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
Essentially a warm variation on eggnog, this cocktail becomes irresistible on chilly holiday nights.
Tom and Jerry Cocktail
As we approach the end of the year, I bring out special beverages that I won’t make again until next December. Learn to make a Tom and Jerry Cocktail.
twiceastasty.com
December 27, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Essentially a warm variation on eggnog, this cocktail becomes irresistible on chilly holiday nights.
Cheese-Topped Baked Polenta works as a fun variation on a cornbread-like side dish for the holidays. Learn how to make it and dress it up in my latest column. flatheadbeacon.com/2025/12/18/c...
Cheese-Topped Baked Polenta - Flathead Beacon
Like many Americans, I grew up associating Italian meals with pasta and bread. The first time I traveled in northern Italy, I ate far more risotto and polenta. Polenta is essentially coarsely ground g...
flatheadbeacon.com
December 22, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Cheese-Topped Baked Polenta works as a fun variation on a cornbread-like side dish for the holidays. Learn how to make it and dress it up in my latest column. flatheadbeacon.com/2025/12/18/c...
To give soft, porridge-like polenta a cornbread texture, chill it in the refrigerator until it can be cut into portions and baked.
Cheese-Topped Baked Polenta
Homemade stock and dried herbs give polenta enough flavor to stand on its own yet remain neutral enough to take any of my favorite sauces. Learn to make Cheese-Topped Baked Polenta.
twiceastasty.com
December 18, 2025 at 11:30 PM
To give soft, porridge-like polenta a cornbread texture, chill it in the refrigerator until it can be cut into portions and baked.
Still adding to your holiday cookie list? I shared these ganache-filled thumbprint cookies in my column last year. They look beautiful on a party tray: flatheadbeacon.com/2024/12/19/p...
Peanut Butter Thumbprint Cookies with Ganache - Flathead Beacon
A thumbprint cookie is just an empty shell until you fill the shallow divot in its center. Spoon in jam or melted chocolate and an everyday cookie dough, like my recipe for Fresh Ground Peanut Butter ...
flatheadbeacon.com
December 18, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Still adding to your holiday cookie list? I shared these ganache-filled thumbprint cookies in my column last year. They look beautiful on a party tray: flatheadbeacon.com/2024/12/19/p...
More cookies! It wouldn't be the winter holidays without gingerbread, right? The recipe in my latest column is my take on a 1930 recipe, and it's just as delicious now as it was then: flatheadbeacon.com/2025/12/11/o...
Old-Fashioned Gingerbread Cookies - Flathead Beacon
My family is devoted to an exclusive collection of holiday cookies. I might not be allowed in the door without tins of Vanilla Bean Cookies and Chocolate Rum Balls. It also wouldn’t be Christmas witho...
flatheadbeacon.com
December 16, 2025 at 4:39 PM
More cookies! It wouldn't be the winter holidays without gingerbread, right? The recipe in my latest column is my take on a 1930 recipe, and it's just as delicious now as it was then: flatheadbeacon.com/2025/12/11/o...
Another first-for-me piece this week, this time for @simplyrecipes.com. I use the same upgrade in the Old-Fashioned Gingerbread Cookies recipe I just shared in my column. www.simplyrecipes.com/gingerbread-...
The Simple Ingredient That Makes Gingerbread Taste Like a $13 Bakery Treat
I used to add the usual warm spices, like cinnamon and cloves. Then one day, I added an unexpected spice to the bowl, and now I never make gingerbread without it.
www.simplyrecipes.com
December 12, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Another first-for-me piece this week, this time for @simplyrecipes.com. I use the same upgrade in the Old-Fashioned Gingerbread Cookies recipe I just shared in my column. www.simplyrecipes.com/gingerbread-...
Traditional baking techniques and an intense spice blend create crisp-tender cookies primed for decoration.
Old-Fashioned Gingerbread Cookies
I share my recipe and tips for gingerbread and other holiday classics in my latest Flathead Beacon, Simply Recipes, and USA Today 10Best articles. Learn to make Old-Fashioned Gingerbread Cookies and more.
twiceastasty.com
December 11, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Traditional baking techniques and an intense spice blend create crisp-tender cookies primed for decoration.
I'm excited to share my first piece for USA Today's 10BEST. It's a tasty one: 10best.usatoday.com/food-drink/h...
Dig into 8 delicious healthy holiday recipes for classic dishes
Skip the guilt and dig into healthy holiday recipes, like green bean casserole, latkes, gravy, and pumpkin pie.
10best.usatoday.com
December 10, 2025 at 11:21 PM
I'm excited to share my first piece for USA Today's 10BEST. It's a tasty one: 10best.usatoday.com/food-drink/h...
It's cookie season, and my oven's been keeping the house nice and toasty. You can add the season-worthy cookies in my latest column to a party tray or make them to nibble on at home for the energy to tackle other holiday projects: flatheadbeacon.com/2025/12/04/s...
Smoky Oatmeal-Cranberry Cookies - Flathead Beacon
Amid all of the holiday baking, I often overlook oatmeal cookies. With a few upgrades, they deserve a place on a party tray, where their heartiness balances delicate gingerbread and their savory eleme...
flatheadbeacon.com
December 8, 2025 at 11:57 PM
It's cookie season, and my oven's been keeping the house nice and toasty. You can add the season-worthy cookies in my latest column to a party tray or make them to nibble on at home for the energy to tackle other holiday projects: flatheadbeacon.com/2025/12/04/s...
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...