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Stumped by Cooking Conversions? Bookmark These 3 Websites!

June 4, 2015 by

Using precise measurements is very important when cooking or baking, but that can be difficult to do when a recipe uses the Metric system or a tool using a unit of measurement that you don’t have on hand. Bookmark these cooking measurement equivalent websites to use during your next kitchen endeavor.

Info Please
This simple, easy to read website offers a few different comparison charts that will help you to find a measurement in cups, tablespoons, or whatever type of measuring tool you have in your kitchen arsenal. It includes cups to tablespoons, Metric measurements to US measurements, and many more.

Fact Monster
This website is equally simple, and it offers comparison charts for a variety of different measurement equivalents. It also includes a conversion calculator that enables you to input your own units if you run into a particularly tricky measurement.

The Science of Cooking
Whether you need to know oven temperature conversions from Celsius to Fahrenheit or volume measurements from Metric to American Standard, The Science of Cooking has it all. This site also offers charts converting volume units, dry measurement equivalents, and much more.

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Love to Cook? Master These Must-Know Knife Techniques

March 19, 2015 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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Pro Tips for a Perfect Pie Crust

December 4, 2014 by

With the holiday season in full swing, you might want to impress your family and friends with a delicious, homemade pie at your festive gathering. Although making a pie from scratch seems intimidating, these tips from the pros will ensure that your crust turns out completely flawless.

  1. Chill everything. It’s fairly common knowledge that a good pie crust relies on very cold butter, but you can even go one step further by chilling everything (like flour, butter and shortening) before beginning.
  2. Keep things lumpy. While most recipes require you to blend or mix the dough until it’s perfectly smooth, a good pie crust relies on those small chunks of butter or other fats. This is what creates small air pockets for that lovely flaky texture once it’s done baking.
  3. Don’t over-handle the dough. The warmth from your hands can cause the gluten in the dough to seize up, so be sure to only touch the dough when transferring it into the pan.
  4. Use parchment paper. Not only does sandwiching your pie dough between parchment paper keep your kitchen cleaner, it also prevents the crust from tearing when it gets too thin.
  5. Create an aluminum shield. Because the pie’s filling and its crust tend to cook at different speeds, wrap a shield of aluminum foil around the crust’s edges during the last five minutes of baking.

10 Tips for Making Perfect Pie Crust [About Food]
The 10 Commandments of a Perfect Pie Crust [Real Simple]
6 Tips For Perfect Pies And Tarts [Food Network]

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These Dairy-Free Substitutes Have All the Flavor of Cow’s Milk

October 16, 2014 by

Many people choose to cut milk out of their diets, whether it’s because of a food allergy or a vegan diet. Luckily, dairy-free milk substitutes make it easy to continue eating and cooking the foods that you love. Here are a few of the best milk substitutes.

  1. Almond milk. Almond milk is a wonderful milk substitute because it has a thick, creamy consistency just like real milk. Its taste is nutty and slightly toasted, but it’s not enough to overwhelm your cooking or baking. Almond milk is also completely free of dairy and has only around 60 calories per cup.
  2. Soy milk. Soy milk is the original milk substitute, and likely the one that you’re most familiar with. It’s made with thickeners that give it the milk-like consistency that’s necessary for baking, and its taste is creamy and a bit sweet.
  3. Coconut milk. Newly popular coconut milk has a slightly thinner texture than cow’s milk, but its light flavor is very tasty. This isn’t the best option for baking because it could produce breads or cakes with a gummy texture, but it is delicious on cereals or to drink straight.

Common Ingredient Substitutions [AllRecipes]
Meet the Milk Substitutes [Cooking Light]
Substituting Milk and Dairy Ingredients [Kids With Food Allergies]

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Picking Apples? Take a Look at These Handy Comparison Guides to Apples!

September 18, 2014 by

If you’re heading out to an apple orchard this weekend, you’ll likely find a wide variety of different types of apples to choose from. Some apples are better for baking, while others have a crisp taste that’s perfect for eating as an on-the-go snack. These handy comparison guides will help you to choose the perfect apples, no matter what you want to use them for.

