•Tips For Healthier Southern Cooking
Remember grandma's cooking? The awesome aromas and hearty flavors coming from her kitchen where certainly enticing and the entire family would hang around the kitchen until she finally shouted "Supper's Ready!" Aunts, uncles and cousins would rush the table to get their favorite seat, rush through the blessing just to dig in to the outstanding flavors of grandma's kitchen. As unhealthy as those meals were, we certainly loved them. Wouldn't it be fantastic to turn out meals with hints of her...
•Tips For Preparing a Thanksgiving Turkey
It is almost that time of year again. The air is getting cooler and the leaves are starting to change, which is a sign that the holidays will be fast approaching. The holidays are hugely centered around food, whether it is holiday parties, cookie baking or the dinner themselves, cooking is a huge part of celebrating. There is no better example of this than Thanksgiving. The Thanksgiving turkey is at the center of the holiday and preparing a perfect turkey is much easier than you think. First...
•The Basics of Two Essential Cooking Techniques Sauteing and Cooking Pasta Correctly
While you may chuckle at the thought of not knowing how to boil water, some people will tell you how they ruined their favorite pan when it boiled dry! Basic cooking skills are something that everyone should know, even if they have never set foot in the kitchen. From making a grilled cheese sandwich to creating a five-course meal, you really have to start somewhere! Below, you will find some information on basic cooking skills that can get you started in the kitchen. Sizzling Sauté The word...
•Ten Must Have Herb and Seasonings
With the sheer number of seasonings out there, people are intimidated and confused as to what herb goes with what food. The following is a list of ten indispensable herbs and seasonings beyond the usual salt and pepper. #1-Basil: One of the staples in pasta sauces and pesto. Also good for salads, this herb is best used fresh. Many cooks keep a potted basil plant in their kitchen for ease of access and freshness. #2-Thyme: Commonly used as an ingredient in meat rubs, it also works well in...
•Food Safety in the Kitchen is Non Negotiable
Paleontologists – scientists who study fossils – now think that a diet rich in meat protein led to the divergence of human species from our ape ancestors. Whether we actually hunted our prehistoric prey as some maintain or scavenged the rich marrow of bones left by other predators as others claim, the results were the same: Meat made humans what we are today. Meat of all kinds remains a mainstay of human diets. For example, Americans consume around 185 pounds of meat per person annually, of...
•How to Cut up a Whole Chicken
If you are faced with the prospect of cutting up a whole chicken and this is something you've never done before, you could be completely overwhelmed. However, the truth is, cutting a whole chicken is not as difficult as you might think. The key is to have a really sharp knife! Whole chicken is much cheaper than buying one already cut up, so if you're on a tight kitchen budget, this can really help save you some money. Begin by washing your hands with soap and water. Remove the giblets and the...
•Kosher Food Key to Jewish Faith and Culture
Along with holidays and music, kosher food represents a key to Jewish faith and culture. Like the food practices of Hindus and Muslims, kosher food for Jews stems from their religious beliefs. Keeping kosher is not merely a cultural food practice; it is a way of life that symbolizes the Jews' devotion to God. Virtually any large European and American city has kosher food stores. These stores can be specific such as butcher stores and fish markets, or they can be all encompassing, including...
•The Perfect Dinner Rolls
Learning how to bake and use yeast can be a very frustrating process. But for those who have persevered and have managed to master the art, the rewards are simply amazing. You will be able to serve dinner rolls straight from your oven. Rolls that could even rival those that came from a fine bakery. To make the best rolls, you have to follow a few simple guidelines. First, you have got to use fresh yeast. When yeast gets old, its ability to make dough rise is compromised. You may not get a rise...
•How to Cook With Wine
Contrary to what you might think, cooking with wine is simple. Now that we got that out of the way, budding cooks can gain a lot when they learn how to cook with wine. Some flavors remain locked and unused without the assistance of wine. Its ability to release the taste of foods is unparalleled in fine cuisine. So, let's start with the basics. How Much is Too Much Cooking with wine is all about what works for you. There are really no hard and fast rules. What you need to remember, however, is...
•Kitchen Tricks That Will Come in Handy During the Fall Season
Savvy cooks will love these tricks for rescuing leftover pumpkins, storing fall cheese, using skewers and lots more! Pumpkin Treats: What's sadder than a leftover Halloween jack-o-lantern made from a pumpkin? Don't throw Jack out, though. Cut the gourds in half vertically down the middle. Make sure each half can fit, cut side down, on a baking sheet sprinkled with water. Then bake at 350 degrees F for 30 to 60 minutes. You'll know they're done when the skin darkens and the pumpkin starts to...
