Pantry, Sauces, Dressings, and Condiments

Mascarpone Cheese

Makes 2 cups Ingredients 2 quarts high-quality heavy cream 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar Directions In a heavy bottomed pot over moderate heat, heat the cream to 180°F, stirring often to prevent scorching. Remove from the heat. Add the tartaric acid and let the cream coagulate into a curd. Line […]

Pantry

Mozzarella Cheese

Makes 2 pounds Ingredients 6 oz salt 1 gallon water 2 lb mozzarella cheese curd, cut into 1/2-inch cubes Directions Add the salt to the water and bring to a boil. Remove the pot from the heat. Place the cheese curd in a bowl and pour enough water around the […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Piping Makes Perfect: Detailed Designs

Piping is often functional: use a pastry bag to transfer the mousse to the serving bowls, place the glaze in a piping bag to cover the cake. Precision is nice, but not always necessary. But if you are interested in creating detailed cakes, homemade chocolate bonbons, cute cookies, or delicate […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Preparing Fresh Garden Peas

Garden peas are one of the great treasures of springtime. When you find them in the market, feature them in a dish with fresh favas or asparagus, which are in season at the same time. If you are lucky enough to grow your own or have access to farm fresh […]

Chef's Blog

Puff Pastry

Makes 3 lb This batch makes enough puff pastry for a few projects, but the dough freezes well, so don’t hesitate to double this recipe. The key to puff pastry is taking your time to chill the dough between folds. If it’s too soft, the butter will ooze out of […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Should You Make Your Own Breadcrumbs?

Should you make your own breadcrumbs? Like all cooking questions, there is no right answer. So, sometimes! Store brought breadcrumbs are convenient. They are ready when you need them, and they get the job done.  That said, store-bought breadcrumbs are stale and powdery and, as a coating, can have a […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Simple Syrup

Keeping a jar of simple syrup in your pantry may seem like a waste of space, but once you have it, you’ll reach for it more than you think. And sure, you can buy a bottle of prepared simple syrup for many dollars, but it’s sort of absurdly easy and […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

The Basics of Hot Water Canning

Our world sometimes feels much larger than it once did, and at a time when we can buy produce from half a world away whenever we want it, some traditional methods of food preservation, like canning, may seem like old news. But for many of us, there is a sort […]

Pantry, Sauces, Dressings, and Condiments

Tomato Ketchup

Yields 1 quart Ingredients 2 tablespoons brown sugar, plus more as needed 1/3 cup minced onion (from about 1/4 medium yellow onion) 2 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 1/2 tsp) Two 28-oz cans whole peeled plum tomatoes, seeded if desired 1/2 cup chopped roasted red peppers 1/2 cup red wine […]

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 […]