Heide Brandes
Location
Oklahoma City, OK
School
University Of Central Oklahoma
Expertise
Mediterranean Diet, Hiking Food, Healthy Smoothies
- Heide has served as President and Vice President of The Society for Professional Journalists Oklahoma Chapter and hosts seminars on how to break into freelance writing.
- She served as the Oklahoma correspondent for Reuters News Service for seven years.
- As a journalist, she has been honored with two Lowell Thomas Awards for Destination Travel Writing from The Society for Professional Journalists. Additionally, she has received numerous awards from the North American Travel Journalists Association and dozens of honors from SPJ.
Experience
Heide is an award-winning journalist, editor and professional writer with more than 20 years experience. She was a reporter and editor for three small, country newspapers in Oklahoma before taking over as executive editor for 11 newspapers for a national chain. After spending seven years as communications and media director for a large nonprofit in Oklahoma City, Heide jumped into the wild and wooly world of freelance writing. She was the Oklahoma correspondent for Reuters News Service, and served as a regular contributor for local dailies. She specializes in health coverage, local business news, food and drink, travel and breaking news. Heide is now a contributor to such publications as National Geographic Travel, BBC, The Smithsonian, Conde Nast, Cowboys & Indians Magazine, Sierra Magazine, Southern Living, The Houston Chronicle, Outdoor x 4, and Fodors.
Education
Heide earned a bachelor's degree in professional writing from the University of Central Oklahoma.
The Daily Meal’s content comes from an authoritative editorial staff that is dedicated to current and comprehensive coverage. With an aim to provide only informative and engaging content, our writers, editors, and experts take care to craft clear and concise copy on all things food-related, from news in the food service industry to in-depth explainers about what’s found in readers’ refrigerators, original recipes from experienced chefs, and more.
Our team also regularly reviews and updates articles as necessary to ensure they are accurate. For more information on our editorial process, view our full policies page.
Stories By Heide Brandes
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If you love rice and its flavors, there's nothing worse than spooning it onto your plate in one big clump. Use this lemon hack to prevent rice from sticking.
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Chocolate shavings on top of your dish make an elegant garnish. You can get the same effect at home; you just need to utilize your freezer.
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Meatloaf is a classic dish that tastes flavorful and is easy to make for a great dinner. Try using this unexpected ingredient to help bind it together.
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Cooking can be fun and relaxing, but cleaning usually isn't. If you're looking to minimize your grease splatters from the stove, try this trick.
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Special diets sometimes use unique recipes to meet all the parameters. When it comes to keto, do you know what butter meat is and how to make it?
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Homemade beef stew is a great meal for busy cooks. It's a one-pot wonder you can set and forget. There's a way to enhance it that you may not have thought of.
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Your kitchen is full of tools you can use for tasks you probably haven't thought of. Don't struggle to open jars; use this easy bottle opener hack instead.
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Aldi's aisles are full of favorite brands to which customers are loyal. Cheese lovers need to get to the chain to check out its specialty goat cheese.
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Looking to use sliced or hollow apples but aren't sure how to get rid of that pesky core? If you don't own an apple corer, look to your wine bar for help.
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Imagine making the best creamed corn you've ever enjoyed without using your stovetop. You can achieve a fantastic flavor using your slow cooker for this dish.
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Avocados and eggs are both great sources of nutrients your body needs to fuel your day. Try baking an egg in half an avocado for a quick and easy breakfast.
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Salad remains can get stuck inside your salad spinner, making you sick the next time you use it. There's a quick way to clean your spinner that's painless.
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Fritos has reigned as one of the most popular chips on the market since its inception. Try adding them to your burger for a satisfying crunch.
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Shrimp cocktail is a delicious party classic, but when served incorrectly it can be a hotbed of food safety dangers. Keep that bowl of ice handy!