Julie Laing | Twice as Tasty
@twiceastasty.com
Cookbook author, food columnist and writer, recipe developer, reviewer of kitchen toys, photographer, gardener
Sharing ways to eat well year-round
Sharing ways to eat well year-round
Browned butter, smoked salt and complex sweetness shift everyday oatmeal cookies into holiday-worthy treats.
Smoky Oatmeal–Cranberry Cookies
My holiday cookies vary widely, from family favorites, to eye-catching party sweets, to sturdy treats that tuck into a ski jacket pocket. Learn to make Smoky Oatmeal–Cranberry Cookies.
twiceastasty.com
December 5, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Browned butter, smoked salt and complex sweetness shift everyday oatmeal cookies into holiday-worthy treats.
Happy Thanksgiving! If you haven't yet mashed potatoes today, throw a head of garlic in the oven next to the turkey or other sides and replace the vinegar with cream for the recipe in my latest column: flatheadbeacon.com/2025/11/26/t...
Tangy, Garlicky Mashed Potatoes - Flathead Beacon
Mashed potatoes land on many holiday tables, mellow and creamy but short on flavor unless smothered in gravy. I prefer potato mashers that taste delicious under Vegetarian Mushroom Gravy or can stand ...
flatheadbeacon.com
November 27, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Happy Thanksgiving! If you haven't yet mashed potatoes today, throw a head of garlic in the oven next to the turkey or other sides and replace the vinegar with cream for the recipe in my latest column: flatheadbeacon.com/2025/11/26/t...
Vinegar and roasted garlic make mashed potatoes lighter and flavorful enough to serve with or without gravy.
Tangy, Garlicky Mashed Potatoes
Although still a starchy side dish, potatoes taste lighter when mashed with vinegar instead of cream and can be easily altered for vegans. Learn to make Tangy, Garlicky Mashed Potatoes.
twiceastasty.com
November 27, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Vinegar and roasted garlic make mashed potatoes lighter and flavorful enough to serve with or without gravy.
It's hot cocktail season! Today I used our first few inches of snow as the backdrop for a recipe I'll share next month in my Twice as Tasty column. Until then, enjoy this recipe I recently developed for Taste of Home (TMB (Trusted Media Brands): www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/oaxa...
Oaxacan Coffee
Fans of tequila, Scotch whisky or Irish coffee will smack their lips when you serve them a warm, mezcal-spiked Oaxacan coffee.
www.tasteofhome.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:49 PM
It's hot cocktail season! Today I used our first few inches of snow as the backdrop for a recipe I'll share next month in my Twice as Tasty column. Until then, enjoy this recipe I recently developed for Taste of Home (TMB (Trusted Media Brands): www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/oaxa...
Just last night I discussed the recipe my latest column with my parents, suggesting they keep a bottle of store-bought tomato juice in their pantry for a quick soup fix. If you grow tomatoes, it's even better with juice strained from grilled tomatoes: flatheadbeacon.com/2025/11/20/q...
Quick Tomato Juice Soup - Flathead Beacon
Homemade tomato soup seems to capture all the seasons at once: summery tomatoes blended with fall root vegetables into a warming bowl for a chilly winter or spring day. I freeze many of my homegrown t...
flatheadbeacon.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Just last night I discussed the recipe my latest column with my parents, suggesting they keep a bottle of store-bought tomato juice in their pantry for a quick soup fix. If you grow tomatoes, it's even better with juice strained from grilled tomatoes: flatheadbeacon.com/2025/11/20/q...
Tomato juice works as a delicious, easy base for soup, especially if you grill and strain fresh tomatoes and freeze their juice.
Quick Tomato Juice Soup
Having vegetables on hand that have already been chopped, pureed, and sometimes even grilled or otherwise precooked speeds up weeknight soup prep. Learn to make Quick Tomato Juice Soup.
twiceastasty.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Tomato juice works as a delicious, easy base for soup, especially if you grill and strain fresh tomatoes and freeze their juice.
I came up with a smoothie recipe so that I had a formula to share for workshops--and I pass it on in my most recent column. It's adaptable to all sorts of fresh or frozen vegetables and fruits and particularly delicious with homemade yogurt. flatheadbeacon.com/2025/11/13/f...