Comparing Apples to Apples [theyummylife.com]
This chart offers a number of different uses for the most common types of apples. It lists apples like McIntosh, Pink Lady and Red Delicious and also includes comments on how tart or sweet they each taste. The chart then provides a ranking for each apple for how well they can be used for things like baking, making apple juice or just eating raw.

Apple Varieties for Cooking, Baking and Cider [Washington State University]
Washington State University’s website offers a similar chart for apple uses, but it includes non-culinary uses as well. Whether you want to find the perfect type of apple for your fall pies or the best one to use to ferment for hard cider, this list is a great resource.

A Visual Guide to Apples [Epicurious]
If you’re more of a visual learner, this chart from Epicurious is perfect for you. It provides detailed photographs of each type of apple so that you can easily identify them at the orchard.

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Enjoy Parsley in These Three Recipes

June 19, 2014 by

Ah, parsley. It’s truly the perfect herb, complementing everything from meats to salads to salad dressings. If you simply can’t get enough parsley, you’ll be happy to find that there are seemingly endless number of recipes made better by this one simple garnish. Here are three new recipes perfected by parsley!

Parsley Leaf Salad
Though parsley is normally an accent to other foods, in this salad recipe the herb takes center stage. The delicate leaves provide an earthy taste, while pine nuts, capers, and red onion add a bit of crunch, flavor, and substance to every bite. Top with freshly ground pepper and extra-virgin olive oil to create a tasty and attractive dinner party salad.

Linguine with Toasted Almonds, Parsley and Lemon
Whole wheat noodles create the base for this hearty, rustic pasta. It’s tossed in a combination of lemon, Romano cheese, and olive oil, while parsley and almonds impart a special crunch.

Traditional Chimichurri
Chimichurri is a staple in Argentinean cuisine, and a bowl of this zesty oil-based sauce can be found on every dinner table. The blend of parsley, olive oil, garlic, and vinegar is very similar to a simple pesto, but the addition of crushed red pepper really sets it apart.

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4 Creative Waffle Recipes to Make at Home

March 20, 2014 by

Whether you prefer sweet or savory tastes, waffles are a versatile dish that can be prepared a number of different ways. Check out these creative waffle recipes before you break out the waffle iron at your next brunch or breakfast at home.

Cornmeal Bacon Waffles with Cheese Sauce
If you’re the type of person who steers clear of sweet breakfast dishes, these cornmeal waffles will delight your taste buds. Topped with crispy bacon and drizzled with homemade cheese sauce, this savory dish is great for a midday brunch.

Pumpkin Waffles with Apple Cider Syrup
Just about everyone loves pumpkin flavor around fall and winter seasons, and these pancakes have the warm and spicy taste that you love on cold mornings.

Chicken and Waffles
Bring the flavor of the South to your breakfast table no matter where you live on the Mason-Dixon line with this traditional Southern dish. The savory taste of fried chicken contrasts the sweet waffles for a unique flavor that’s deliciously decadent.

Whole Grain Waffles
Made with hearty whole-grain instead of regular white flour, these waffles are a nutritious breakfast treat. Top them with a drizzle of honey, fresh fruit, or simple agave syrup for a healthy alternative to sugary maple syrup.

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5 Delicious Recipes for Chicken Pot Pie

January 22, 2014 by

While chicken pot pie is typically considered a winter dish, the simplicity of this comfort food makes it a go-to meal for all seasons. If you're deciding what to put on the dinner table tonight, here are five chicken pot pie recipes to consider, one of which can be ready to bake in as little as 30 minutes!

Chicken Pot Pie IX [Allrecipes]
The votes from over 6,000 reviewers have earned this pot pie recipe a five-star rating. 

Chicken Pot Pie [Food Network]
From Barefoot Contessa's Ina Garten, this recipe yields four individual pot pies.

Pot Pie [The Pioneer Woman]
Step-by-step photos make this recipe look especially appetizing.

Classic Chicken Potpie [Martha Stewart]
A decorative edge on the pie crust makes Ms. Stewart's recipe shine.

Easy Chicken Pot Pie [Campbell's Kitchen]
This easy recipe relies on a can of cream of chicken soup for its base.

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