Café Zupas Blog

how to: sugar edible flowers

May 11th, 2012 - by

Here’s the step by step instructions on how to sugar edible flowers. It is surprisingly easy and give you a lovely result.

Again, be sure you are sugaring flowers that actually are edible – see post with a link to the lists of edible and poisonous flowers here. If you do use inedible flowers, just be sure to tell those eating the desserts that they shouldn’t eat the flowers, as pretty as they are. Also be sure that the flowers you use haven’t been treated with any pesticides, fungicides or other harmful chemicals. In this case, organic is the only way to go. Continue reading “how to: sugar edible flowers” »

how to: create your own trail mix

May 10th, 2012 - by

Eating on the go doesn’t mean that you can’t eat healthy. Their are a lot of portable snacks that are healthy and quick to put together for us busy people. Fruit and vegetable are super portable, and quick to grab on the go! Apples, bananas, carrot sticks involve little or no preparation, and you can be out the door!

Trail mixes are also a healthy snack that you can put together quick!

Trail mixes are simple to put together!
I like to use raw nuts, dried fruit, coconut, dark chocolate, and seeds! But, the best part is, you can really put whatever you like into the mix!

Enjoy!

Xoxo,
Caroline

how to: find a CSA

April 27th, 2012 - by


produce fron Jacob’s Cove CSA 2011

 It’s the time of year where many people start looking forward to the start of weekly farmer’s markets once more, as well as deliveries from local farms where they have purchased a CSA share of food. Not sure what a CSA is? Or what “share” means? Today’s post is all about what CSA’s are, and how to find one. Continue reading “how to: find a CSA” »

how to: make a vinaigrette

March 30th, 2012 - by

Spring is salad season. Though I wish I had a small greenhouse or some other way to have crisp greens through the winter, I wait until the early spring to plant baby lettuces to enjoy. Lettuces are a cool weather crop, and after eating so many heavy and warm meals through the winter I am grateful for the light clean flavors of spring greens.

I think what makes a salad great is a good vinaigrette. Sure you can buy a vinaigrette at the store but when you make your own you know exactly what is in it, and can use the freshest and best ingredients. Get to know the basics of a vinaigrette and start making your own at home today. Continue reading “how to: make a vinaigrette” »

how to: make buttermilk

February 29th, 2012 - by

I know you’ve been there before – it’s Saturday morning, and you get a craving for pancakes.  But your favorite recipe calls for buttermilk, and there is none to be found in the fridge.  You don’t want to go to the store – it is a lazy Saturday morning, after all, but you really want pancakes.

Continue reading “how to: make buttermilk” »

meat and cheese board

February 2nd, 2012 - by

There is something simple and elegant about a nice meat, fruit and cheese board.  It can be arranged in no time, but the presentation is a huge wow factor!

There isn’t much rhyme or reason to putting one together either.  I like to put out a few of favorite cheese selections, some sliced dried meat, fruit, olives, and crackers.  But, really you can do a number of combinations.

With the Super Bowl coming up this Sunday, a nice spread like this may just be the winning ticket at your party!

For my cheese board I used:

Castelvetrano olives
Carr Table Crackers
Dried Dates
Gruyere Cheese
Dried Sliced Salami
Cambozola Cheese
Green Grapes
Cutie Clementine Oranges

It also makes for a great snack or a fun lunch!

xoxo,

Caroline 

 

how to: throw a chinese new year party

January 21st, 2012 - by

Chinese New Year is on Monday, January 23rd, and although we will be celebrating with extended family this weekend, we are planning our own little party with delicious and lucky foods, and a few fun (and easy) crafts. This upcoming lunar year is the year of the dragon, a very lucky year that is said to bring prosperity and good fortune. Keep reading to see all the ideas to throw your own celebration to bring in the new lunar year. Continue reading “how to: throw a chinese new year party” »

recipe: cantaloupe with proscuitto

January 19th, 2012 - by

Last summer I talked about pairing fruits with meats on the blog.   On of my favorite combinations is sweet juicy ripe cantaloupe and thinly sliced proscuitto.

At first it may seem like a weird combination, but once you try it, you’ll realize that they compliment each other nicely.  This is a very common combination in Europe.  I remember eating it in France quite a bit!

So, what are your favorite fruit and meat pairings?

how to make homemade applesauce

December 30th, 2011 - by

Technological problems that I’ve been facing the last month made it impossible for me to share my favorite holiday recipes with you, and I didn’t even get to finish the apple series I was near finishing right before Thanksgiving! I will now be back to sharing weekly posts, and this week I am sharing three recipes, one for homemade applesauce, another for a cake that you can use that homemade applesauce in, and a third post (that will be published tomorrow) for an apple drink perfect for bringing in the New Year; so come back tomorrow!

Although apples may not be harvestable from the trees in your neighborhood anymore, they can still be purchased from local orchards and farms. Usually orchards will keep apples in cold storage after the season ends. If you’ve never made applesauce on your own before, it’s actually quite easy to make. You could even use your slow cooker if you want.

Keep reading to learn how.. Continue reading “how to make homemade applesauce” »

How to Crisp Lettuce (a.k.a. Saying Goodbye to Limp Salads!)

November 29th, 2011 - by

My intent today is to save you from consuming another wilty salad…we will have no more of that!  Nothing takes the fun out of eating salad more than limp lettuce, so I’m going to share a super easy “how-to” that takes just a few minutes.  My husband taught me this simple method years ago when we first married, and I can’t tell you how excited I was to never have to eat a soggy salad again.  My world changed in under 5 minutes! Sometimes it’s the little things that make the biggest difference and I definitely feel this little trick has done just that.

Continue reading “How to Crisp Lettuce (a.k.a. Saying Goodbye to Limp Salads!)” »

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