Fresh Yogurt Smoothie - Flathead Beacon
On mornings when my day starts in town, on skis or in a sailboat, I make a smoothie before I leave my house. My fridge and freezer – and in summer, my garden – hold so many ingredient options that I n...
flatheadbeacon.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:57 PM
I came up with a smoothie recipe so that I had a formula to share for workshops--and I pass it on in my most recent column. It's adaptable to all sorts of fresh or frozen vegetables and fruits and particularly delicious with homemade yogurt. flatheadbeacon.com/2025/11/13/f...
This smoothie recipe emphasizes ratios and lets you mix up local fresh and frozen ingredients for endless flavor variations.
Fresh Yogurt Smoothie
If store-bought smoothies always seem more delicious than your homemade ones, start by adjusting the balance of thickener, fruit and vegetables, and add-ins. Learn to make Fresh Yogurt Smoothie.
twiceastasty.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:38 PM
This smoothie recipe emphasizes ratios and lets you mix up local fresh and frozen ingredients for endless flavor variations.
Mimic the delicate texture of homemade pasta with store-bought wonton wrappers, folding them around a creamy pumpkin and cheese filling.
Squash and Goat Cheese Ravioli with Nutty Butter Sauce
Fill store-bought wonton wrappers with squash and goat cheese to create impressive pasta with a scratch-made delicacy. Learn to make Squash and Goat Cheese Ravioli with Nutty Butter Sauce.
twiceastasty.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Mimic the delicate texture of homemade pasta with store-bought wonton wrappers, folding them around a creamy pumpkin and cheese filling.
When properly cured, pumpkins and other winter squash keep just as well as potatoes—plus you can roast an ovenful and freeze the rich puree. These are just two reasons I use squash as a potato alternative in gnocchi. Get the recipe in my latest column: flatheadbeacon.com/2025/10/30/h...
Homemade Pumpkin Gnocchi - Flathead Beacon
If you were intrigued but daunted by last week’s potato gnocchi recipe, you might find a pumpkin variation more manageable. You create the lightest, fluffiest Homemade Pan-Fried Potato Gnocchi if you ...
flatheadbeacon.com
October 31, 2025 at 4:51 PM
When properly cured, pumpkins and other winter squash keep just as well as potatoes—plus you can roast an ovenful and freeze the rich puree. These are just two reasons I use squash as a potato alternative in gnocchi. Get the recipe in my latest column: flatheadbeacon.com/2025/10/30/h...
If you have pumpkin puree on hand, skip the potato gnocchi wait times and instead mix, shape and immediately cook squash gnocchi.
Homemade Pumpkin Gnocchi
Of all the replacements for potatoes that I have tried when making gnocchi, I have the most success with pumpkin and other winter squash. Learn to make Homemade Pumpkin Gnocchi.
twiceastasty.com
October 30, 2025 at 8:30 PM
If you have pumpkin puree on hand, skip the potato gnocchi wait times and instead mix, shape and immediately cook squash gnocchi.
For me, gnocchi has always been one of those food projects that's worth the time and effort to make from scratch. So I put extra time and effort into developing a recipe that creates consistently light and fluffy gnocchi every time. Get it in my latest column: flatheadbeacon.com/2025/10/23/h...
Homemade Pan-Fried Potato Gnocchi - Flathead Beacon
I’ll boil cheap dried pasta for a quick meal, but gnocchi must be made from scratch. Every brand I’ve tried, in shelf-stable vacuum-sealed packages or refrigerated bags, has a gummy heaviness that fai...
flatheadbeacon.com
October 28, 2025 at 4:04 PM
For me, gnocchi has always been one of those food projects that's worth the time and effort to make from scratch. So I put extra time and effort into developing a recipe that creates consistently light and fluffy gnocchi every time. Get it in my latest column: flatheadbeacon.com/2025/10/23/h...
For light, fluffy gnocchi from any type of potato, oven-bake whole potatoes, prepare the dumplings in stages and fry them on the stovetop.
