Popular belief suggests that it is better to eat vegetables raw or undercooked, as heating supposedly strips the produce of its nutritional benefits. In rare cases, or if the vegetable is poorly prepared, this might be true. Properly executed, cooking actually improves palatability and digestibility as well as nutritional accessibility. […]
“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 […]
For many of you, “cooking with wine” may mean holding a wooden spoon in one hand and a wine glass in the other. While there’s nothing wrong with enjoying a glass while you cook, I’d like to propose reserving a little for your recipes. You may ask, “Why use wine […]
In baking, every step matters—from mixing to baking, but just as importantly, cooling! While we often romanticize baked goods fresh from the oven, most baked items like cakes (and yes, breads!) are best once cooled. Baking is a series of chemical and physical reactions spurred by the heat of the […]
There is a lot of helpful information down there, but if you’re pressed for time, here’s a summary of the most important parts: Slow roasting typically utilizes large, less tender, less expensive, more active, higher-fat muscles that contain a large amount of collagen, like pork butts. If you are looking […]
Some of the most decadent and delicious dishes we all love are milk-based. Scalloped potatoes, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, ice cream! All are flavored or fortified with a heavy pour of milk, cream, and/or butter. And while a creamy sauce is sort of perfect already, the most fool-proof way […]
Béchamel is classical white sauce that is made with milk thickened with a roux. Blond roux is traditionally used, and the amount of roux will determine the sauce’s consistency. Vegetables or aromatics are sometimes added to strengthen the flavor, but they are normally strained out after cooking to preserve the […]
Decorating cookies is fun any time of the year, but ‘tis the season for extra special treats to share with your friends and family! Whether you bring them as a gift to your teachers or to grandma’s house, there are so many easy ways to dress up your favorite cookies […]
Dipping centers in chocolate not only gives them a beautiful appearance and a crisp shell, it protects the centers from humidity and helps to maintain quality. Hand dipping chocolates is a technique that requires some precision and much practice to master. But, like all candy making, learning is much of […]
As recipe writers, we come back to the same phrases over and over. “Mix until light and fluffy…” “…until it doubles in size…” “Working in batches, sear the beef until it is browned all over…” That last one seems the simplest, but it actually tends to cause the most headaches […]
It’s a struggle we all face: onion eyes. Chopping an onion comes with an extra layer of struggle. After your first few draws through the bulb, your eyes may begin to water, burn, maybe even swell a little. What can you do? First, let’s understand why this is happening. Onions […]
Ready for at-home bread baking with your very own sourdough starter? Follow this schedule to create your own starter in 5 to 7 days. For more information about starters, see Sourdough Starters: 101. DAY 1 Mix equal amounts of flour with water (at 85°F) until the mixture is homogenous. Use […]