Chef's Notes Plus

Freezing Fruits and Vegetables

Freezing is one of the easiest and most flexible preserving methods – when you’re ready to eat something, you simply thaw it and finish it – and then you can replace the space it took up in your freezer with a new item. It is also one of the most […]

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Walnut-Herb Sauce is the New Barbecue Sauce

Early in grilling season, we’re all just so happy to be outside, we would eat basically anything. But as the weeks go by, those grilled chicken and veggies start to lose their luster. After all, sunshine is not a sauce. If that’s where you are right now, I would like […]

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How to Choose Corn on the Cob

Sweet and tender corn is a pinnacle of summer, enjoyed raw, grilled, on the cob, or off. It is a plentiful and inexpensive ingredient that adds a burst of sweetness to any dish, and, boy, do we cherish it. Before you’re able to enjoy the perfection that is summer corn, […]

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Refreshing Agua Frescas

Originating in Latin America, agua fresca is a refreshing nonalcoholic beverage based on fruits, hibiscus flowers, or, in some regions, cereals, along with sugar and water. Though some may be prepared using juice or tea, like lime or hibiscus (also known as agua de Jamaica), agua frescas are often made […]

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4th of July Side Dishes to Steal the Show

Either you’re the person who waits all year for a grilled hot dog or burger, or you’re the person testing the limits of those paper plates with a scoop of every side dish, because nothing beats a good potato salad. Of course, no food decision is a bad decision, so […]

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All About Barbecue Sauce

Barbecue sauce is a grilling basic. There are plenty of good barbecue sauces that you can buy, but they are easy to make at home in large enough amounts to last for a couple of weeks of grilling. You can double or triple any of our favorite recipes, like Classic, […]

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Using an Ice Cream Machine

Ice cream, frozen yogurt, and sherbet are easy to make with an ice-cream machine. For the best results, let your ice-cream base mixture ripen, or mellow, overnight to be sure it is very cold. An ice-cream machine consists of a canister to hold the ice-cream base and a dasher to […]

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10 Recipes to Celebrate Inside-Dads

Since we celebrate in summer, Father’s Day has sort of become another default grilling occasion. And sure, lots of dads love to grill—but some of us have inside-dads! If your dad, husband, grandpa, or all-around great father-figure is more of a tablecloth and wine glass kind of guy, here are […]

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Grilling with Cedar Planks

Fish that is grilled on a cedar plank is imparted with the smoke of the grill and the woodsy flavors from the cedar, giving it incredible depth of flavor. For variety, you can use hickory, mesquite, or even a fruit tree wood like apple or cherry. The planks don’t last […]

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Try Chilled Soups for Summer

Cold soups refresh the palate, regardless of when in the meal they are served; as first-course offerings, appetizer courses, hors d’oeuvre, or desserts. They may be presented in a variety of ways dependent on the type of gathering or party. For an event where people will be standing (more of […]