Though every cooking technique has value, there is one simple technique that doesn’t get much attention: deep poaching. This technique may not have the glitz and glamour of a finished roast, fried chicken, or hard-seared steak, but it does result in consistently tender and moist foods, without the need for […]
Whether they are the featured flavor or employed to support the theme of a dish, herbs add a generous layer of complexity. Ideally they are used fresh; in many cases, drying will compromise their fresh flavor. This is especially true for tender herbs such as basil, parsley, and chives or […]
Last minute entertaining doesn’t have to be stressful, as long as you keep one ingredient stocked in your freezer: puff pastry. Whether homemade or from the store, a sheet of puff pastry can mean breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, or cocktail snacks in a matter of minutes. Here’s how! The Dough […]
You may know what you’re cooking for Christmas dinner, but have you thought yet about what you and your family will enjoy that morning? Whether you love sweet, savory, or a little bit of both, we have a few ideas you might like to try. Some can be made the […]
For many, a well-stocked bar means a lot of space— and money. Rather, a well-stocked bar is not a matter of quantity, but instead has meaningful selections available for those who are using it. Think about the last banquet you attended, even for hundreds of people. The bar had one […]
For a show stopping holiday dinner, a beef roast is a classic choice. A standing rib roast (or prime rib) feeds a big crowd, but for a smaller, more intimate dinner, a perfectly roasted beef tenderloin is our favorite splurge. Simple to prepare and difficult to ruin, our favorite tenderloin […]
The most accurate way to measure the temperature of cooking sugar syrup is to use a thermometer; there is little reason that a home confectioner would want to use any other method. Finger testing is a time-honored technique that can be used in place of, or in addition to, a […]
Knowing how to cook comes down to mastering a few simple techniques, which opens up a world of original cooking for you. You are no longer tied to having a recipe, buying the ingredients, and then cooking. You can pull together ingredients you already have on hand and use the […]
For candy makers, one of the most important characteristics of sugar is that it tends to crystallize easily. If you are making pralines or fudge, crystallization at the proper time is the desired result. When you are cooking caramels or brittle, crystallization is the enemy. Controlling the crystallization of sugar […]
We love all veggies (yes, even beets!), but there are some that really suit our fancy. Gai lan is one! Sometimes called Chinese broccoli, gai lan is, well, not particularly extraordinary. It’s relatively neutral in flavor, a lot like regular old broccoli, with a familiar texture (yup, like broccoli!). It […]
When making stuffed pasta, you may choose to add a small amount of oil to the dough to help it stick together better when sealed around a filling. Roll the pasta out to the thinnest setting on a pasta machine. While rolling and filling one portion of the dough, keep […]
Building a great cheese plate requires a basic familiarity with the profiles of the cheeses offered and their capacity to be other food and drink. Of course, you can’t know every cheese—but that’s what cheesemongers are for. They wait behind their counter to find exactly the cheeses you need, based […]