Homemade Pan-Fried Potato Gnocchi
It can be easy to write off certain recipes as too much work, but sometimes the effort really is worth it. That’s how I feel about gnocchi. Learn to make Homemade Pan-Fried Potato Gnocchi.
twiceastasty.com
October 24, 2025 at 8:00 PM
For light, fluffy gnocchi from any type of potato, oven-bake whole potatoes, prepare the dumplings in stages and fry them on the stovetop.
Fresh apples and applesauce make the tastiest muffins--and cut out some of the fat and sugar, especially if you use unsweetened applesauce. Get my muffin recipe in my latest column, and learn more about making and baking with applesauce on the blog. flatheadbeacon.com/2025/10/16/d...
Double Apple Muffins - Flathead Beacon
Fall fruits bake into some of the tastiest muffins. Whether I’m using plums, pears or the fresh apples in this week’s recipe, I keep the sugar and the melted butter or oil to a minimum by folding in s...
flatheadbeacon.com
October 21, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Fresh apples and applesauce make the tastiest muffins--and cut out some of the fat and sugar, especially if you use unsweetened applesauce. Get my muffin recipe in my latest column, and learn more about making and baking with applesauce on the blog. flatheadbeacon.com/2025/10/16/d...
Fresh apples and applesauce give these muffins the fruitiest taste, and a blend of flours and oats keeps them healthy and hearty.
Double Apple Muffins
Swapping in homemade applesauce for some of the fat works well with all sorts of muffins and quick breads but particularly when you’re already featuring apples. Learn to make Double Apple Muffins.
twiceastasty.com
October 16, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Fresh apples and applesauce give these muffins the fruitiest taste, and a blend of flours and oats keeps them healthy and hearty.
I've made improvements to one of my favorite fall freeform tarts: Fresh Pear, Goat Cheese and Rosemary Galette. It's as tasty as ever but with more fruit, better absorption of excess juices, and a sparkly golden crust. Get the recipe in my latest column: flatheadbeacon.com/2025/10/09/f...
Fresh Pear, Goat Cheese and Rosemary Galette - Flathead Beacon
From my first freeform tart made with pie pastry and fresh fruit, I was hooked. Galettes have the flakiness of pie crust but a roasted-fruit center and taste both rich and light. The galette’s downsid...
flatheadbeacon.com
October 13, 2025 at 3:24 PM
I've made improvements to one of my favorite fall freeform tarts: Fresh Pear, Goat Cheese and Rosemary Galette. It's as tasty as ever but with more fruit, better absorption of excess juices, and a sparkly golden crust. Get the recipe in my latest column: flatheadbeacon.com/2025/10/09/f...
Instead of baking a fall-fruit pie, create a freeform tart in which tangy goat cheese and earthy rosemary contrast sweet pears.
Fresh Pear, Goat Cheese, and Rosemary Galette
A new-to-me technique has inspired me to bake more freeform tarts than usual in recent months, with delicious and eye-popping results. Learn to make Fresh Pear, Goat Cheese, and Rosemary Galette.
twiceastasty.com
October 11, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Instead of baking a fall-fruit pie, create a freeform tart in which tangy goat cheese and earthy rosemary contrast sweet pears.
I could eat Meatless Taco Salad every day, especially when I have a stash of fresh corn kernels that I grilled in their husks and shaved from their cobs, turning the corncobs into stock. The kernels are one of many layer options for the recipe in my latest column: flatheadbeacon.com/2025/09/25/m...
Meatless Taco Salad - Flathead Beacon
Homemade taco salad was among my favorite meals as a teenager. It was first shared at weeklong gatherings with the families of my dad’s three best friends from college. These camping and mountain trip...
flatheadbeacon.com
September 26, 2025 at 6:23 PM
I could eat Meatless Taco Salad every day, especially when I have a stash of fresh corn kernels that I grilled in their husks and shaved from their cobs, turning the corncobs into stock. The kernels are one of many layer options for the recipe in my latest column: flatheadbeacon.com/2025/09/25/m...
Layers of crunchy tortilla chips, seasoned beans and fresh vegetables, tossed with a homemade dressing, have so much flavor that this salad doesn’t need ground beef.
Meatless Taco Salad
When a salad is the meal, I pile on layers and hit as many food groups as possible to create a hearty, filling, plant-based salad I could eat every day. Learn to make Meatless Taco Salad.
twiceastasty.com
September 25, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Layers of crunchy tortilla chips, seasoned beans and fresh vegetables, tossed with a homemade dressing, have so much flavor that this salad doesn’t need ground beef.
