Weekly Wrap-Up 9/16-9/22

In case you missed them, here’s a wrap up of our favorite blog posts of the week. Read, get inspired, and start cooking!

 

Avocado & Black Bean Tortas This colorful sandwich, inspired by a Mexican torta, is packed full of fresh vegetables and is easy to pack on the go.

Ingredient Spotlight: Fennel Fennel’s crunchy texture and sweet, anise flavor makes it perfect for this time of year, as we ease into fall. Read on for our best tips for choosing, working with, and using fresh fennel, plus a selection of our favorite recipes.

Meet the Vintner: Alison Morey Garrett of Casey Flat Ranch This month we’re spotlighting the vintners behind some of our favorite wines in our Williams-Sonoma Wine shop. At Casey Flat Ranch, Alison carries on her family’s impassioned vision for making great wines. Here, we ask her all about the ranch, the family’s wine making philosophy, and her favorite way to enjoy wine at home.

Breaded Chicken with Lemon-Green Onion Tahini This recipe is a great way to breathe new life into predictable chicken breasts. Here, the crisp chicken sits on baby spinach and is drizzled with a rich tahini sauce, spiced with lemon and green onions.

Recipe Roundup: Breakfast Grains Start the day with healthy whole grains! Here are some of our favorite ways to prepare them, from homemade granola and muesli to creative spins on oatmeal and pancakes.

Plum & Lime Crumble The pronounced flavor of plums makes them a match for bold seasonings, like the fragrant lime zest used in this sweet-tart crumble.

What We’re Reading: KewlBites You may recognize Reed Alexander as Nevel from the hit TV show iCarly, but these days he has a new projects on his plate: his cookbook, KewlBites! In our exclusive interview, we ask Reed all about how he revamped his diet, how he develops new recipes, and his go-to recipes from the book. We also share the recipe for one of his favorite dishes.

Recipe Roundup: Kid-Friendly Desserts Making sweet treats is a great way to get kids excited about baking and introduce them to new techniques. Gather the whole family in the kitchen, tie on some aprons, pull out the measuring cups and mixing bowls, and try these yummy recipes!

Celebrate Oktoberfest! Oktoberfest kicks off this weekend! No matter where you are, you can celebrate with steins of cold beer, sizzling sausages, and mounds of tangy sauerkraut. Invite friends over and enjoy a hearty menu — we have all the recipes you need.

Weekend Project: Fig Preserves Fresh figs are the most prized of our farmers’ market finds in September, but here’s a way to enjoy their flavor all year long. The fruit’s lush sweetness shines through in this simple recipe.

Blogger Spotlight: Jenny Rosenstrach of Dinner: A Love Story Meet Jenny Rosenstrach: mom, cook, and author of the blog Dinner: A Love Story and the book of the same name. On her blog, Jenny speaks to every busy parent who dreams of sitting down to a real family meal every night of the week — and actually enjoying it. In our exclusive interview, we asked Jenny all about her favorite dinners, along with her best advice for pulling off weeknight meals.

Weekend Entertaining: Tailgate Party A tailgate can be as fun and lively as the game itself — especially with the right foods. Here’s our go-to menu, full of all-American favorites like beer, beans and hot dogs.