Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Using Dried Mushrooms

Dried mushrooms are big flavor in a tiny package, and they are one of our go-to pantry staples for adding savory richness (also known as umami) to stews, risottos, sauces, or broths—and more! When shopping for dried mushrooms, look for whole varieties, since they’ll generally hold their flavor better than […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Using Malt in Breading Baking

Malted barley is called for in many of our bread recipes (as malt syrup) because of its impact on the dough. Malt is made by separating the enzymes that break down starch into sugar from cereal grains, usually barley. Many flours are treated with malts at the mill, but organic […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

What is Gluten?

Gluten is a popular topic when it comes to diets and nutrition, but what is gluten exactly? Or, more importantly, what is its role in the kitchen? Gluten is formed by the proteins present in wheat flour (wheat is the only grain that forms measurable amounts of gluten, making it […]