I love that when I grill up a big batch of corn to freeze, the cobs not only create a delicious, versatile, and unique stock but also break down faster in the compost after they've simmered and softened. Get my recipe for Corncob Stock in this week's column:
flatheadbeacon.com/2025/09/18/c...
flatheadbeacon.com/2025/09/18/c...
Corncob Stock - Flathead Beacon
Freshly harvested corn tastes sweet and delicate when cooked and eaten right off the cob. You can freeze whole ears to extend the sensation of biting into rows of kernels, but they take up lots of fre...
flatheadbeacon.com
September 19, 2025 at 7:48 PM
I love that when I grill up a big batch of corn to freeze, the cobs not only create a delicious, versatile, and unique stock but also break down faster in the compost after they've simmered and softened. Get my recipe for Corncob Stock in this week's column:
flatheadbeacon.com/2025/09/18/c...
flatheadbeacon.com/2025/09/18/c...
Turn corncobs stripped of their kernels into a light, savory stock to flavor chowders, soups and risotto.
Corncob Stock
I make versatile, scrap-based stock from a large batch of Husk-Grilled Corn after I’ve stripped the kernels off of the cobs to freeze for year-round use. Learn to make Corncob Stock.
twiceastasty.com
September 18, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Turn corncobs stripped of their kernels into a light, savory stock to flavor chowders, soups and risotto.
What happens when you pile roasted and smoked beets, roasted garlic, homemade mustard, homegrown spicy greens and goat cheese on homemade sourdough bread? Pure deliciousness. Get the recipe in this week's column (and recipes for these fillings and more on my blog): flatheadbeacon.com/2025/09/11/g...
Goat Cheese and Smoked-Beet Sandwiches - Flathead Beacon
The recipe I shared last week for smoked beets finishes them simply with an orange vinaigrette, but they stand up well to other deep flavors. The meatiness of beets and the flavor boost from oven-roas...
flatheadbeacon.com
September 12, 2025 at 2:47 PM
What happens when you pile roasted and smoked beets, roasted garlic, homemade mustard, homegrown spicy greens and goat cheese on homemade sourdough bread? Pure deliciousness. Get the recipe in this week's column (and recipes for these fillings and more on my blog): flatheadbeacon.com/2025/09/11/g...
Skip the meat and fill vegetarian sandwiches with smoked beets, tangy goat cheese, and spicy greens.
Goat Cheese and Smoked-Beet Sandwiches
The flavor and texture of smoked beets make them a natural fit for a vegetarian Reuben, but you can slide them in with any sandwich fixings. Learn to make Goat Cheese and Smoked-Beet Sandwiches.
twiceastasty.com
September 11, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Skip the meat and fill vegetarian sandwiches with smoked beets, tangy goat cheese, and spicy greens.
If you roast beets instead of boiling or steaming them, you already know how they develop a deliciously caramelized sweetness. In my latest column, I explain how to add a smoky layer of flavor that will have you savoring this humble root vegetable in a new way. flatheadbeacon.com/2025/09/04/r...
Roasted and Smoked Beets with Orange Vinaigrette - Flathead Beacon
Taste raw, boiled or steamed and oven-roasted or grilled beets side by side, and you’ll note their change from slightly bitter to semisweet and then richly caramelized. I take their flavor one step fu...
flatheadbeacon.com
September 8, 2025 at 2:56 PM
If you roast beets instead of boiling or steaming them, you already know how they develop a deliciously caramelized sweetness. In my latest column, I explain how to add a smoky layer of flavor that will have you savoring this humble root vegetable in a new way. flatheadbeacon.com/2025/09/04/r...
Take the earthy flavor of beets to new heights by caramelizing them in the oven and then smoking them.
Roasted and Smoked Beets with Orange Vinaigrette
When cooking the bulbous roots of beets, I think that the more time you invest, the better they taste. Learn to make Roasted and Smoked Beets with Orange Vinaigrette.
twiceastasty.com
September 5, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Take the earthy flavor of beets to new heights by caramelizing them in the oven and then smoking them.