The Art of using Edible Arrangements | Tuesday’s Tip of the Day!

When it comes to entertaining, I always tell people, less is more! When invites are sent and it’s time to adorn your tables and create show-stopping tablescapes, the same rule applies!  

Before you spend countless hours running from place to place trying to decide how to adorn your table, think about your local grocery store! Pears, apples and kumquats, for example, not only showcase the bounty of the season at hand, they are inexpensive, readily available at your local grocery store and can be purchased at the same time as the rest of your groceries. Easy Peasy!

Use what you have as far as hurricanes, platters and serving bowls to showcase them in, or simply scatter your chosen ingredients around your tabletop for a fun, no-fuss and rustic way of celebrating the season at hand.

For other terrific tips and hundreds of recipes, visit my website (thetabletogether.com). While there, consider “subscribing” and I will send a new tip or blog post directly to your inbox every Tuesday and Wednesday morning!

P.S. Make sure you check out my YouTube channel, The Table Together with Tiffany Lewis, for dozens of videos solely dedicated to bringing all of these fantastic tips and recipes to life!

Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

Cutting a Pineapple, Including a YouTube Video | Tuesday’s Tip of the Day!

Summer is here and so is the bounty of fresh fruit hitting our markets! Today, I am going to show you how to cut a pineapple in record time with minimal waste. 

For a complete step-by-step, make sure you check out my YouTube video!

1. Cut off the top and bottom leaving a cylinder shaped topless and bottomless pineapple.
2. Using a sharp knife, stand your pineapple upright. Starting at the top, and working in smooth strokes, cut just deep enough from the top to the bottom removing the “eyes” but not so deep that you waste that delicate juicy interior.
3. Work your way around the entire pineapple until the prickly skin has completely been removed one slice at a time.
4. From here, cut into desired size shapes and enjoy!

For other terrific tips and hundreds of recipes, including several with pineapple like my grilled pineapple salsa, visit my website (thetabletogether.com). While there, consider “subscribing” and I will send a new tip or blog post directly to your inbox every Tuesday and Wednesday morning!

P.S. Make sure you check out my YouTube channel, The Table Together with Tiffany Lewis, for dozens of videos solely dedicated to bringing all of these fantastic tips and recipes to life!

Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

Fish Spatulas: The Many Uses beyond the Fillet | Tuesday’s Tip of the Day!

One of my all-time favorite tools in the kitchen, is my fish spatula. Yes, its main purpose or intention–as you probably guessed–is for gently flipping delicate fillets of fish, however, there are so many other uses, why would we stop there?

• Flipping! With a long flat yet sturdy end, it makes a great surface to flip just about anything! From chicken, steaks, shrimp, roasted potatoes and veggies to even corn tortillas, its wide and long enough to handle any flipping task with ease and grace.
• Whisking and de-greasing: The wiry gaps on the spatulas end not only make a great tool for aerating flour, but also a safe way to remove items from hot grease in a shallow pan. Think pancetta, bacon or anything deep-fried in a shallow pan. Simply, lift, tap against the pan’s edge to remove any excess oil, and transfer to a paper towel lined plate. Now, how easy is that!

For other terrific tips and hundreds of recipes, visit my website (thetabletogether.com). While there, consider “subscribing” and I will send a new tip or blog post directly to your inbox every Tuesday and Wednesday morning!

P.S. Make sure you check out my YouTube channel, The Table Together with Tiffany Lewis, for dozens of videos solely dedicated to bringing all of these fantastic tips and recipes to life!

Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

Tips for Throwing an Impromptu Fourth of July Celebration | Tuesday’s Tip of the Day!

With Fourth of July just around the corner, chances are you may still be humming and hawing over whether you want to throw a red-white-and-blue cookout. If that’s the case, I’ve got your last-minute festivities covered!

Less is more!

I say this a lot as it relates to a lot! From nail polish color to makeup and Thanksgiving dinner, less is quite often more! The same goes for throwing a patriotic bash! Purchase as much as you can that’s pre-made and ready to either be assembled, tossed, bedazzled or hung and you’re ready to go!

