Breakfast and Brunch

Cream Scones

Makes 12 scones These scones develop a wonderful texture if the dough is frozen overnight. Freeze individual scones, and then bake as many as needed straight from the freezer to accompany breakfast, brunch, or dinner.

Chef's Notes Plus

Creating Contrasts in Plated Desserts

Since you are a DISH member, we know that you likely have dessert ambitions beyond the classic cookies and coffee. And why shouldn’t you? The world of pastry is exciting and decadent! If you are home channeling your inner pastry chef, designing a composed, or plated, dessert for your next […]

Desserts

Crème Brûlée

Makes 5 servings We can all thank legendary CIA pastry chef instructor, Dieter Schorner, for reinvigorating the United States’ collective love of crème brûlée as pastry chef of New York City’s famed Le Cirque in the 1980s. Enjoy our classic version, but don’t be afraid to add spices or other […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Culinary Math: Recipe Conversion Factor

In a dream world, recipes would all follow the same format and be written especially for you. It would make precisely how much you needed to make, list ingredients in the amount you happen to have in your fridge, and, of course, work just right every time. But in the […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Culinary School: How to Make Béchamel Sauce

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 […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Do You Need a Kitchen Scale?

In professional kitchens, recipes and formulas are generally measured using scales, in either ounces or grams. Though there is room for volume measures (yes, professional kitchens do use measuring cups!), measuring ingredients by weight is more accurate and generally more efficient. It also leaves you with less dirty dishes, which […]

Chef's Blog

Don’t Panic: Tips for Saving Your Sear

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 […]

Main Dishes

Duck Confit

Makes 4 servings The traditional confit cooking method for duck is a method of preservation. The duck is cured, cooked very slowly in its own fat, and then stored, covered with that fat. It can be stored in the refrigerator for 4 months, so prepare more than you need. Keeping […]

Breakfast and Brunch

English Muffins

English muffins are one of the easiest breads, made extra simple by their stove-top cook. No oven needed! Though like any bread, they are best the day they are made, a quick trip to the toaster freshens these muffins up for up to a week. Makes 10 servings

Chef's Notes Plus

Establishing a Sourdough Starter

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 […]