discussed starter temperatures. In our next adventure in in our series on The Heart of heart of Homemade sourdough Bread: The Sourdough Starter. Let's investigate where the flavor lives, the texture magic happens, and honestly – where the fun really
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Let’s face it: not all balsamic vinegars are created equal. Some are smooth and velvety, making your taste buds sing. Others? Well, they’re just sugary impostors pretending to play in the big leagues. So, how do you separate the culinary MVPs from the benchwarmers? Let us spill the (balsamic) tea.
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Transform ordinary meals into something extraordinary with Cranberry Chutney with Fresh Pomegranate Dark Balsamic Vinegar ! A recipe from my Mom with a Branch and Vines twist. This vibrant chutney combines tart cranberries, fresh citrus and the rich, tangy depth of pomegranate dark
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Picture this: you’re in your kitchen, surrounded by bubbling jars of tangy sauerkraut, fizzy kombucha, or that perfect sourdough starter. It’s like a mad scientist’s laboratory, but instead of concocting questionable experiments, you’re reviving an ancient, time-tested tradition that’s as delicious ...
How to Grow a Kombucha Mother (SCOBY)
(With a Sprinkle of Love from me)
What’s a SCOBY, anyway?
SCOBY stands for Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast. It’s like the queen bee of your fermentation hive! The Mother! Picture a jellyfish crossed with a science project—she might look a little quirky...
Yes, you read that right. Cheese — that glorious, gooey, creamy, sharp, tangy, utterly divine creation — is the world’s most consumed fermented food. And the kicker? Most people don’t even realize they’re indulging in a fermented food when they’re biting into a slice of pizza or adding a sprin...
Salmon is loaded with Omega-3's, always choose wild salmon when available. This sweet ginger glaze balances perfectly with the salmon, you'll never image making salmon any other way. If you like a little heat, add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes to the glaze when cooking. During the summer m
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The prized Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena (Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena DOP) faces unprecedented challenges as we move through 2025. Here's a deep dive into the factors affecting this liquid gold's future.
Market Pressures
Climate Impact
Recent shifts in Emilia-Romagna's weather...
We’ve traded our food smarts and confidence for convenience and processed junk. But guess what? It’s time to kick those pre-packaged snacks to the curb and get back to our kitchens, where the real magic happens! Too many of us are shelling out big bucks for food that’s been made by scientists in lab...
Salt isn’t just for making your fries taste amazing—it’s the unsung hero of fermentation! It’s like the bouncer at an exclusive probiotic party, keeping the riffraff (bad bacteria) out while letting the VIP guests (good microbes) do their thing. And if you want crunchy pickles, tangy kraut, and perf...
Hey there, Fermenting Friends!
You know I love a good ferment, but today, we're diving into something even more magical than the fizz of kombucha or the tang of a fresh kraut--sustainable fermentation! That's right, we're talking about turning food waste into foodie gold and doing our part to hel...