Keep it casual!

No one minds sitting on plastic chairs, eating off their laps, sipping out of plastic cups and noshing on paper plates when they are surrounded by family and friends in a casual setting. Keep the dishes at bay by serving your bites and sips on disposables, red-white-and-blue themed if you can find them.

Set the Tone!

It’s amazing how something as simple as lit candles, music, freshly cut flowers, a roaring fire and stringing lights can enhance the overall ambiance. And, chances are, you may already have most of these on hand or can easily purchase them at your local shopping mall.

Stock your Bar Cart!

Create a big pitcher of lemonade and keep a few bottles of bitters or flavored liqueurs, like watermelon Schnapps, on the side for those 21 and over to adorn! This way, kids and adults alike can enjoy a refreshing beverage. Don’t forget big coolers of beer, rose and any other sips you may enjoy!

Menu:

Save yourself a headache and create a simple and streamlined menu. If you over complicate your menu, the next thing you know you’re trying to find room on the grill for everyone’s specifications–not to mention all the variations of buns–and more room for those 6 other side dishes. Offer a veggie and meat main course, 1 type of bun, fixings, condiments, fruit salad, pasta salad, corn if you want, and coleslaw. Easy!

Dessert:

I love the idea of smore’s as they are made by the guests and one less thing for you to do! If you don’t have access to a bonfire, consider buying a store-bought angel food cake–bonus points if you make one yourself–and dolloping with whipped cream, strawberries and blueberries for a festive, but simple, light dessert following your bountiful supper.

For other terrific tips and hundreds of recipes, visit my website (thetabletogether.com). While there, consider “subscribing” and I will send a new tip or blog post directly to your inbox every Tuesday and Wednesday morning!

P.S. Make sure you check out my YouTube channel, The Table Together with Tiffany Lewis, for dozens of videos solely dedicated to bringing all of these fantastic tips and recipes to life!

Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

Easy Meal Prep by Doubling your Next Batch of Grains or Rice | Tuesday’s Tip of the Day!

Making quinoa, rice, bulgur, barley, or farro for supper tonight? Consider doubling your recipe, grabbing a larger pot and saving half for tomorrow’s porridge, lunch or dinner later in the week. A simple step, like doubling a recipe when those dishes need to be done anyway, can save you time and energy throughout the week helping to put dinner on the table that much faster! If you are like me and enjoy maximizing your time and energy with simple hassle-free cooking, give this a go and let me know what you think!

For other terrific tips and hundreds of recipes, including several with grains, visit my website (thetabletogether.com). While there, consider “subscribing” and I will send a new tip or blog post directly to your inbox every Tuesday and Wednesday morning!

P.S. Make sure you check out my YouTube channel, The Table Together with Tiffany Lewis, for dozens of videos solely dedicated to bringing all of these fantastic tips and recipes to life!

Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

Knowing When to Sharpen your Knives | Tuesday's Tip of the Day!

Photo: The Grover's Photography

They always say, a dull knife is an unsafe knife. I couldn’t agree more! Countless injuries occur from a dull knife slipping off a product and making contact with your fingers laying adjacent. The worst part, is that this is totally preventable. Sharpen your knives, knowing when and how often to sharpen them, and your fingertips can stay bandage free!

How often should I sharpen my knife?

The general rule of thumb when it comes to sharpening your knives is based on how many times a week you use them. If you use your knife 3 times a week, then generally speaking, they should be sharpened 3 times a year! This goes for each knife that is used. Your chef knife, your workhorse, will most likely be the most used knife in your kitchen and therefore should be sharpened the most.

How do I know when to sharpen my knife?

I like to sharpen my knife right before I know that I will be using it a lot. For example, if I were sharpening my knife 3 times a year, this schedule might make the most sense: right before Easter, summer and Thanksgiving. Another way to tell is by holding a piece of paper in your hand in the air. The knife should slice right through the paper from the top down with ease and graze.

