Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Pantry Potential: Toasted Breadcrumbs

When you think outside of their everyday uses—as a breading for chicken cutlets or binder in meatloaf—simple prepared breadcrumbs take on a new life and make simple ingredients extra delicious. When cooked quickly in a fat, like olive oil or butter, breadcrumbs not only become more intensely savory and flavorful, […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

How to Scramble Eggs

Scrambled eggs are one of the most popular ways to enjoy eggs, and whether they were fluffy, dry, runny, burned or underdone, we’ve had them every way they come. Luckily, cooking scrambled eggs is easy, with no need to overcomplicate with unusual techniques or lots of extra ingredients. In fact, […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Valentine’s Day Menus to Celebrate Your Way

Valentine’s Day menus tend to showcase foods that to some may feel fussy, extravagant, or just not their style. And while we love oysters and caviar and good Champagne, we’re also big fans of cozy pot pies, stuffed mushrooms, and chocolate in any form. After all, food can be special […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Brines for Tender and Flavorful Meats

Curing meats, poultry, and fish in a salt and water solution is known as brining or wet curing. Brining provides depth in flavor, tenderness, and a moister final product. The base of a brine is salt and water, and sometimes sugar. Kosher salt is preferred because it doesn’t have any […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Saucy Chicken Wings Without a Recipe

Wings are a Big Game staple, and while take-out wings on the couch is a whole mood, there is also a whole world of homemade, customizable wings waiting for you! Making wings at home is easy, whether you want them crisp and fried or roasted and tender. Here, we break […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Troubleshooting Candies, Toffees, and Brittles

What if my candies turn opaque and brittle during working?They have crystallized! The most likely cause is too much agitation during working. Unfortunately, there is little that can be done to fix this problem. Try again, and try not to agitate too much as it cools. Learn more about crystallization […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Chile Varieties and How to Use Them

There are two basic types of peppers: sweet peppers and chiles. Sweet peppers are sometimes called bell peppers because of their shape. Sweet peppers of various colors have similar flavors, though red and yellow varieties tend to be sweeter. Chiles, an important ingredient in many cuisines, are available in various […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Gelling and Thickening Agents, and How to Use Them

Essential to cooking and baking, thickeners are responsible for the texture and viscosity of many sauces, puddings, fillings, and candies. We rely on these ingredients, also known as hydrocolloids (a substance that absorbs water, forming a gel), across the culinary sphere, but each has its own unique qualities, uses, and […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Culinary Math: Recipe Conversion Factor

In a dream world, recipes would all follow the same format and be written especially for you. It would make precisely how much you needed to make, list ingredients in the amount you happen to have in your fridge, and, of course, work just right every time. But in the […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Making Ice Cream from Vanilla Sauce

Hot tip for ice cream enthusiasts! Vanilla Sauce, a stirred cooked custard, can be churned and frozen to become vanilla ice cream. The base can be infused with flavors, like coffee or fruits, or mixed with inclusions like crushed toffee or chocolate sauce. All of the ingredients add flavor to […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Guide to Herbs

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 […]