"Lauren Braun Costello" news and stories

Traditional Italian pesto is a blend of basil, Parmesan, olive oil, garlic and pine nuts. Kitchen Daily expert Lauren Braun Costello's version uses Asian ingredients to complement rice noodles. Cilantro, mint, basil, garlic and peanuts give the sauce a jolt of fresh flavor and complexity. To make the dish a complete meal, she suggests adding vegetables, grilled shrimp, or even pork.

The best part about Lauren Braun Costello's Edamame Fried Rice is that it's a totally flexible dish. You can add whatever you have on hand -- anything from eggs to chopped pork. Lauren's version is vegetarian, and showcases vibrant green edamame (young soybeans boiled in their pods). It's full of flavor, but much healthier than anything you'll find at a takeout joint.

Get the recipe for Lauren's Edamame Fried Rice.

Cheese fondue is social food, with friends and family gathered around a steaming pot of gooey cheese, and taking turns dipping bread, spuds, meat, and vegetables into the rich mixture. But, says KitchenDaily expert chef Lauren Braun Costello, you don't need a fondue pot and a mix of classic Swiss cheeses to make a great fondue. Lauren relies on good old Cheddar cheese, which she combines with whole milk, Dijon mustard, nutmeg, Worcestershire sauce, white pepper and salt, then adds corn starch to thicken it.

Instead of using a fondue pot, Lauren suggests pouring the cheese sauce into a bread bowl, which will keep the sauce warm for an hour. (She cuts the top off of a round loaf of sourdough, then pulls pieces of bread from the center, creating a bowl. The top can be cut up for dipping, too.)

Get Lauren Braun Costello's Quick Cheddar Cheese Fondue Recipe.

Get a Recipe for Classic Cheese Fondue.

Roasting a whole chicken is surprisingly easy, and this recipe from Lauren Braun Costello has the side dish built right in -- golden wedges of potatoes that absorb the savory juices from the chicken as they roast together. Pair it with a green salad and a glass of buttery Chardonnay.

Get Lauren's Country Herb Roast Chicken recipe

Tart up the pancakes with dried cranberries, and you may fall in love with flapjacks all over again. Make them extra fruity with slices of fresh pear, and give them a little spice with a pinch of cinnamon. KitchenDaily contributer Lauren Braun Costello's recipe is all that.

Watch Lauren's video on how to make Cranberry Pear Pancakes.

Watch Curtis Stone's video on how to make Blueberry Pancakes with Blueberry Compote.