Where to sharpen your knives!

You can buy hand held sharpeners at your local cooking store, like Sur La Table, but I always recommend taking them into a knife-smith or cooking store and having them do it for you. If you don’t know what you are doing, or using a German knife sharpener for a Japanese style knife, for example, you can easily damage your knife. Most cooking stores charge $5 per knife and offer specials around the holidays. This is worth checking out.

For other terrific tips and hundreds of recipes, visit my website (thetabletogether.com). While there, consider “subscribing” and I will send a new tip or blog post directly to your inbox every Tuesday and Wednesday morning!

P.S. Make sure you check out my YouTube channel, The Table Together with Tiffany Lewis, for dozens of videos solely dedicated to bringing all of these fantastic tips and recipes to life!

Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

Write in your Cookbooks | Tuesday's Tip of the Day

If there is one piece of advice I can give you when it comes to cooking from cookbooks, it’s to write in them! Grab a colored pen, highlighter, post it note, blue tape or whatever you have on hand that can help record and highlight. Make notes of “wins” and the “losses” so you know how to recreate your master piece next time. Cookbooks are written from the writer’s state of mind and preference. They are not contracts and are meant to be tweaked adjusted and manipulated to meet you and your family’s needs. Don’t care for cilantro? Why would you add it? Want to try chicken thighs vs. chicken breasts? Go for it! Just keep in mind cooking times may change. The chicken took 10 minutes to cook vs. the stated 6 minutes? Get that in writing!

A pen, stack of post it notes, cookbook and family or friends to enjoy your masterpiece with, is one sure way to enjoy every moment while capturing every detail for next time.

For other terrific tips and hundreds of recipes, visit my website (thetabletogether.com). While there, consider “subscribing” and I will send a new tip or blog post directly to your inbox every Tuesday and Wednesday morning!

P.S. Make sure you check out my YouTube channel, The Table Together with Tiffany Lewis, for dozens of videos solely dedicated to bringing all of these fantastic tips and recipes to life!

Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

How to Cut an Onion Minus the Tears | Tuesday’s Tip of the Day!

Don’t you just hate when a recipe calls for a chopped onion, company is arriving in 10 minutes and you don’t have time for makeup smudges? We have all been there!

Today on my YouTube channel, The Table Together with Tiffany Lewis, I share a quick knife skills tutorial on cutting an onion minus the flood gates. So, put away those tissues, open your internet browser and come join me on my YouTube channel as we take on an onion, minus the tears!

For other terrific tips and hundreds of recipes including several with onions, visit my website (thetabletogether.com). While there, consider “subscribing” and I will send a new tip or blog post directly to your inbox every Tuesday and Wednesday morning!

P.S. Make sure you check out my YouTube channel, The Table Together with Tiffany Lewis, for dozens of videos solely dedicated to bringing all of these fantastic tips and recipes to life!

Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

How to Cut a Watermelon | Tuesday’s Tip of the Day!

With Memorial Day and Fourth of July just around the corner, no doubt watermelon will make an appearance at one of your backyard BBQ celebrations. This week, I share a step by step video on my YouTube channel, The Table Together with Tiffany Lewis, on cutting a watermelon in record speed with minimal waste!  Come join me on YouTube and let’s get cook’n!

For other terrific tips and hundreds of recipes, including several with watermelon, visit my website (thetabletogether.com). While there, consider “subscribing” and I will send a new tip or blog post directly to your inbox every Tuesday and Wednesday morning!

P.S. Make sure you check out my YouTube channel, The Table Together with Tiffany Lewis, for dozens of videos solely dedicated to bringing all of these fantastic tips and recipes to life!

Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

How to Select a Killer Avocado | Tuesday’s Tip of the Day!

There is nothing worse than carefully maneuvering the overflowing bin of avocados at your local market in quest of the perfect one, only to be disappointed when home! Today, we turn to our trusted friends at California Avocado’s for a complete and thorough overview of these delectable fruits.

