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In the Press
Toward a Unified Theory of the New York Cheesecake
Atlas Obscura featured Making Artisan Cheesecake author Melanie Underwood on the history and technique of New York cheesecake—and why a baked cheesecake behaves more like a custard than a cake.
Melanie Underwood, Founder of Nourish and Gather
Dear FoundHer profiled Nourish & Gather founder Melanie Underwood on leadership, confidence, pricing, business growth and building a company without waiting for permission.
Food As Connection: Nourish and Gather with Chef Melanie Underwood
On the Cake Therapy podcast, Nourish & Gather founder Melanie Underwood discusses cooking as a tool for calm, confidence, connection and mindful attention.
2 chefs share how generative AI helps them manage menu changes and event logistics on their own
Business Insider featured Nourish & Gather founder Melanie Underwood on using generative AI to scale workshops, adapt programs and turn ideas into actionable business frameworks without replacing human expertise.
The Pantry Staple That’s High in Protein and Fiber—and Costs Pennies a Serving
Martha Stewart featured Nourish & Gather founder Melanie Underwood on why beans, lentils and other pulses add more than volume to a meal: they bring affordability, nourishment and versatility.
When the Heat Is On: Mindfulness and Confidence with Melanie Underwood
Worldchefs’ World on a Plate featured Nourish & Gather founder Melanie Underwood on culinary education, confidence, mindfulness, pressure and what kitchens can teach beyond technique.
The Best Way to Discard Frying Oil? Don’t
CNET featured Nourish & Gather founder Melanie Underwood on how to cool, strain, store and safely reuse frying oil while reducing waste and preserving quality.


The Unexpected Way To Make Canned Soup 10x Better, According to Acclaimed Chefs
Parade featured Nourish & Gather founder Melanie Underwood on tasting first, balancing acid and fat, fixing mushy textures and using sensory cues to make canned soup taste better.


We Asked 4 Chefs Their Favorite Canned Soup, and Their Answers Will Inspire Dinner Tonight
Parade featured Nourish & Gather founder Melanie Underwood among four chefs sharing favorite canned soups, label-reading advice and practical ways to make pantry staples taste better.


Meet the Parents Taking Cooking Classes For Better Family Meals
Nourish & Gather was featured in POPSUGAR in a story about how cooking classes can help parents build confidence, create more variety, and make family meals more engaging.


3 Top Chefs Agree This Almond Butter Is the Best Budget-Friendly Choice
EatingWell featured Nourish & Gather founder Melanie Underwood on what to look for in almond butter, including simple ingredients, texture, added oils and two brands she recommends.


Do You Need a Bread Oven to Make Great Sourdough? Experts Weigh In
Martha Stewart featured Nourish & Gather founder Melanie Underwood on whether home sourdough bakers really need a dedicated bread oven—and when the investment is actually worthwhile.


Why You Should Never Boil Your Wooden Spoons—Despite What the Internet Says
Martha Stewart featured Nourish & Gather founder Melanie Underwood on why boiling wooden spoons can damage the wood and how proper care helps wooden tools last for years.


The Chocolate Rye Cookie: Rye’s “Cookie with a Cause” Debuts at Wainwright House’s Gingerbread Showcase
NS Lifestyles featured Melanie Underwood’s Chocolate Rye Cookie, created as Rye’s cookie with a cause to support pediatric cancer research through Cookies for Kids’ Cancer.


{Guest Post} Chef Melanie Underwood’s New York Style Cheesecake
Only Taste Matters featured Melanie Underwood’s gluten-free New York Style Cheesecake from Making Artisan Cheesecake, adapted with an almond-based crust.


Create, Connect, Community Through Food - A convo with Melanie Underwood
On the Energy of the Untamed Heart podcast, Melanie Underwood discusses food as a way to create connection, community, curiosity, calm and confidence.


Love and Celebration for Life Through Mindful Cooking with Melanie Underwood
On The Epic Kate podcast, Melanie Underwood discusses mindful cooking, sensory attention, anxiety, celebration and creating a healthier relationship with food.


Mindfulness Beyond the Kitchen, Melanie Underwood
On the Below the Surface at The NoW podcast, Melanie Underwood discusses mindfulness, presence, resilience and how those ideas shape her cooking and teaching.


