Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Kitchen Vocab: Nappe

Nappe is a French term describing the consistency of a sauce that will coat the back of a spoon. Ice cream base that is cooped is cooked to this stage before cooling and then freezing.  Cooking it to this stage indicates that the proteins have been fully cooked and the […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus, Family Fun

Kitchen Vocab: Tagine

Tagine. It’s two words in one, though both are related. It is both a dish, and the dish the dish is made in! Get it yet? A tagine is a North African recipe of Berber origin and is a staple of Moroccan cuisine. Berber refers to the indigenous people of […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Knife Skills: The Foundation of Good Cooking

The room is quiet except for the rhythmic tapping of chef’s knives touching softly on maple cutting boards as they glide smoothly through firm carrots. The chef paces up and down the rows looking over the shoulders of his students, watching their efforts in creating the perfect julienne. “Remember,” he […]

Desserts

Lace Nut Tuiles

Makes about 24 tuiles The name for these delicate stenciled cookies means “tiles” in French. They are traditionally shaped to look like the terra-cotta tiles used on roofs throughout the Mediterranean. The batter is soft enough to spread in a thin layer. You can spread the batter into simple circles […]

Main Dishes

Lamb and Pumpkin Couscous

Makes 4 to 6 servings This is a lamb and pumpkin stew served on a bed of couscous. If you want to change it up a little bit, make the dish with Israeli couscous in the style of risotto. It will be creamy and delicious, if not exactly traditional.

Main Dishes

Lamb Biryani

Makes 8 servings Biryani is a signature rice dish in Indian cuisine known especially for its scrumptious, colorful presentation. Made with basmati rice, it can be created with lamb, chicken, beef, or vegetables and features generous amounts of sweet spices, as well as nuts and raisins. In this recipe, it’s […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Last Minute Ingredient Swaps

Everyone knows the frustrating feeling of readying your ingredients, just to realize you’re missing one thing. Sometimes it’s a big thing, like the red wine for wine-braised short ribs, but often it’s an everyday ingredient that we simply forgot to replace.  Most recipes are adaptable, if you have the confidence […]

Beverages and Cocktails, Desserts

Lavender Syrup

Makes 2 cups Lavender syrup adds a floral note to anything you can think to add it to, including lemonade, iced tea, or especially a tasty gin cocktail. Use the syrup to soak cake layers or to sweeten a fruit sorbet. Look for culinary-grade lavender at specialty markets or online. […]