Overview Provided by CaliforniaAvocado.com:

• When selecting an avocado, look for the Fresh California Avocado label, your assurance that the fruit was grown under the best conditions possible
• Tip: California Avocados are in season from spring through fall. If you do not see California Avocados in stores during this time frame, let your produce manager know of your preference
• The best way to tell if a California Avocado is ripe and ready for immediate use is to gently squeeze the fruit in the palm of your hand. Ripe, ready-to-eat fruit will be firm yet will yield to gentle pressure.
• Color alone may not tell the whole story. The Hass avocado will turn dark green or black as it ripens, but some other avocado varieties retain their light-green skin even when ripe.
• If you plan to serve the fruit in a few days, stock up on hard, un-ripened fruit and review our section on how to ripen avocados.
• Avoid fruit with dark blemishes on the skin or over-soft fruit.

For other terrific tips and hundreds of recipes many featuring avocados, visit my website (thetabletogether.com). While there, consider “subscribing” and I will send a new tip or blog post directly to your inbox every Tuesday and Wednesday morning!

P.S. Make sure you check out my YouTube channel, The Table Together with Tiffany Lewis, for dozens of videos solely dedicated to bringing all of these fantastic tips and recipes to life!

Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

Greasing your Waffle Maker, Minus the Residue | Tuesday's Tip of the Day

Lazy Sunday mornings are meant for firing up your waffle maker, whipping up a classic buttermilk waffle recipe and drowning them with pure Vermont maple syrup, heated, of course. Awe, the memories of PJs, crisp bacon, freshly squeezed orange juice and waffles! However, over time, especially if we are using spray de-greasing oil, a film or residue builds making it harder and harder to remove. Today, I am going to share a quick tip for greasing your waffle maker with no residue! After all, our only memory of Sunday brunch should be full bellies not scrubbing the grates.

Most waffle makers are nonstick, like my personal favorite shown above from Sur La Table, but sometimes a little extra “love” makes them release that much easier. To grease the pan, consider using a pastry brush and neutral oil like vegetable, canola or grapeseed oil to lightly grease the surface.

For other terrific tips and hundreds of recipes, including dozens perfect for accompanying your waffles, visit my website (thetabletogether.com). While there, consider “subscribing” and I will send a new tip or blog post directly to your inbox every Tuesday and Wednesday morning!

P.S. Make sure you check out my YouTube channel, The Table Together with Tiffany Lewis, for dozens of videos solely dedicated to bringing all of these fantastic tips and recipes to life!

Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

Quick Homemade Funnels: DIY Funnel Remedy | Tuesday’s Tip of the Day!

That leftover lazy Sunday brunch maple syrup from Vermont is too good to waste. It would be a shame! We comb our kitchen for a clean way of transferring it back to the jar only to be left with frustration and a sticky mess. If only we had a funnel. Well, that’s where I come in. Right now, your kitchen most probably offers several options for your “funnel”, but here are three to get you started and your imagination to start, well, imagining.

Ziplock Bag:

• Insert contents, from liquid to jelly beans, and secure or twist the top.
• Snip one of the corners and place over desired jar opening. Watch as your contents neatly drop below.

Parchment Paper:

• Make a cone out of parchment paper and tape the side.
• Add dry ingredients, rice, spices or beans, and place over desired jar opening. Voila!

Paper Cone Coffee Filter:

• Place dry ingredients inside. Gather or twist the top and place over desired jar opening.
• Easy Peasy!

For other terrific tips and hundreds of recipes, visit my website (thetabletogether.com). While there, consider “subscribing” and I will send a new tip or blog post directly to your inbox every Tuesday and Wednesday morning!

P.S. Make sure you check out my YouTube channel, The Table Together with Tiffany Lewis, for dozens of videos solely dedicated to bringing all of these fantastic tips and recipes to life!

Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

How to Quickly Ripen an Avocado | Tuesday’s Tip of the Day!

