Curing meats, poultry, and fish in a salt and water solution is known as brining or wet curing. Brining provides depth in flavor, tenderness, and a moister final product. The base of a brine is salt and water, and sometimes sugar. Kosher salt is preferred because it doesn’t have any […]
Cooking Temperatures of Meat, Poultry, and Fish
“Is it done?” The eternal question that is not always easy to answer. Use this handy reference chart for deciding when your meat, poultry, or fish is ready to enjoy. Remove your food from the oven, grill, or pan when it’s still a few degrees below your desired temperature to […]
Grill Anything (Yes, Even Pasta!)
By the end of this summer, I will be able to write a book on how to cook exclusively outside. As I’ve mentioned, probably too often, I live in Texas, where it is currently HOT. My house is small, but tragically under-cooled in the summer, so when I turn on […]
Grilled Vegetables with Mediterranean Sauces
4 Servings Grilled Vegetables Chef’s Note: You can use any of the sauces below to dress your grilled vegetables. Charmoula Chef’s Tip: Preserved lemon is an iconic ingredient of the region and has a very different flavor profile than lemon peel or lemon juice due to the salting and curing […]
The Essential Cooking Techniques
Knowing how to cook comes down to mastering a few simple techniques, which opens up a world of original cooking for you. You are no longer tied to having a recipe, buying the ingredients, and then cooking. You can pull together ingredients you already have on hand and use the […]