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Three Cookware Essentials for Every Kitchen

October 28, 2014 by

Whether you're a trained chef or your cooking experience is limited to burning a piece of toast, these are the cookware essentials to have in your kitchen arsenal.

1) 10-inch skillet
This particular piece will likely become your go-to piece of cookware. When shopping for the skillet, look for medium- or heavy-weight pans, and opt for pans with a non-stick finish. A well-seasoned cast iron skillet in the same size is another good tool to have; it'll enable you to create a nice sear on steak, chicken, and other proteins.

2) Two- to three-quart saucepan with lid
You'll use this pan for boiling pasta and rice, steaming veggies, heating soups, making sauces, and much more. If you regularly prepare large-batch soups and stews for freezing, consider also purchasing an eight-quart stockpot, or, for stove-to-table dining, a four-quart dutch oven.

3) Eight- or nine-inch chef's knife
Spring for the most high quality knife that your budget will allow, and note that this is one piece you'll want to shop in person. Head to a kitchen supply store to "try out" a few knives; that is, hold a few and decide which one feels the most comfortable.

The Well-Equipped Kitchen [Good Housekeeping]
Essential Kitchen Tools Checklist [Real Simple]
The Kitchn's Guide to Essential Cookware [The Kitchn]
Equipment: 9 Essential Pots and Pans [Serious Eats]

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Love to Cook? Master These Must-Know Knife Techniques

September 5, 2014 by

If you love to cook, you know how important it is to use the proper cutting techniques in every recipe. Many people don't know the proper names of these techniques, however, which often leads to using the wrong one. Here are three important types of cutting that are essential for everything from entrees to desserts.

  1. Julienne. To julienne, you want to cut vegetables or other food items into stick-shaped pieces that are long and thin. Start by cutting the item into a square, then slice it into rectangular-shaped pieces lengthwise. Repeat the same step on each of the rectangles until you're left with pieces that resemble matchsticks.
  2. Chiffonade. This type of cut sounds fancy, but it actually just refers to cutting herbs or thin leaf vegetables. Roll the herbs up into a tight tube, then roughly chop across with a sharp knife. It doesn't matter how the cuts look, just that the pieces are small enough to sprinkle throughout a dish.
  3. Dice. Dicing is similar to chopping, but it creates entirely uniform pieces for dishes like stews or fruit salads. Begin with a rectangular shape and continue to cut it both directions until you're left with uniform pieces in the size that you desire.

Knife Skills: Different Types of Cuts [The Culinary Cook]
Top 10 Knife Skills [How Stuff Works]
Perfect Your Knife Skills With This Chef's Guide to Knives [Lifehacker]

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Learn to Bake This Simple Black Forest Ice Cream Pie

August 26, 2014 by

When you think of the easiest baked goods to make at home, pies usually aren’t top on the list. After rolling the dough, making the filling, and adding all that elaborate crust decoration, making a pie seems downright difficult. This delicious Black Forest Ice Cream Pie recipe is so simple, it will put all of your pie-baking fears to rest.

Black Forest Ice Cream Pie

12 sugar ice cream cones, broken into pieces
5 tablespoons butter, melted
1 pint chocolate chip ice cream
1 pound fresh or thawed frozen cherries, pitted (about 3 cups)
3 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons cornstarch

For detailed instructions on preparing this Black Forest Ice Cream Pie, visit Oprah.com.

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How to Ensure You’re Safely Serving and Preparing Eggs

August 15, 2014 by

Eggs are essential ingredients in a number of dishes, but they can also be dangerous to your health if handled incorrectly. To reduce your risk of salmonella and other diseases that come from eggs, follow these important guidelines.