There is nothing better than a perfectly ripe avocado, creamy and velvety smooth on the inside. However, what do you do when the weekend’s Cinco De Mayo Guacamole bar promises a big turnout, but the market’s avocados are rock-hard? Help!

What you will need:

• Brown paper bag
• Apple (more apples, faster the ripening will occur)
• Avocados

Step by step:

• In a brown paper bag, place avocados and an apple. Tightly crimp the top to seal and keep at room temperature checking the firmness of your avocado the following day. I would allow at least 2 days for this process, of course depending on just how rock-hard those avocados are.
• As a side note, the more apples you place inside the bag, the faster the avocados will ripen.
• Voila, gorgeous velvety smooth guacamole primed for your party in pronto timing!

How does this work?

• Overtime, the apple and avocado release and exchange ethylene gas aiding in the rapid ripening process.

For other terrific tips and hundreds of recipes, including my Guacamole recipe and dozens of others featuring avocado, visit my website (thetabletogether.com). While there, consider “subscribing” and I will send a new tip or blog post directly to your inbox every Tuesday and Wednesday morning!

P.S. Make sure you check out my YouTube channel, The Table Together with Tiffany Lewis, for dozens of videos solely dedicated to bringing all of these fantastic tips and recipes to life!

Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

Adding Flour to Your Mixer Minus the Dust Storm | Tuesday’s Tip of the Day!

The family calls for chocolate chip cookies so you set out to make a batch. You carefully cream the butter and sugars, add the eggs, one at a time scraping down the sides in between, quickly incorporate the vanilla extract and prepare yourself for the addition of dry ingredients. You search for your Kitchen Aid stand mixer shield but its dusty, MIA or simply, one more thing to clean. You go in minus the shield and end up with a dust storm and cleanup after all. Sound familiar?

For a simple fix, place a clean kitchen towel over the top of the mixture and drape over the exposed sides of the bowl. Turn the mixer on low and rest assured, flour will stay contained in the bowl at hand. Voila, easy as that!

For other terrific tips and hundreds of recipes, including dozens incorporating flour like my Ultimate Chocolate Chunk Pecan Cookies, visit my website (thetabletogether.com). While there, consider “subscribing” and I will send a new tip or blog post directly to your inbox every Tuesday and Wednesday morning!

P.S. Make sure you check out my YouTube channel, The Table Together with Tiffany Lewis, for dozens of videos solely dedicated to bringing all of these fantastic tips and recipes to life!

Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

Kitchen Hack: Quickly Air Drying Greens, No Salad Spinner Needed | Tuesday’s Tip of the Day!

Nobody likes wet lettuce but sometimes, when dinner calls and the salad spinner is nowhere to be found, it can be hard to avoid. That was, before reading this kitchen hack of course!

Most packaged greens, like spinach and arugula, come pre-washed which is a great time saver putting dinner on the table that much faster. However, your romaine, kale and other leafy greens need a quick rinse before enjoying, to remove any potential grit, sand and soil. Plus, who knows how many people have handled that head of romaine before yours.

Follow these steps and you’ll have perfectly clean (and dry) greens each and every time, even without that fancy spinner.

1.   Wash: Thoroughly, leaf by leaf, under cold running water.

2.   Prepare: Cut or tear into desired size, shaking away any excess water.

3.   Dry: In a clean, lint-free, kitchen towel, gather your greens in the center. Pull together the kitchen sides and loosely secure, trapping your greens inside.

4.   Shake: Holding the four corners of your towel, gently shake until moisture has been removed.

5.   Enjoy! Toss with your dressing of choice, adorn with your favorite accompaniments, and enjoy!

For other terrific tips and hundreds of recipes, including dozens of salads and vinaigrettes like my Avocado Romaine Salad with Orange Vinaigrette, or my Grilled Flank Steak Salad with Fresh Summer Peaches, Corn, Gorgonzola and a Thyme-Mint Vinaigrette,  visit my website (thetabletogether.com). While there, consider “subscribing” and I will send a new tip or blog post directly to your inbox every Tuesday and Wednesday morning!

