Knowing how to cook is more than knowing techniques, it’s also important to know all about the best ingredients for the dish you hope to prepare. Different cooking methods call for different cuts of meat, and the first step to making the right choice is simply understanding the physiology of […]
In the deep summer, when the Texas sun beats relentlessly and sends temperatures over 100 degrees day after day, even the heartiest of native plants wilt. But there is one plant that seems to thrive in the toughest of conditions, growing lush and green under the harsh Texas sun. Yaupon […]
All varieties of rice can be divided into short-, medium- and long-grain varieties. All Italian rice are strains of a thick, short-grained rice called japonica (Oryza sativa japonica). They may not, to most palates, taste different, but they do behave differently when cooked. There are four grades of rice: Comune […]
You’ve heard the term plenty of times: melting cheese. “Use your favorite melting cheese!” “You can substitute any good melting cheese.” And while that seems easy enough, how do you know if a cheese is a good melting cheese? When we say “melting cheese,” we are looking for a cheese […]
Potato varieties differ in starch and moisture content, skin and flesh color, and shape. Sweet potatoes and yams, although not botanically related to the potato, share several characteristics with it and can be treated in the same manner. Each cooking technique produces a markedly different texture, flavor, and appearance in […]
Cooking with limited ingredients doesn’t necessarily mean only eating 5-ingredient dishes. In addition to looking for simple recipes, look for adaptable recipes. Adaptable recipes are ones that won’t suffer from ingredient substitutions. Most recipes are adaptable, if you have the confidence to make big changes. To help you along the […]
If you’re ever in Italy driving towards Rome from the north, you might well be traveling on the Via Salaria, or salt highway. Scholars theorize that the location of this ancient city was governed by its proximity to the salt marshes of Ostia, a town at the mouth of the […]
“1/2 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder” is a phrase that strikes to the core of any baker who hasn’t yet spent hours of their time figuring out what that means. Read on for a possibly oversimplified but perfectly digestible guide to cocoa powder for your everyday baking needs. 1. There are […]
It’s a fact that Americans love eating Chinese food. There are over 40,000 Chinese restaurants in the U.S.; there are more Chinese restaurants than McDonald’s. You can probably name a favorite Chinese restaurant and a dish or two you love. It is also a fact that many cooks feel intimidated […]
It doesn’t get much attention, but salt is one of the most important ingredients in everyday cooking and baking. It primes our palates to identify and enjoy flavors and textures, and it works to amplify and balance what we taste. Different types of salts have varying textures and levels of […]
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 […]
Malted barley is called for in many of our bread recipes (as malt syrup) because of its impact on the dough. Malt is made by separating the enzymes that break down starch into sugar from cereal grains, usually barley. Many flours are treated with malts at the mill, but organic […]