Cooking is a wonderful art to learn. Whether it is purely for nutritional purposes or for the joy of creating a meal from scratch for your family and friends, the relaxation that can be associated with this skill is immense. But if you were never taught the basics of cooking, and finding your way around a kitchen is not your forte, here are a few handy hints you need to know.
Throw a hassle-free dinner party. If you have company coming for dinner, cook a signature dish that you are comfortable preparing. This way you won't have any disasters in the kitchen. Prepare as much as you can in advance, so that you can spend time with your guests prior to eating.
When it comes to meat, remember that cheap and tough definitely pay off in terms of flavor, with a bit of time and patience. Pork shoulder and chuck roasts are prime examples of meats that benefit from slow braising (cooking in liquid), which results in tender, delicious meat to serve with roasted veggies and gravy or to shred for BBQ sandwiches or tacos.
Vegans and lactose-intolerant people looking to replace cheese in a recipe can try nutritional yeast. Nutritional yeast comes in flakes and powder, and has a nutty, savory texture. This makes it ideal for a variety of recipes, and it can be manipulated any way you need it to be used. It's an excellent substitute for tangy dairy products!
Enjoy hardy winter greens. After the first frost, winter greens such as kale, broccoli rabe and collards take on a much sweeter taste. Choose greens with a deep, bright color and avoid anything that is limp or yellowing. Be careful when washing these greens, as they can accumulate a lot of dirt. Submerge the greens in a bowl of cool water, shake off, and rinse until the water runs clear.
Try plunging your veggies in a container of ice water right after you blanch them so that they do not become pale and unattractive. The ice water will allow them to settle without losing their appetizing, bright colors. This is especially important when serving food at functions where pleasing aesthetics at the table are a primary goal.
If you have added too much salt to your soup, just add some celery or a potato. To reduce the saltiness of the liquid, add large slices of celery or thick chunks of potato. Taste every five minutes, and remove once they have soaked up the excess salt from the broth.
Don't skip over trussing when preparing your holiday turkey. Trussing is the process of tying the turkey with string. This keeps the wings and legs close to the bird, promoting a more even cooking. If not tied down, the tips of the wings and legs tend to burn easily while the rest of the bird is still cooking.
There is no longer a need to hold onto any fear of the kitchen. By following these ideas and learning the basics of cooking, you will be rewarded. With a little time and practice you will be whipping up gourmet meals to impress your friends in no time at all.
Throw a hassle-free dinner party. If you have company coming for dinner, cook a signature dish that you are comfortable preparing. This way you won't have any disasters in the kitchen. Prepare as much as you can in advance, so that you can spend time with your guests prior to eating.
When it comes to meat, remember that cheap and tough definitely pay off in terms of flavor, with a bit of time and patience. Pork shoulder and chuck roasts are prime examples of meats that benefit from slow braising (cooking in liquid), which results in tender, delicious meat to serve with roasted veggies and gravy or to shred for BBQ sandwiches or tacos.
Vegans and lactose-intolerant people looking to replace cheese in a recipe can try nutritional yeast. Nutritional yeast comes in flakes and powder, and has a nutty, savory texture. This makes it ideal for a variety of recipes, and it can be manipulated any way you need it to be used. It's an excellent substitute for tangy dairy products!
Enjoy hardy winter greens. After the first frost, winter greens such as kale, broccoli rabe and collards take on a much sweeter taste. Choose greens with a deep, bright color and avoid anything that is limp or yellowing. Be careful when washing these greens, as they can accumulate a lot of dirt. Submerge the greens in a bowl of cool water, shake off, and rinse until the water runs clear.
Try plunging your veggies in a container of ice water right after you blanch them so that they do not become pale and unattractive. The ice water will allow them to settle without losing their appetizing, bright colors. This is especially important when serving food at functions where pleasing aesthetics at the table are a primary goal.
If you have added too much salt to your soup, just add some celery or a potato. To reduce the saltiness of the liquid, add large slices of celery or thick chunks of potato. Taste every five minutes, and remove once they have soaked up the excess salt from the broth.
Don't skip over trussing when preparing your holiday turkey. Trussing is the process of tying the turkey with string. This keeps the wings and legs close to the bird, promoting a more even cooking. If not tied down, the tips of the wings and legs tend to burn easily while the rest of the bird is still cooking.
There is no longer a need to hold onto any fear of the kitchen. By following these ideas and learning the basics of cooking, you will be rewarded. With a little time and practice you will be whipping up gourmet meals to impress your friends in no time at all.