P.S. Make sure you check out my YouTube channel, The Table Together with Tiffany Lewis, for dozens of videos solely dedicated to bringing all of these fantastic tips and recipes to life!

Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

Kitchen Hack: Quickly Hulling Strawberries | Tuesday’s Tip of the Day!

As strawberries start to make a sweet comeback at our local farmer’s markets and u-picks become the weekend destination, it’s only appropriate that I share two of my favorite kitchen hacks when it comes to hulling strawberries.

1.   Using a Grapefruit Spoon or Melon Baller: Use the sharp “teeth” of the spoon to simply scoop and remove the stem. Yes, it’s as easy as that.

2.   Using a Straw: That’s right, that same straw that helps quench your thirst, can be used to hull your strawberries. Simply insert the straw at the bottom center tip of your strawberry leading its way straight toward the top stem. Push through the top, center of the stem, and if aligned correctly, the straw will push the stem right out the top.

For other terrific tips and hundreds of recipes, including several featuring strawberries, like my Watermelon Strawberry Spritzer, Strawberry Vinaigrette, Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble, and my Berry Shortcake with Lemon Cake and Mint Whipping Cream, to name a few, visit my website (thetabletogether.com). While there, consider “subscribing” and I will send a new tip or blog post directly to your inbox every Tuesday and Wednesday morning!

P.S. Make sure you check out my YouTube channel, The Table Together with Tiffany Lewis, for dozens of videos solely dedicated to bringing all of these fantastic tips and recipes to life!

Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

Quick Fix for Separated Peanut Butter | Tuesday’s Tip of the Day!

I absolutely love peanut butter in every form. Whether in a milkshake, cookie, sauce, mousse, vinaigrette, sandwich, fudge, mole, no-bake cookies, smoothie, frosting, or by the spoonful, I don’t discriminate! Today, I am going to share a quick tip for quickly incorporating the layer of oil that greets you when first opening your natural peanut butter jar.

Instead of trying to fit a whisk in the jar or a knife that only yields a nice mess, consider using a fork. With your fork prongs acting like the arms of your whisk, gently and slowly rotate or twirl the fork in the peanut butter until the oil and peanut butter evenly incorporate.

For other terrific tips and hundreds of recipes, including several featuring peanut butter like Peanut Butter Frosting, Laurie’s Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies, Peanut Vinaigrette, Peanut Butterfinger Fudge, delectable Peanut Mousse, Peanut Sauce, andPeanut Butter and Almond Milk Smoothie, visit my website (thetabletogether.com). While there, consider “subscribing” and I will send a new tip or blog post directly to your inbox every Tuesday and Wednesday morning!

P.S. Make sure you check out my YouTube channel, The Table Together with Tiffany Lewis, for dozens of videos solely dedicated to bringing all of these fantastic tips and recipes to life!

Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

Quickly Removing the Skin of Hazelnuts in Record Time | Tuesday’s Tip of the Day!

If you love hazelnuts, but hate dealing with their flaky finicky skin, this one goes out to you! Today I am going to share 3 tips for removing the skin of hazelnuts in record time!

Wire Rack Method:

1. Insert a wire rack, the kind you would cool cookies on, inside a baking sheet.
2. Place roasted hazelnuts on top, and using your hands or a kitchen towel, gently rub the hazelnuts back and forth against the wire grates.
3. Watch as the skin quickly releases leaving you with hazelnuts ready for snacking or adorning to your heart’s content.
4. The Downside? Dishes & Laundry.

Kitchen Towel:

1. Place roasted hazelnuts in the middle of a kitchen towel.
2. Secure the edges trapping the hazelnuts inside.
3. Gently rub the towel and contents in between your hands, on the counter and shake until the skin has removed.
4. The Downside? Laundry

Bowl or To-Go Container:

1. Find two identical metal or plastic bowls or to-go containers with a fitted lid.
2. Place roasted hazelnuts inside one bowl, secure the top with the second identical bowl or lid, and shake until the skin has removed.
3. The Downside? Noisy!

