Laura Kanya

Title: Recipe Tester and Developer

Location: Williston, Vermont

Education: B.S. in Dietetics, Nutrition, University of Vermont; AOS in Baking and Pastry, Culinary Institute of America

Expertise: Pastries, chef instructor, testing recipes, recipe management 

- Two decades of baking and pastry experience
- Experienced executive chef

Experience

Laura Kanya is a recipe tester and developer in the Vermont test kitchen of Dotdash Meredith for EatingWell and other company brands. She has been active in the food industry for more than two decades in a variety of roles including pastry chef, chef instructor, executive chef and director of operations in restaurants, resorts, catering, retail operations and food production companies. 

Laura discovered her love of baking growing up alongside two grandmothers and a mom who loved baking and cooking. They unknowingly established the importance of food and cooking in Laura's life. Growing up outside Philadelphia, she had access to great restaurants, and her dad took her to many.

After graduating from the University of Vermont with a B.S. in dietetics, she pursued her love of baking by earning an associate degree in baking and pastry arts from the Culinary Institute of America. She has worked at the Macrina Bakery in Seattle, Sundance Resort in Utah, and Vermont Mystic Pie Company, The Inn at Essex, New England Culinary School and Sugarsnap Catering, all in Vermont.

Prior to joining the EatingWell team, Laura traveled the United States, England, Poland, Australia, New Zealand and Anguilla to check out different cultures and food. Laura lives in Vermont with her husband, son, daughter and schnauzer.

Laura enjoys staying active and challenged with spin classes, game nights with her kids, coaching her daughter's soccer team, biking around town, walking with friends, canning food from her (very simple and beginner) garden and checking out the latest local restaurants' offerings.