Finding Inspiration Outside the Recipe Box with Bleu d’Auvergne
The Cheese Professor featured Melanie Underwood’s savory Bleu d’Auvergne cheesecake and her approach to using blue cheese beyond the expected cheese board.


Love cupcakes? Bite into the Big Apple
NBC News Travel quoted chef and culinary educator Melanie Underwood on New York City’s cupcake boom, comfort food and why cupcake preferences are so personal.


White Bean and Herb Olive Oil Cheesecake
About Olive Oil featured Melanie Underwood’s White Bean and Herb Olive Oil Cheesecake from Making Artisan Cheesecake, a savory use of cheesecake technique.


This Yonkers chef is all about baking self confidence into teen cooking classes
The Journal News/lohud profiled Melanie Underwood’s Gather to Give program, where teens build culinary skills, confidence and connection while supporting hunger-focused nonprofits.


Unique Things To Do In Yonkers
Rent.com included Nourish & Gather among its unique things to do in Yonkers, highlighting hands-on cooking as part of the city’s creative local food scene.


Ditch the Recipe: Trust Your Gut in the Kitchen & in Life
On The Next ChaptHER podcast, Melanie Underwood discusses perfectionism, intuition, cooking without rigid rules and using the kitchen to practice self-trust.


Easy Crème Brûlée Cheesecakes
Just a Taste featured Melanie Underwood’s Crème Brûlée Cheesecakes from Making Artisan Cheesecake, combining tangy cheesecake with a crisp caramelized sugar crust.


Melanie Underwood: Culinary Connection. TKBS 2x11
On The Krazy Beautiful Show, Melanie Underwood discusses the connection between culinary education, mindfulness, presence and community.


How Melanie Underwood Navigates ADD: Struggles & Coping Strategies
In a short video interview with Sandhya, Melanie Underwood discusses attention, overwhelm and practical strategies she uses to stay focused and grounded in daily life.


Baking Experts Tell Us The Biggest Mistakes People Make When Baking Cheesecake
The Takeout featured Nourish & Gather founder Melanie Underwood, author of Making Artisan Cheesecake, on cream cheese, water baths, doneness, cooling and the techniques behind a smooth, creamy cheesecake.


Insight Timer Teachers: Sarah talks to Melanie Underwood
Melanie Underwood, founder of Nourish and Gather and author of Making Artisan Cheesecake, was featured on Sarah J Naylor's channel discussing her approach to life, lessons, learning, food, Insight Timer, motivation, inspiration and more An upbeat and lively discussion about life, lessons, learning, food, Insight Timer, motivation, inspiration and more .. Sarah and Melanie are both teachers on Insight Timer and love sharing their wisdom via completely different modalities. Sar


2024 Women of Westchester
Melanie Underwood, founder of Nourish and Gather and author of Making Artisan Cheesecake, was featured in Westchester Family highlighting her as one of the 2024 Women of Westchester in the Food/Cooking/Farming/Drink category https://www.westchesterfamily.com/women-of-westchester/


Connecting Families in the Kitchen with Melanie Underwood
Melanie Underwood, founder of Nourish and Gather and author of Making Artisan Cheesecake, was featured on the Role Model Maker podcast discussing connecting families in the kitchen. Melanie has worked as a Culinary Educator for 25 years, teaching at The Institute of Culinary Education in NYC in the Professional Pastry and Baking program, as well as in recreational and kids classes. For the past four years, she has taught high school culinary and baking arts in the Career and


Pistachio Cranberry Jam Thumbprint Cookies Are Seasonal Sweets
Melanie Underwood, founder of Nourish and Gather and author of Making Artisan Cheesecake, was featured in Westchester Magazine with her Pistachio Cranberry Jan Thumbprint Cookies “I love to use spelt flour in these. You can substitute oat flour or even use all-purpose flour. You can use store-bought cranberry, raspberry, or cherry preserves in place of the cranberry jam. — Melanie Underwood, gatherculinary.com Pistachio Cranberry Jam Thumbprint Cookies Recipe by Melanie Under