For other terrific tips and hundreds of recipes, visit my website (thetabletogether.com). While there, consider “subscribing” and I will send a new tip or blog post directly to your inbox every Tuesday and Wednesday morning!

P.S. Make sure you check out my YouTube channel, The Table Together with Tiffany Lewis, for dozens of videos solely dedicated to bringing all of these fantastic tips and recipes to life!

Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

Wonton Wrappers & Impromptu Weeknight Ravioli! | Tuesday’s Tip of the Day!

Today, we are stepping outside of the box and introducing a whole new concept when it comes to making ravioli. Wonton wrappers, readily available at most grocery stores, make for an easy replacement with your classic pasta sheets and yield the same texture and outcome when cooked. Heck, your guests may not even know! In fact, because they are so simple to use–and save time from rolling out fresh pasta dough by hand–wonton wrappers frequently make an appearance in my kitchen.

Before you begin:

• Wash and dry your hands.
• Make a filling for your ravioli: Open your fridge and consider the possibilities. Some of my favorite fillings are the simplest. For example, ricotta, fresh herbs, an egg, parmesan cheese, salt, and a crack of pepper is one of my favorites!
• Make a sauce, keep it hot!
• Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil: For faster results, salt the water after it reaches a boil.
• Lightly flour your countertop.
• Lightly flour a parchment paper lined baking sheet.

Wonton Wrappers:

1. Prepare the wontons:
   1. ightly flour a work surface with flour.
   2. Lay one wonton wrapper down and place a small spoonful of filling in the middle leaving a 1-inch boarder around all four sides.
   3. Using slightly wet finger tips, “brush” a thin layer of water around each side, as if you were “licking” an envelope.
   4. Place the second wonton wrapper on top, and using a fork, gently press down along the sides forming a seal.
   5. Transfer to the prepared flour dusted parchment paper, and repeat with the remaining wontons.
2. Cook: In a large pot of salted boiling water, working in batches if needed to not overcrowd the pot, cook ravioli for 2 – 3 minutes, or until done.
3. Sauce & Serve: Using a slotted spoon, remove cooked ravioli, and transfer directly to your sauce. Toss and serve while hot.

For other terrific tips and hundreds of recipes, like my walnut and kale pesto, a classic tomato Pomodoro sauce, or even my classic Bolognese, visit my website (thetabletogether.com). While there, consider “subscribing” and I will send a new tip or blog post directly to your inbox every Tuesday and Wednesday morning!

P.S. Make sure you check out my YouTube channel, The Table Together with Tiffany Lewis, for dozens of videos solely dedicated to bringing all of these fantastic tips and recipes to life!

Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

Tips for Getting More Grains in Your Diet! | Tuesday’s Tip of the Day!

For those that don’t know, I am currently taking a series of nutrition certificate programs at Cornell and UCLA. I am fascinated with food and not only how it brings people together, you hear me preaching about that all day long, but also how it fuels us! Regardless of what our day to day looks like, it truly is the one thing across all genders, nationalities and ethnic backgrounds that we all agree in: Food is Fuel, Food is Life! Without food, we would not be able to provide for ourselves, families, co-workers, and teams. Because of this, I have decided to take my interest of food beyond the kitchen and really truly understand what food does and how eating the right things in the right moderations, can ultimately help us live the life we have imagined.

The number one takeaway, and there are so many, is the importance of whole grains. From not only their ability to fuel and drive energy, but also to the “feel good feel full longer” capability, whole grains are a natural source of energy and a huge part of a healthy well balanced diet.

Think of grains as a blank canvass. On their own, yes, they can be boring and dull but so can a bowl of pasta or lettuce with no sauce or vinaigrette. It’s where we open our crisper and incorporate other ingredients that we love, where the magic begins to happen!

I’m sure I will be sharing more tips from my nutrition classes, but I just couldn’t help but share a fun tip on getting more grains into your diet with minimal effort and maximum appeal!

Happy grains my friends!

XX

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Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!