About EatingWell

EatingWell has been publishing award-winning journalism about food, nutrition and sustainability since 1990. Learn more about us.
Beer-Cheese Soup
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Cayenne provides a bit of heat in this creamy beer-cheese soup. Using a mild beer adds the perfect amount of flavor without overpowering the dish. The sharp Cheddar cheese adds a rich, savory flavor. Serve with your preferred toppings and a piece of crusty bread to sop up the leftovers.
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Homemade Croutons
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These super-crispy homemade croutons are a great base crouton that you can vary to suit your taste. Herb, Garlic & Parmesan, Chili Powder & Smoked Paprika, Cheddar & Dill, Caesar and Ranch croutons are a few of our favorites.
Slow-Cooker Pork Tenderloin
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This tender slow-cooker pork tenderloin picks up tangy and sweet flavors from a tomato-based sauce that features the flavors of classic barbecue. Serve with crusty bread to sop up the sauce. Serve the leftover sauce with steamed hearty greens, creamy grits or shredded pork.
Peanut Butter-Chocolate Mug Cake
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This super-fast peanut butter-chocolate mug cake is a great way to indulge your sweet tooth. The cake is tender and moist, with a hint of peanut butter. Enjoy this easy mug cake plain or topped with peanuts, chocolate chips or a sprinkle of coarse sea salt.
Chocolate Muffins
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These tender chocolate muffins are perfect for true chocolate lovers. They have a rich chocolate flavor without being overly sweet. Espresso powder amplifies the chocolate flavor.
Chicken & Dumplings Soup
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This hearty and warming chicken-and-dumplings soup features whole-wheat biscuits that offer a boost of fiber while maintaining a light texture. Thyme and parsley add freshness to the traditional flavors of this crowd-pleasing soup.
Lemon Ricotta Pancakes
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These light and fluffy lemon ricotta pancakes are tangy and sweet when drizzled with maple syrup. Sprinkle with additional lemon zest before serving for an extra boost of lemony flavor.
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Almond Flour Cake
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This light and fluffy almond flour cake is flavored simply with almond extract and orange zest. Whipped egg whites give this gluten-free cake a light texture. Serve with fresh seasonal fruit and whipped cream.
Baked Spaghetti
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Think of this baked spaghetti as a cousin to lasagna. Instead of layering ingredients, spaghetti is tossed with ricotta cheese, ground beef, veggies and marinara sauce before it's topped with cheese and baked until set. Serve this family-friendly casserole with a Caesar salad on the side.
Lemon Ricotta Pancakes
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These light and fluffy lemon ricotta pancakes are tangy and sweet when drizzled with maple syrup. Sprinkle with additional lemon zest before serving for an extra boost of lemony flavor.
Almond Flour Cake
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This light and fluffy almond flour cake is flavored simply with almond extract and orange zest. Whipped egg whites give this gluten-free cake a light texture. Serve with fresh seasonal fruit and whipped cream.
Baked Spaghetti
1
Think of this baked spaghetti as a cousin to lasagna. Instead of layering ingredients, spaghetti is tossed with ricotta cheese, ground beef, veggies and marinara sauce before it's topped with cheese and baked until set. Serve this family-friendly casserole with a Caesar salad on the side.
Copycat Bonefish Grill Bang Bang Shrimp
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This copycat Bonefish Grill Bang Bang Shrimp recipe tastes much like the original, with shrimp battered and pan-fried then smothered in a creamy, sweet and spicy chili sauce. If you want to turn up the heat, serve with extra Sriracha.
Copycat Taco Bell Mexican Pizzas
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These copycat Taco Bell Mexican pizzas feature all the flavors and textures of the original, with melted cheese, spiced beef and creamy beans between layers of crispy tortillas. Plus, we added an extra layer of crunchy veggies on top. (Editor's note: The title of this recipe does not align with EatingWell's practices for naming and attributing recipes but gives proper credit to Taco Bell's menu, which calls this dish "Mexican Pizza." We acknowledge that this recipe is inspired by Mexican American cuisine and does not have roots in authentic Mexican cuisine.)
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Buttermilk Biscuits
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These hearty buttermilk biscuits are easy to make. Whole-wheat flour gives them a nutty flavor with a tender texture and crispy edges. Serve with a drizzle of honey.
Pickled Red Onions
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These pickled red onions take on a beautiful pink hue. The slivers have just the right amount of sweet, tangy and salty flavors for use in salads, sandwiches and more. The onions are thin enough to absorb the flavors yet maintain their crunch.
Air-Fryer Tofu
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This air-fryer tofu has a savory flavor with just a hint of heat from the Sriracha. Pressing the tofu for at least 30 minutes gives it a firm texture on the inside while the air fryer gives it a crispy exterior.
Scrambled Tofu & Spinach Wraps
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Tofu stands in for eggs in these healthy vegetarian wraps stuffed with onion, bell pepper, spinach, feta and lots of fresh herbs. Serve these wraps for a filling breakfast.
Vegan Spaghetti
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This vegan spaghetti packs plenty of fresh herbs and veggies into your dinner. Whole-wheat spaghetti, combined with zucchini noodles, is coated in a tomato-based sauce that clings to the pasta, thanks to the thickening power of vegan butter.
Sausage Spaghetti
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Sausage, peppers and onions meet pasta with marinara in this sausage spaghetti recipe. This colorful dish cooks slowly, allowing the flavors to meld into the richly flavored sauce that coats the pasta beautifully. Serve with a Caesar salad on the side.
Garlic Shrimp Spaghetti
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This colorful garlic shrimp spaghetti is plenty garlicky, with a hint of acidity from lemon and white wine that complements the sweet shrimp. This flavorful shrimp pasta dinner is quick and easy, making it perfect for a weeknight. Serve with a green salad and a chunk of crusty bread to sop up any leftover sauce.
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Chicken Spaghetti Casserole
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This chicken spaghetti casserole has a super-creamy sauce that coats pasta, chicken and a generous serving of veggies. Panko gives this family-friendly casserole a bit of crunch on top. Be sure to let it rest for 20 minutes after coming out of the oven. This allows the casserole to cool and also set up nicely before serving.
Chicken Macaroni Salad
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This crowd-pleasing chicken macaroni salad is chock-full of crisp fresh veggies. Mayo and Greek yogurt meld together to create a smooth and creamy dressing. The peas add a pop of sweetness and balance to this easy salad that's perfect for barbecues and potlucks.
Sweet Potato Biscuits
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These sweet potato biscuits have a tender crumb with a crispy bottom from being baked in a cast-iron pan. Freezing the dough before baking helps maintain the biscuits' shape and keeps the butter intact to give the biscuits more lift and a light texture. The sweet honey butter complements the biscuits' savory flavor.
Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie
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This chocolate chip skillet cookie is just like a classic chocolate chip cookie but with less sugar and saturated fat and a boost of fiber from whole-wheat flour. It's soft in the center and crispy around the edges, with plenty of warm, melted chocolate throughout.
Baked Summer-Squash Cheese Dip
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This cheesy dip is a great way to up your vegetable servings as well as use a bounty of squash from your garden or CSA. Serve with seasonal vegetables, crackers or bread for dipping.
Grilled Harissa Shrimp Skewers with Herb-&-Zucchini Couscous
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These shrimp skewers feature harissa paste—a Middle Eastern chile pepper paste that's flavored with garlic, caraway, coriander and cumin. It adds rich flavor to the shrimp and complements the smokiness from the grill. Grilled zucchini combined with couscous and a sweet and tangy dressing featuring preserved lemon rounds out the meal.
Capellini with Crispy Prosciutto & Blistered Tomatoes
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Blistered cherry tomatoes cook alongside capers and garlic with a splash of white wine in this ultra-quick pasta recipe. Crispy prosciutto adds savory notes, while fresh basil brightens the dish.
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