10 fast-fix favorites for stress-free get-togethers - Natalie Haughton’s Article in the L.A. Daily News Food Section

If you, like most of us, feel you don’t have much time to cook - let alone entertain or even have friends over - I have a few fast-fix strategies to make your next get-together a stress-free hit. Recently, I was put to the test when some out-of-town relatives dropped by for dinner on a moment’s notice. With about three hours to pull a meal together, I opted for fuss-free creations that looked appealing and tasted delicious, relying on my refrigerator, freezer and well-stocked pantry.

Read the rest of the article…“10 fast-fix favorites for stress-free get-togethers”

Yan returns to the cooking spotlight - Natalie Haughton’s Article in the L.A. Daily News Food Section

You may recognize Martin Yan, the celebrated TV host, restaurateur, chef and author of 26 cookbooks, who has been demystifying Asian cuisine for Americans for more than 25 years… He sprinkles his cooking presentations with lightning-fast knife skills, wit, humor and gusto. Home cooks can embark on a culinary journey through China enjoying Yan’s expertise and flair…

Please read the article for more…“Yan returns to the cooking spotlight”

For Sherry Yard, desserts are sweetest way to punctuate a meal - Natalie Haughton’s Article in the L.A. Daily News Food Section 12/5/07

I had the chance to do an article on Sherry Yard and her new cookbook. She is incredibly talented and I have enjoyed her creations for years. Here’s a link to the article: Desserts are sweetest way to punctuate a meal.

Chef Samantha Garelick Sheds Light on Hanukkah Favorites - Natalie Haughton’s Article in the L.A. Daily News Food Section 11/28/07

The Daily News has posted my article for this week’s food section. Check it out when you have a moment.
Personal chef Samantha Garelick sheds light on Hanukkah favorites

Cake Mix Recipes for Valentine’s Day - Natalie Haughton’s Article in the L.A. Daily News Food Section 2/7/07

Best Cake RecipeFor this week’s main story, we put together a little competition. Let’s see what easy-to-make cakes a few popular pastry chefs could formulate into a good Valentine’s Cake recipe. But here’s the kicker, they had to use an off-the-shelf cake mix.
Most pastry chefs will tell you that they never use cake mix, instead making everything from scratch. So we probed their creativity in limiting them to only using a cake mix that a regular reader could get from the local grocery store.

While I don’t want to alienate anyone, personally, I thought the Tropical Coconut Cake was the best tasting, while the Soleil Frozen Dome was the most original creation amongst the four entries. Special thanks to all the participants, this story was a lot of fun!
For the full article, please read “So Easy, It’s Sweet.”, over at dailynews.com.

Snacks for the Super Bowl - Natalie Haughton’s Articles in the L.A. Daily News Food Section 1/31/07

Salsa GuacamoleIt’s Super Bowl time. Having been born in Chicago, I will definitely be pulling for a Bears win! Plus, my son currently lives in Chicago. Regardless of the teams playing, what’s a great Super Bowl get together without some awesome snacks to pass around? My theme in the L.A. Daily News this week focuses on some of these great snacks you can serve up.

My personal favorite recipe was the Salsa Guacamole. Avocados are in season right now and make this a delicious snack. For more, read “In the Snack Zone“, as it appears on the L.A. Daily News Food Section website. Follow these links to the rest of the recipes from the story: