The Dinner Whisk

14/05/2024

Shout out to SĒR Steak + Spirits at the Anatole Dallas for a gorgeous and delicious Mother’s Day brunch. They only do one brunch a year and it’s for Mother’s Day. Mark your calendars for next year. 🥩💐🌹👩🏻‍🦰👩🏻‍🦳👵🏻👩🏻‍🍳👩🏻‍🍳👩🏻‍🍳

09/05/2024

Remember that this Sunday, May 12th is Mother's Day. Want to wow Mom on her special day? How about a homemade coffee cake? This treasure can be whipped up with ingredients you already have on hand in your pantry. Imagine Mom awakening to the smell of coffee cake and her praise as you serve her breakfast in bed with her extra large Dunkin’ Donuts coffee. 😜 Happy Mothers Day! ☕️🥮👩👩🏻‍🦳👵🏻👩🏻‍🍳👩🏻‍🍳👩🏻‍🍳

Coffee Cake, Covid-19 Baking, Naan bread, kids, homemade

30/04/2024

Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner. 🌶 Here's some inspo for your celebration - Green Chili Braised Pork Shoulder. I had this at Odd Duck, a farm-to-table restaurant in Austin, Texas. It was so good I had to recreate it for my clients. They served it with crema, pickled red onions, jalapenos, cilantro and wait for it...Naan. The soft, sponginess of the Naan is delicious with the savory pork. 🌶🍅🌮 👩‍🍳👩‍🍳👩‍🍳 #

22/04/2024

It's Earth Day & here's a tip for helping the planet 🌍 when you do your grocery shopping. See link below as to where to purchase.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GSKFCJF?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

16/04/2024

Do you think milk is the best or only source of calcium for you? No, no my friends - there are plenty of other non-dairy sources of calcium to nourish your body. Take a look at this handy chart & broaden your diet to include non-dairy options as well as the occasional dairy option for your daily source of calcium. 🥦🥬🧀🥛🍣 👩🏻‍🍳👩🏻‍🍳👩🏻‍🍳

02/04/2024

Thai Fried Chicken - I am totally obsessed with this right now!! Simple Thai ingredients combined with a coating of rice flour to make a super flavorful, crispy and juicy fried chicken. We paired this chicken with Sweet Thai Chili sauce for dipping and it disappeared FAST! 🐔🫚🥢❤👩‍🍳👩‍🍳👩‍🍳

26/03/2024

It's almost Easter; 💐are you ready for the big Easter meal? If you are hosting the Easter brunch, here's a secret kitchen "hack" to wow your guests - Trader Joe's almond croissants. SOOO good . . . your company will arrive at your house to the smell of warm, French pastries. How fabulous is that? 🥐🧈🥚🌺🪻🪺🐥🐰👩🏻‍🍳👩🏻‍🍳👩🏻‍🍳

19/03/2024

This month’s Recipe of the Month from The Dinner Whisk is “Tik Tok Potatoes.” One of my long-time clients sent me a recipe for TikTok Potatoes and they are a hit with all of those for whom I cook. They are baby red potatoes that are roasted in a way that creates a lacy, crispy Parmesan layer. Tender inside and crispy on the outside. The best! 🥔🥔🥔👩‍🍳👩‍🍳👩‍🍳

12/03/2024

Pre-Birthday Night Out in Dallas - Hubs and I had a blast at "Parliament," Dallas' Favorite Craft Cocktail Bar, celebrating my birthday early. George took great care of us and we were entertained watching the myriad of craft cocktails being made from scratch. Wine and champagne lists were fab along with gorgeous cocktails to choose from. 🥳🍾🥂🍸🍹🥃🎉👩‍🍳👩‍🍳👩‍🍳

12/03/2024

Pre-Birthday Night Out in Dallas - Hubs and I had a blast at "Parliament," Dallas' Favorite Craft Cocktail Bar, celebrating my birthday early. George took great care of us and we were entertained watching the myriad of craft cocktails being made from scratch. Wine and champagne lists were fab along with gorgeous cocktails to choose from. Including a video of a smoked daiquiri shot that we were given compliments of our mixologist. 🥳🍾🥂🍸🍹🥃🎉👩‍🍳👩‍🍳👩‍🍳 🔥

05/03/2024

Recently I had the unique opportunity to create & deliver a professional development seminar to Plano ISD Special Education teachers. The course is called “ Best Practices for Leading a Successful Cooking Lesson.” This course provides strategies, techniques & recipes to empower & inspire the educator. These folks are patient, kind, and really care for the kids, but they needed more support teaching their students how to cook. Recipes that are "simple and safe" allow the students to learn & feel more self-sufficient. If you are a Special Education professional and would like to learn more, I'd love to meet with you. 🤓👩‍🏫🥦🍅🌽💕

27/02/2024

As a personal chef, I prepare weekly personalized menus for my clients and then bring those menus to life in their own kitchen. Clients come home to a kitchen filled with delicious aromas and a refrigerator full of meals. All they have to do is heat and enjoy; just the way they like it. The Dinner Whisk delivers an experience built entirely around you! 🍅🥕🧅🥘🥗🍲👩‍🍳👩‍🍳👩‍🍳

20/02/2024

Now that we are in the season of Lent, many people forego meat, either one day a week or for the entire 40 days of the season before Easter. This easy Asian Salmon rice bowl has roasted Atlantic salmon, brown rice, avocado, carrot, zucchini and red cabbage. A quick soy ginger mayo, sesame oil and sesame seeds take it to the next level. All you need for a meal in one bowl, and healthy for you as well. 🐟🍚🥑🥕

14/02/2024

I recently took a class on decorated cookies at the Cake Carousel in Richardson and with Valentine’s Day around the corner, we made these cuties with a Valentine theme. Aren’t these adorable? Happy “Heart” Day! 💘💖🍪❤️👩‍🍳👩‍🍳👩‍🍳

13/02/2024

This week we look at the most romantic holiday of the year, Valentine’s Day. Taking a cue from the French who are legendary for romance, champagne and all things “love,” we share the story of Madame Cliquot, a French woman who inherited the champagne business from her husband when he died, and today we still have the iconic V***e Cliquot champagne. Her motto was “Only one quality - the finest.” Cheers on Valentine’s Day; raise a glass of V***e Cliquot and celebrate your sweetie (or just yourself!) 🥂🍾🥂🍾💘

06/02/2024

Roasted Tuscan Potatoes are the side dish of the month from The Dinner Whisk. Use those adorable petite potatoes & roast them whole in the oven with a little olive oil. Saute the prosciutto on the stovetop with olive oil; cook until crispy. Remove from pan, add olive oil and saute the mushrooms, onion, & red bell pepper with garlic on the stovetop. Dice the prosciutto, and combine the roasted potatoes with the sauteed vegetables. Add fresh chopped parsley and top with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano for a colorful & tasty starch for your next meal. Happy to share the recipe if you are interested. 🥔🫑🍄👩‍🍳👩‍🍳👩‍🍳

31/01/2024

It gives me so much joy to serve elderly clients and prepare their favorite foods specialized to their dietary needs. I currently serve an adorable couple in their 80's who have to watch their sodium intake. Mini meatloaves and chicken soup are items that they haven't eaten in years given the amount of salt in restaurant versions. Their excitement and praise from them for these dishes is EVERYTHING! 🥫😊👩‍🍳👩‍🍳👩‍🍳
⭐️

24/01/2024

If you haven't watched The Bear 🐻on Hulu you should - the cast just swept the Emmy awards. During a trip to Chicago, we made sure to hit some of the featured foodie spots, one of which was Avec River North where Syd got inspo from Donnie Madia, the spot’s owner. We had a late dinner with a few standouts - chickpea hummus with crisp short rib, sumac & hearth baked pita, Croatia Rose (Fakin Wines) and homemade Nutter Butter, (not the cookie, but a layered, crunchy, chocolate square of heaven). 🎥🍖🫓🍪🍷👩‍🍳👩‍🍳👩‍🍳

22/12/2023

An impressive display for a long-time client who requested traditional Italian appetizers. We put together a Bruschetta Bar, which included homemade Basil Arugula Pesto, White Bean & Rosemary Spread, & Classic Tomato, Basil & Garlic Salsa with Crostini. Also included in the feast was a selection of meats for which Italians are famous, including Proscuitto, Capocollo, Salami, & Soppresatta. Pairing with the meats was the gem of Italian cheeses, a mouthwatering fresh Mozzarella! Also included was a sheep’s milk Italian Pecorino cheese, and adding a sweet & savory aspect to the presentation was a Caramelized Onion Jam & a Fig Jam. We included the finishing touch of a Goat Cheese with Balsamic Drizzle & garnish of fragrant fresh basil leaves

30/06/2023

We were thrilled to be selected by Region 10 ESC to develop the curriculum and lead the first Iron Chef Cooking Camp for blind & visually impaired children. The children, ages 10 - 18, learned the basics of kitchen & food safety and got "hands on" experience with:
* Oven: Oven Baked Panko Parmesan Chicken Tenders
* Stove: Beef Taco Meat
* Microwave: Chocolate Mug cake
* Air Fryer: Pita Pizzas
* Kitchen Shears: Homemade Ranch dip & Crudite
* Whisk/can opener/spatula: Pineapple Fluff (a clear favorite!)

These children were so courageous, curious and driven to learn with no fear. We are still smiling from teaching them! Can't wait to do it again:)

26/01/2023

In the immortal words of Sophia Petrillo, "Picture it....your dinner table filled with food that took minutes to reheat, your family fills their plates and begins to regale the high points of their day'...Doesn't that sound AWESOME?

Dinner can be that easy with The Dinner Whisk. We are a full service personal chef small business dedicated to taking dinner off of your plate. We are whisking up dinner so you can savor your time.

Check us out at https://www.thedinnerwhisk.com/ or send us a message to learn more.

19/01/2023

To quote Melissa Hartwig Urban, "it starts with food". We all know what foods make us feel good & energized and those that make us feel bloated & sluggish.

Even though we know, the meal planning, shopping, cooking and clean up, ON TOP of life's demands, prevents us from eating our best.

The Dinner Whisk will prepare meals that make you feel your best. Tell us your "feel good foods" and we take care of the rest.

We whisk up dinner so you can savor your time:)

12/01/2023

The question "what's for dinner" never ends whether you are single, a couple or have a full house.

The Dinner Whisk is your answer to "what's for dinner". We are a full service personal chef small business who will prepare your meals entirely around your family's tastes and needs. We are whisking up dinner so you can savor your time.

To learn more, check out our website: https://www.thedinnerwhisk.com/ or send us a message.

24/12/2022

One of my Christmas wishes came true - snow! My favorite beer of all time, Sam Adams Cherry Wheat, can stay on the deck and get icy cold. Save refrigerator space:)

Merry Christmas all!

24/12/2022

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! My gift to you is an easy dessert for your holiday entertaining. Enjoy!

Chef Tina's Chocolate Panna Cotta
1/4 oz. Knox gelatin, 1 envelope
1 cup + 1/4 cup whole milk
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
1/4 cup granulated sugar
4.5 oz. Bittersweet chocolate chips (Ghirardelli 60% bittersweet, about half of 10 oz bag)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt

Instructions:
1. Combine gelatin with 1/4 cup whole milk. Let sit for 10 minutes to let the gelatin bloom.
2. In a saucepan, combine heavy cream, 1 cup whole milk, sugar, vanilla and salt. Heat mixture over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved and mixture comes to a simmer. Do not bring the mixture to a boil. Boiling temperature of 212 degrees will be too hot for the gelatin.
3. Add chocolate chips and whisk to melt and fully combine.
4. Remove from heat and whisk in the bloomed gelatin to the hot chocolate mixture.
5. Pour mixture into a pitcher and let cool for about 30 minutes. Whisk the mixture occasionally to facilitate cooling. This will prevent a skin from forming when refrigerated. Pour even amounts into ramekins.
6. Refrigerate the panna cotta in ramekins until cold and firm about 1 hour.

Garnish:
- For a festive Santa hat garnish, take a nicely shaped strawberry - think santa hat.
- Cut off the leafy end and then cut the strawberry vertically so it'll lay flat.
- Cut the top tip off of the strawberry half.
- Pipe whipped cream on the strawberry to make the white hat fleece
- Add a tiny mint leaf and tiny strawberry bits for holly.
Enjoy!