Beer Batter Recipe for Fish, Chicken or Vegetables | Wine Enthusiast
Emily Saladino Photo by Ali Redmond Melanie Underwood, founder of Nourish and Gather and author of Making Artisan Cheesecake, was quoted in Wine Enthusiast discussing her tips for crispy beer battered fish, chicken and vegetables. What is the secret to perfect fish and chips , fried chicken and more? Beer batter. It’s everything that’s delicious about fried food without any of its soggy, greasy shortcomings. Not only are beer batter recipes extremely easy to master, but they


Students Create Tasting Menu to Show off Culinary Skills
From News 12 Connecticut Melanie Underwood, founder of Nourish and Gather and author of Making Artisan Cheesecake, was interviewed in News 12 Connecticut discussing her approach to teaching culinary at Fairfield Ludlowe High School Fairfield Ludlowe High School students create tasting menu to show off culinary skills. Fairfield Ludlowe High School students created a tasting menu for district representatives and partners at the school's on-campus restaurant, Falcon's Nest. St


Is Fast Food Cheaper Than Cooking at Home
Melanie Underwood, founder of Nourish and Gather and author of Making Artisan Cheesecake, was quoted in U.S. News and World Report discussing how to save money cooking at home. There’s no doubt about it. If you’re driving from work to home, it’s going to be faster to stop and pick up some carryout dinner and bring it home. Or it’s at least comparable to the time it would take to get home and put something in the microwave. But culinary experts have a lot of suggestions for sh


How to Raise Children Who Feel Loved and Connected
Melanie Underwood of Gather Culinary On How to Raise Children Who Feel Loved and Connected Pirie Jones Grossman Melanie Underwood, founder of Nourish and Gather and author of Making Artisan Cheesecake, was featured in Authority Magazine discussing her approach to raising children who feel loved and connected. Put your phone/devices away when you are home with your kids. There are campaigns not to have distracted driving — I’m on a mission not to have distracted parenting. Whe


3 Easy Superbowl Recipes
3 Easy Super Bowl Recipes for Game Day in Westchester (westchestermagazine.com) Melanie Underwood, founder of Nourish and Gather and author of Making Artisan Cheesecake, was featured in Westchester Magazine discussing easy to make Super Bowl recipes and how to have the ultimate Superbowl party. Make This Refreshing Sangria for Game Day in Westchester By Ryan Noel Westchester recommendations are objective, unbiased, and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something thro


The 19 Best Cake Stands
Melanie Underwood, founder of Nourish and Gather and author of Making Artisan Cheesecake, was quoted in Better Homes and Gardens discussing how to keep a cake fresh and how to transfer a cake to a cake stand. https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/19-best-cake-stands-2023-203817463.html This article originally appeared In Better Homes and Gardens.


How to Prevent Avocados From Going Bad
Melanie Underwood, founder of Nourish and Gather and author of Making Artisan Cheesecake, was quoted in Eat This! Not That! discussing how to keep avocados fresh. https://www.eatthis.com/stop-avocados-from-going-bad/


The 19 Best Chef’s Knives, According to Professional Cooks
Melanie Underwood, founder of Nourish and Gather and author of Making Artisan Cheesecake, was quoted in SELF Magazine discussing her favorite chef's knife. Whether you’re a self-proclaimed cooking expert or still learning your way around the kitchen, the best chef's knives can completely elevate your cooking experience. Because of its versatility, it’s one of the most important kitchen tools to have on hand. From chopping , slicing, dicing, and mincing, the best chef’s kniv


Cooking Classes for Kids in Westchester
Melanie Underwood, founder of Nourish and Gather and author of Making Artisan Cheesecake, was featured in Westchester Family Magazine as one of the best cooking classes for kids in Westchester. Have a budding foodie at home? Try an interactive and hands-on cooking class! These kids’ cooking classes in Westchester will help your child explore flavors, build confidence, and enjoy hands-on learning. In Westchester, you can find many cooking schools, offering after-school classe