  1. Shop smart. The first step toward healthy egg care is inspecting your eggs in the grocery store for cracks or dirty appearance. Also be sure to only purchase eggs that are stored in a refrigerated case.
  2. Store them properly. Eggs should be stored in a clean spot in the refrigerator at 40° F or lower.
  3. Cook them thoroughly. If you’re preparing scrambled eggs or another egg dish, be sure that both the yolk and white are firm and that the egg reaches a temperature of 160°F. Never eat batter or dough containing raw eggs before it's cooked or baked.
  4. Store egg dishes properly. Dishes made of only eggs cannot be stored, so be sure to eat them immediately after cooking. If you prepare something else that contains eggs, always keep it refrigerated.
  5. Keep it clean. Even if you use the utmost care when handling eggs, it’s essential to wash your hands, cooking and prep surfaces, and any utensils thoroughly to remove any traces of eggs. Wash hands and utensils with hot, soapy water, and scrub kitchen countertops with bleach or another germ-killing product.

Playing It Safe With Eggs [FDA]
Eggs & Food Safety [Incredible Egg]
Tips to Reduce Your Risk of Salmonella from Eggs [CDC]

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Refuel and Replenish by Eating These Foods After a Workout

August 1, 2014 by

The foods that you eat before your workout help to increase your energy level, but it’s the food that you eat afterward that’s really important. What you eat after exercising helps to repair muscle tissue and to replenish glycogen, which is an important aspect of building the lean, toned body that you strive for. Here are some of the best foods to refuel with after a workout.

  1. Bananas. Bananas are high-glycemic carbohydrates, which provide you with an instant boost to replenish your energy quickly. Try slicing one up and eating it with peanut butter on top of a rice cake.
  2. Greek yogurt with berries. Greek yogurt is packed with protein, which is very important in building muscle. Your muscles are depleted of their usual amino acids after lifting weights or performing an intense cardio workout, and this healthy snack helps to build them back up.
  3. Tuna sandwich. The combination of healthy carbs and proteins is one of the very best things to eat after working out. Spread some tuna on whole wheat bread to refuel after that gym class.
  4. Water. Replenishing your body’s fluids is just as important as replenishing its food supply. Be sure to drink plenty of water after working out to avoid becoming dehydrated.

6 Smart Snacks to Eat After Your Workout [Fitness Magazine]
What to Eat After You Work Out [Spark People]
Food as Fuel – Before, During and After Workouts [American Heart Association]

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Cooking Without Eggs? Bookmark These Webpages!

July 7, 2014 by

Eggs are a staple in just about every recipe, but many people can’t consume eggs due to food allergies or a vegan diet. If you want to cook the delicious foods that you love without eggs, these websites offer simple tips and clever substitutions that can help.

Chef In You
The Chef In You Egg Substitutions page features just about everything you need to maintain an egg-free kitchen. A detailed chart describes things that you can substitute for eggs in a variety of dishes, including products like tofu, bananas, and commercial egg substitutes. There are even recipes that show you how to make desserts, breakfasts, and entrees without using eggs.

Kids With Food Allergies
Whether you have a child with a food allergy or not, this informative website will show you how to cook without eggs. The detailed articles describe alternatives for using eggs as a binder, a leavening agent, or a glaze, and there’s even a list that tells you some uncommon foods to avoid if you have an egg allergy. If you want to make an egg-free dish at home, Kids With Food Allergies also provides a few free recipes for baked goods without eggs.

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Want to Become a Better Cook? Start by Learning These Culinary Terms!

June 17, 2014 by

When you encounter a recipe that’s full of complicated cooking terminology, it’s easy to feel intimidated. What if your chopping instead of dicing leads to a flop of a soufflé? These kitchen terms will teach you a few things about proper cooking techniques, and they’ll make you feel more confident about your next culinary endeavor.

  1. Beat. To beat a mix or batter is not the same thing as mixing it. Beating involves briskly whipping with a spoon, wire whisk rotary beater, or electric mixer, and it incorporates air into the ingredients in order to obtain a light, fluffy consistency.
  2. Blacken. Blackening a piece of meat or vegetables is a popular Cajun cooking technique that chars seasonings onto the food in order to give it a crunchy, spicy coating. This involves cooking over high heat in a heavy skillet.
  3. Fold. If a recipe calls for you to fold one ingredient into another, it means to combine them without decreasing their volume. Use a rubber spatula in vertical swipes across the mixture, pulling some of the mixture from the bottom to the top each time.
  4. Garnish. Once your dish is completed, you may garnish it by adding a decorative bit of fresh herbs, fruit or greens.

