Makes about 2 cups Ingredients 6 oz unsweetened chocolate, melted 1/2 cup cocoa powder 2/3 cup water 1 cup sugar 1/2 cup light corn syrup 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt 2 teaspoons vanilla extract Directions Combine the melted chocolate, cocoa powder, and water in a […]
Makes about 3 cups (8 to 10 servings) This dip can be served in a small, round pumpernickel, rye, or sourdough loaf. To prepare the bread, cut a circle from the top of the loaf. Pull out the bread from the center of the loaf to make room for the […]
Though I’ve lived in Texas long enough and eaten enough breakfast tacos to feel like an honorary Texan, I was not born in the Lone Star State. I grew up in the northeast, where St. Patrick’s Day is a big deal. There is a mad dash to the grocery store […]
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 […]
Beans and other legumes are considered superfoods, with nutritional benefits that are helpful to people with many types of health concerns or dietary restrictions. Paired with vegetables, beans and legumes can be considered a complete meal and healthy source of protein. Beans are available dried and canned. Canned beans have […]
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 […]
A good bisque reflects the flavor of the main ingredient. If you have added cream to round out and mellow the soup, it should not mask the main flavor. All bisques are slightly coarse or grainy, with a consistency similar to heavy cream. A crustacean bisque is pale pink or […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]