Getting Comfortable In The Kitchen
Melanie Underwood, founder of Nourish and Gather and author of Making Artisan Cheesecake, was featured in Outta the Kitchen discussing her partnership with Cookies for Kids' Cancer, her career and philosophy for teaching. That joy of baking eventually blossomed into a job at a local bakeshop followed by brownie and cookie baking for the farmers market. Post-college, Melanie made her way to a Washington DC area hotel where she apprenticed as a volunteer working under a pastry


Learn Something New - How To Cook Without a Recipe
By Kristan Sveda The Examiner Melanie Underwood, founder of Nourish and Gather and author of Making Artisan Cheesecake, was featured in The Examiner discussing her approach to connection through cooking, learning new things and cooking without a recipe. While many health experts tout “staying active” as important for adults to keep their minds and bodies sharp, exercise, eating healthy, and doing crossword puzzles isn’t enough to keep our brain function young. Scientific res


Miss USA Bakes at ICE
Melanie Underwood, founder of Nourish and Gather and author of Making Artisan Cheesecake, was featured in The Institute of Culinary Education blog baking alongside former Miss USA, Alyssa Campanella at ICE in a special charity class supporting Cookies for Kids’ Cancer. The baking class raised funds for Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, a non-profit dedicated to raising funds for pediatric cancer research through bake sales. Alyssa was named Miss USA in June 2011 and since then has


All American Hot-n-Spicy Favorites
Melanie Underwood, founder of Nourish and Gather and author of Making Artisan Cheesecake, was featured in The Institute for Culinary Education Blog sharing tips for making the best spicy foods. After a little perusing of the class listing, All American Hot-N-Spicy was the winner. It not only featured gumbo, in homage to her recent trip, but also a wide variety of American classics. Seeing as we both grew up in families that moved around the world constantly it only seemed app


30 Dessert Lovers Share Their Favorite Thanksgiving Dessert Ideas
Melanie Underwood, founder of Nourish and Gather and author of Making Artisan Cheesecake, was quoted in the edible blog sharing her favorite Thanksgiving dessert. A Thanksgiving feast isn’t complete without a delectable dessert to top off the meal. As fall approaches and Thanksgiving is near, you’re on the lookout for amazing Thanksgiving dessert ideas. Of course, planning and preparing a big Thanksgiving feast is a lot of work. So why not choose a decadent done-for-you dess


Can You Freeze Mashed Potatoes?
Melanie Underwood, founder of Nourish and Gather and author of Making Artisan Cheesecake, was quoted in Southern Living discussing her tips for freezing mashed potatoes. If you’re a big fan of the Thanksgiving feast, then you probably also consider the meal’s leftovers an exciting annual highlight. Turkey, dressing , cranberry sauce, and mashed potatoes can all keep in the fridge for a few days post-Thanksgiving for seasonal sandwich-making purposes. But what if you want to


Ho, Ho, Holiday Cupcakes
Melanie Underwood, founder of Nourish and Gather and author of Making Artisan Cheesecake, was featured in The Institute for Culinary Education sharing her approach to holiday cupcakes and a recipe for gingerbread cupcakes. By Tim Bruderek As mentioned, I'm a self-proclaimed “non-baker.” I have confidence in my savory skills, but when it comes to flour, eggs, and sugar, my knowledge leaves something to be desired. So I brought along my fiancée, who loves to bake - especially c


The Secret to Making Perfect Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
Melanie Underwood, founder of Nourish and Gather and author of Making Artisan Cheesecake, was featured in People Magazine sharing her best pumpkin whoopie pie recipe. The Institute of Culinary Education is one of the largest culinary schools in the world, offering both professional and recreational programs in New York City. Here, Chef Melanie Underwood , chef instructor in their School of Recreational Cooking shares her perfect fall dessert recipe with PEOPLE . At ICE, we’re


27 Apple Lovers Share Their Favorite Apple Dessert Ideas
Melanie Underwood, founder of Nourish and Gather and author of Making Artisan Cheesecake, was quoted in the edible blog sharing her favorite apple dessert. Melanie Underwood has worked as a Culinary Educator for 25 years, teaching at The Institute of Culinary Education in NYC before founding Gather Culinary. Her book, Making Artisan Cheesecake , was published in 2015 (Quarto Books), and she has contributed to numerous cookbooks. Melanie is working on her next book, Rule Brea
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