Glossary of Basic Cooking Terms [Les Petites Gourmettes]
Cooking Terms [Recipe Goldmine]
Glossary of Cooking Terms [UMN]
Glossary of Cooking Terms [Better Homes & Gardens]
Culinary Terms [About.com]

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Three Heart-Healthy Soup Recipes

March 25, 2014 by

It’s one thing to count calories, but finding foods that are just as beneficial to your health as they are to your weight is another story. These delicious soup recipes provide beneficial vitamins and nutrients, keep your heart strong and help you take control of your weight as they warm you up during colder months.

Homemade Turkey Soup
Perfect for using up those turkey dinner leftovers, this hearty turkey soup is full of flavor from its variety of spices. Turkey is a lean meat that provides energizing protein without the extra fat, and the broth base keeps it from weighing you down. At under 250 calories, this makes a light meal that will still fill you up.

Mexican Pozole
If you love the spicy taste of authentic Mexican food, this traditional soup is for you. With lean beef and a large helping of tomatoes, it provides beneficial nutrients as well as exciting flavor.

Rockport Fish Chowder
While other chowders are high in calories due to their creamy base, this lighter version provides the same rich texture without the extra calories. By using low-fat milk and a variety of veggies, you can create a delicious fish chowder that will help keep your diet on track.

For more healthy soup recipes, visit the NIH website.

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Learn to Cook Right from Your Phone with These 3 Apps

November 22, 2013 by

When you’re making something in the kitchen you need your recipe to be easily accessible, and there’s nothing more convenient than your smartphone. These helpful cooking apps will give you recipes, cooking techniques, and other necessary information right from your mobile device:

How to Cook Everything: Cooking Basics
This app, developed by New York Times cooking columnist Mark Bittman, includes an assortment of recipes and high-quality photos, video and audio to make your time in the kitchen easier and more hands-on. The recipes are simple and straightforward, and if you come across a technique that you don’t understand it even includes links to video tutorials to help you learn as you go.

Epicurious
The popular cooking website now has a helpful app for iPhone, iPad, Android, Nook, Windows and Kindle. The Epicurious app provides users with numerous recipes, and it has a printing feature that allows you to print your favorite recipes from anywhere. The shopping list feature even creates lists of ingredients that you can easily access at the grocery store.

Mastering the Art of French Cooking: Selected Recipes
The famous Julia Child book "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" is now available from your mobile device with this innovative app.  With real photos straight from the book, Child’s most beloved quotes, and even video tutorials for mastering some of her more complex dishes, this app is ideal for anyone who wants to learn the art of French cooking.
 

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Find a Delicious Recipe Using Ingredients You Have at Home

November 19, 2013 by

You know the feeling: it’s dinner time, you’re rummaging through your kitchen cabinets trying to find something to make, and you come up empty handed. These helpful websites are made for days when you just don’t have time to get to the grocery store. They’ll help you to combine the things you already have to make a tasty and filling meal, and you might even find a new favorite recipe along the way:

Super Cook
Super Cook offers a simple layout and easy-to-use search bar that allows you to type in the ingredients you have and browse recipes using only those ingredients. The site searches other places around the web to give you a variety of recipes to choose from, and it even allows you to save the ones you’ve tried and loved or plan on trying in the future. Super Cook also has search filters for dietary restrictions, omitting things like dairy, gluten, meat or shellfish.

Recipe Matcher
Another great website for combining mismatched ingredients into delicious, wholesome meals, Recipe Matcher operates off of user-submitted recipes that are constantly updated. If you have a recipe that you’d like to share, Recipe Matcher also has a submissions page to allow you to help others become less wasteful and save a bit of grocery money along the way.

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