The week after Thanksgiving is the unofficial start of winter, as far as we’re concerned. With twinkling lights appearing around the neighborhood and the smell of fireplaces crackling in the distance, there is nothing greater than a pot of soup or stew simmering on the stovetop. Try one of our […]
How to: Make Chowders
Good chowders have a rich flavor, balancing the main flavoring ingredient(s) and supporting aromatic and finishing flavors, a velvety texture, and a lightly thickened consistency, similar to heavy cream. If you are making a shellfish-based chowder (clams, mussels, oysters, etc.), before beginning, steam the main ingredient in stock or water […]
How to Carve Your Thanksgiving Turkey
To make the most of large roasted foods, such as turkey, they must be carved into portions correctly. After roasting a turkey and letting it rest, transfer the bird to a carving board (a cutting board with an indentation around the edges that captures the juices released during carving). If […]
Making Clarified Butter
Clarified butter is a staple in professional kitchens. Made by melting butter to break the water and fat emulsion, you first skim away the milk solids and then the pure butterfat—the clarified butter itself. Unlike vegetable oils, which are 100% fat, butter is a mixture of water, milk solids, and […]
Be This Year’s Best Guest with These Recipes
One of the biggest challenges for dinner guests on Thanksgiving is choosing a dish to bring along that won’t take up precious oven space for reheating. It’s too risky! That’s why we always choose something that can be served cold, or better yet, at room temperature. Here are some of […]
Dress Up Your Mashed Potatoes Without a Recipe
Mashed potatoes are a staple at the Thanksgiving dinner table. But that doesn’t mean they have to be the same year after year (not that anyone has ever complained about a perfectly creamy mashed potato). If you start with a great base recipe—here’s our favorite—you can turn a simple mashed […]
It’s Turkey Time!
Spooky season is behind us, which can only mean one thing. It’s turkey time, and by that we mean it is truly turkey time, so call your favorite farm, market, or restaurant to pre-order your bird. If it’s too soon to order, set an alarm! If you get a jump […]
Our Favorite Not-So-Spooky Halloween Treats
Whether you’re a kid or kid-at-heart, Halloween is a fun calendar-sanctioned reason to eat candy, and we are here for it. If you need a little inspiration for some treats for your holiday get together, start with a few of our favorite ghoul-worthy nibbles. Not-Too-Spooky Halloween Cupcakes Pumpkin Date Cake […]
Recipes Between the Lines: Deglaze
Deglazing is a fundamental technique used in all styles of cooking because it is our primary means of preserving an ingredient’s flavor. Dry cooking techniques, like sautéing and roasting, rely on the evaporation of moisture from an ingredient to create a flavorful and browned exterior. As the ingredient makes contact […]
Pasta Crock: The Louder, the Better
A baked red-sauce and cheese pasta dish with a thick crunch and béchamel sauce. Typical kid foods are composed of simple and delicious flavors, which is why I think you might be fibbing if you said there wasn’t something off the kid’s menu that you occasionally crave. Mine is Pasta […]
Using Dried Mushrooms
Dried mushrooms are big flavor in a tiny package, and they are one of our go-to pantry staples for adding savory richness (also known as umami) to stews, risottos, sauces, or broths—and more! When shopping for dried mushrooms, look for whole varieties, since they’ll generally hold their flavor better than […]
Volume or Weight: How do the Measurements Measure Up?
It’s a popular topic of conversation in the baking community: volume or weight? Many say ingredients should be measured by weight, no question. It is more accurate and more convenient (less dirty dishes!). But in the U.S., most recipes (ours included) for home cooks and bakers are written using volume […]