Braising, barbecuing, and slow-roasting are all long, low cooking methods that utilize less tender, fattier cuts of meats with a lot of connective tissue. But braising stands apart in that it includes liquid in the cooking process. It is also a combination cooking method—one that uses both dry and moist […]
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 […]
How to Serve Cocktails for Your Holiday Crowd, from a CIA Beverage Expert
Upon reading the title, you may be thinking: “It’s a few weeks before the holiday, and I just started to write my shopping list. I still have to fight the crowds at the grocery store, to then go home and start preparing the meal. Now you want me to make […]
How to: Make Chowders
Good chowders have a rich flavor, balancing the main flavoring ingredient(s) and supporting aromatic and finishing flavors, a velvety texture, and a lightly thickened consistency, similar to heavy cream. If you are making a shellfish-based chowder (clams, mussels, oysters, etc.), before beginning, steam the main ingredient in stock or water […]
How to: Peel Fresh Peppers and Chiles
Peppers and chiles are often peeled before they are used in a dish, to improve the dish’s flavor or texture, or both. The skin of a fresh pepper or chile can not be peeled like some other fruits or vegetables, and instead, a pepper must be cooked on just the […]
How-To: How to Cook Legumes
It’s soups and stews season and we often see recipes that call for cooked beans. If you are in a rush, canned beans are a convenient way to get beans into your favorite dish, but we guarantee that beans you cook yourself will have a better flavor and texture. Beans, […]
Iced and Spiced Brown Sugar Cookies
Makes about 3 dozen cookies, depending on the size of the cutter These lightly spiced brown sugar cookies are just the thing for your Pinterest-worthy Halloween (or Thanksgiving!) party. Easy to make, easy to glaze, and even easier to enjoy, they’ll look perfect on a platter alongside warm mulled cider […]
In Defense of Spam
Early in the semester, CIA students in my Food Writing course read “On Chicken Tenders,” by Helen Rosner, published in 2015 in Guernica. In this amusing but sincere defense of a derided, children’s menu staple, Rosner effectively argues against those who look down on ordering, eating, and celebrating the “perfect” […]
Indian-Style Pickled Carrots
Makes about 1 quart
Individual Lasagnas with Spring Vegetables
Makes 4 servings Get your kids or guests to help assemble the lasagnas. Let each “sous chef” add one ingredient—noodles, purée, veggies—to the plate. If you can’t find whole grain lasagna noodles, conventional dry lasagna noodles will work just fine. Ingredients Kosher salt, as needed 1 bunch (approximately 1 pound) […]
Infusing Oils and Vinegars
Infusing flavorful liquids, such as oils and vinegars, boosts their overall flavor—making them powerful additions to any dish without affecting the nutritional content in a negative way. To make your own infused oils and vinegars, use any of the following methods: Heat the oil or vinegar very gently over low […]
Ingredient Spotlight: Preserved Lemons
In the culinary world, lemons are valuable. We use them in savory and baking recipes, we mix them into cocktails, we use them for colorful garnishes, we clean with them. They are, simply said, sort of perfect. And while the fresh-off-the-tree lemon truly is a gift just as it is, we’re […]