Laura Zbinden
Expertise
Street Food, Chinese Cuisine, Indian Spices
- From 2015 to 2022, Laura traveled all over Asia sampling street food and local cuisines.
- Hot sauce, spicy food, and Sichuan-numbing peppercorns are some of Laura's favorite things.
- Laura spent a lot of time in Indian kitchens and spice markets learning the secrets of South Asian home cooking.
Experience
Laura has always been passionate about travel and learning about new cultures through food. She has traveled all over Asia trying as much street food as possible from chicken satay in Thailand to putchas in India. She lived in China for eight years, where she spent her time eating dumplings and noodles and developing a taste for all things spicy. The weirdest things she's eaten include Chinese 100-year-old eggs, pig's brain, and horse meat noodle soup.
Education
Laura has a bachelor's degree in international business and management from Drake University. She also speaks conversational Mandarin Chinese and beginner Hindi.
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Stories By Laura Zbinden
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If you're tired of your sour cream going bad before you've used it all up, there's one clever storage trick that you can use to improve its longevity.
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For many, fall means one thing: Pumpkin Spice. This week, find your new favorite coffee addition at Aldi with the release of its Pumpkin Spice Cold Foam.
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Whether you plan to make your favorite chili or go for a new recipe this year, the one thing that no one wants in is a clump of unincorporated spices.
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Air fryers are incredibly versatile. For instance, they can be used to turn plain old frozen corn into something special incredibly quickly.
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Breakfast sandwiches might fare okay in the microwave, but you know it could taste better. What happens if you cook a Jimmy Dean egg sandwich in an air fryer?
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The fiery poultry parcels have already caused quite the commotion, and now McDonald's Spicy Chicken McNuggets are back. But for how long?
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Sometimes, as much as we love soup, broth needs a little extra touch to make it delicious. Here's our frozen parmesan tip to help upgrade all your favorites.
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Taco Tuesday is a fun night for everyone to enjoy. But what do you do when your taco fillings spill out and make a mess? Here's a hack for you.
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Many Aldi staple products, like milk, bread, and flour, are also produced by some of the same companies that make food for other large grocers.
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Eating honey as a standalone dessert has a rewarding additional benefit
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Mac and cheese is a classic and comforting dish, but that doesn't mean there isn't room for tinkering. Use this ingredient to level up your cheesy pasta bake.
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Trader Joe's chocolate croissants are already a big hit with shoppers, and now the store has double chocolate croissants to further indulge your sweet tooth.
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When you're looking for the best way to keep your tortillas nice and toasty, there's a nifty heating hack that will let you warm a bunch at a time.
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If you want to ensure that your barbecued ribs turn out the absolute best they can be, consider giving Ina Garten's preferred technique a try.
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The island of Taiwan plays an important role in the history of fried chicken. As such, McDonald's offers a traditional lunch option on its breakfast menu there.
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Costco is always innovating with its seasonal treats, and these new caramel apple mini cakes are the latest. If you love cozy fall flavors, pick up a box.
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While evenly sliced onions aren't always necessary, unevenly cut onions can make the onion flavor too strong in some bites and too weak in others.
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Bananas are a delicious tropical fruit, but eating them can be kind of a pain. If you're looking to avoid dealing with those pesky strings, here's how.
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If you properly freeze heavy cream to use at a later date, you can store it for one to two months in the freezer and then thaw it when you need it again.
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Is your homemade mayonnaise a little too runny? Here are a few things you can do to thicken it up before you use it for your next recipe or meal.
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Have you ever found yourself enjoying pigs in a blanket and wishing you could have them for breakfast? One simple ingredient swap is all it takes.
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If you're a fan of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, you're going to want to know about the German grocery chain's version of this beloved and nostalgic candy.
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One of the easiest ways to replace a funnel –- especially when you need one to use with dry goods like flour or sugar –- is to use a paper envelope.
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To get rid of any pungent smells while making hard-boiled eggs, simply add a few teaspoons of white distilled vinegar to the pot before you start cooking.
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Taco Bell fans were shocked when the Caramel Apple Empanada vanished from menus in 2019. The reason for the dessert's disappearance remains a mystery.
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If you are worried about your holiday entertaining, Aldi wants to put you at ease with its fancy new wine selection and an array of cheeses.
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The cheesemakers over at Babybel have created a twist on the classic board game Candy Land in an effort to get families to connect through wax-wrapped Edam.