Chef's Notes Plus

Happy 75th Birthday, CIA!

This weekend, we are celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the founding of The Culinary Institute of America. This great celebration is not ours alone, and we hope as a friend of the CIA, you’ll help us mark the occasion by channeling your inner foodie and eating something worthy of 75 […]

Desserts

Hard Candy

Makes about 150 individual candies This basic recipe can be used in many different ways: poured into molds, poured into pools with a stick for lollipops, put in a pan and cut before it completely cools, or dipped into to make candied apples or candy-dipped fruits, to name just a […]

Appetizers, Hors D’oeuvre, and Snacks, Side Dishes

Herb Drop Biscuits

Makes 12 servings Ingredients 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking power 1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt, plus more for finishing 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme 2 teaspoons chopped fresh sage 3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 cup vegetable broth 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil Directions Preheat the oven to […]

Cakes, Desserts

High-Ratio White Cake

High-ratio cakes have a higher quantity of sugar than some other cakes, which makes them exceptionally moist and tender, and gives them a slightly longer shelf life. Their unique mixing method is simple and leaves you with a cake that’s perfect for kids’ birthday cakes or your next pot-luck. Makes […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Holiday Gifting…for the Dogs!

There are two types of people in this world: people who give presents to dogs and people who do not. If you fall in the “do not gift presents to dogs” column, the following content may not appeal to you. If you do give presents to dogs, welcome to our […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Holiday Hygge

If there has ever been a time to embrace the Scandinavian concept of “hygge,” now is certainly it. Hygge, pronounced hue-gah, is a Danish word that generally means cozy, intimate, or special, and it is used to identify small moments of comfort and contentment in the everyday. It can’t be […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Home School: Par-Baking Pie Dough

Many pie and tart shells require partial baking (par baking) or fully prebaking the empty crust prior to filling. This method is termed blind baking. A pie or tart shell can benefit from partially baking before filling if it will be filled with a fruit that produces a significant amount […]

Breakfast and Brunch

Honey-Wheat Sandwich Bread

Makes 2 loaves Ingredients 4 cups bread flour, plus extra as needed 1 cup whole wheat flour 2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast 2 cups whole or low-fat milk, boiled and cooled to room temperature 1/3 cup vegetable oil, plus extra for greasing 1/3 cup honey 2 teaspoons kosher salt […]

Breakfast and Brunch, Desserts

Hot Crossed Buns

Makes 12 servings Never mind bunnies and eggs…the surest sign of Easter season may be the hot crossed bun. These yeast-raised treats were first made as spiced fruit buns and were popular during the Tudor period in England. They were later decorated with a cross on top and sold “hot […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

How it Works: Ice Cream Ingredients

The key to making perfect ice cream (with or without a recipe!) comes down to an understanding of the primary ingredients and what purpose they serve. The basic ingredients for ice cream are milk, cream, sugar, flavorings, and sometimes eggs. There are two basic types of ice cream. Custard ice […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

How To Plump Dried Fruits

Plumping dried fruits by soaking them in a liquid will make them tender and juicy, eliminating any possibility of the undesirable leathery texture they can sometimes have in finished baked goods. Plumping dried fruits also serves to keep the amount of liquid in the formula balanced, as dried fruits can […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

How to Prepare Laminated Doughs

Gentle warning: you are about to read a lot of information explaining the basic technique of laminated dough. Though it seems long and overwhelming, the process is technically simple, so take it step by step. When you are ready to try a recipe, read it all the way through before […]