Chef's Notes Plus

Infusing Oils and Vinegars

Infusing flavorful liquids, such as oils and vinegars, boosts their overall flavor—making them powerful additions to any dish without affecting the nutritional content in a negative way. To make your own infused oils and vinegars, use any of the following methods: Heat the oil or vinegar very gently over low […]

Sauces, Dressings, and Condiments

Jack Black Barbecue Sauce

Makes 2 1/2 cups sauce The name “Jack Black” refers to the Jack Daniels whiskey in the recipe and the deep color of the sauce. When it has finished cooking, the sauce may look burnt, but it isn’t; the color is supposed to be very dark, and the sauce will […]

Pantry

Japanese Seven-Spice Mixture

Ingredients 1 tablespoon ground sansho pepper 1 tsp nori, finely crumbled 1 tablespoon dried orange peel, minced 1 tablespoon chili powder 1 tablespoon black sesame seeds 1 tablespoon white sesame seeds 2 tablespoons minced garlic Directions Combine all the ingredients and reserve until needed.

Chef's Notes Plus

Keep it Simple with Pumpkin Purée

Despite the abundance of pumpkin-flavored foods at every turn, we spend surprisingly little time handling actual pumpkins. After all, as proponents of “homemade is best,” an apple pie starts with apples, a cherry pie starts with cherries. But a pumpkin pie starts with…a can of pumpkin purée? Using prepared pumpkin […]

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. […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Make Creamy Salad Dressings without a Recipe

As salad dressings go, oil and vinegar—their cute couple name is Vinaigrette—are sort of the popular kids. Everyone likes them, they get along with anyone/salad, and here’s where this metaphor falls apart: you don’t need a recipe. But sometimes a salad and/or your brain are just begging for a creamy […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Making Clarified Butter

Clarified butter is a staple in professional kitchens. Made by melting butter to break the water and fat emulsion, you first skim away the milk solids and then the pure butterfat—the clarified butter itself. Unlike vegetable oils, which are 100% fat, butter is a mixture of water, milk solids, and […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Making Homemade Croutons

Some things are just better homemade, and croutons happen to be one of those things. Croutons and rusks (rusks = big croutons!) keep well for several days in an airtight container, so make a large batch if you have enough bread on hand. To make croutons, remove the crust from […]

Pantry, Sauces, Dressings, and Condiments

Mayonnaise

Makes 2 cups mayonnaise We love making mayonnaise the old fashioned way (for special occasions!), but you can also make it in a blender. Follow the directions, plus instead of a bowl, combine the yolks, water, vinegar, mustard, and sugar in a blender, and steam in the oil while it’s […]

Main Dishes

Pappardelle with Broccoli Rabe and Ricotta

Serves 6 to 8 We love this recipe with homemade chestnut pappardelle, but for a simple meal, any pasta will do. Substitute broccoli, broccolini, or even chopped Swiss chard for the broccoli rabe. Ingredients 2 lb broccoli rabe Kosher salt, as needed 10 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 2 garlic cloves, […]

Main Dishes

Pizza Margherita

Makes three 12-inch pizzas If you don’t have yeast on hand (or the motivation to make the dough!), we bet your local pizza restaurant would be happy to sell you some to-go dough. Set out toppings for a fun make-your-own pizza activity to help beat cabin fever. Ingredients Dough 3 […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Recipe Swaps

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 […]