Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus, Family Fun

All About Meringues

Have you ever tried to make a lemon meringue pie and ended up with a sort of sad, droopy meringue top? We all have! Luckily, once you master the meringue, it’s a super simple trick to have up your sleeve for pies, cookies, and even cakes! Whipping egg whites with […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

All About Pralines

Among the best known home-made candies, pralines have become a symbol of hospitality in much of the southern United States, particularly New Orleans. Throughout most of the South, the name is pronounced PRAY-leen, but in New Orleans, the common pronunciation is PRAH-leen. Traditional pralines are made using two much beloved […]

Cakes, Desserts

Angel Food Cake

Makes one 9-inch tube cake In order to reach a lofty height, angel food cake needs to cling to the sides of the pan, both as it bakes and while it cools. This is why the pan is ungreased and the cake is cooled upside down. Some angel food cake […]

Family Fun, Sauces, Dressings, and Condiments

Apple Butter

Makes about 2 pints Ingredients 5 pounds apples, peeled, cored, and diced 1 3/4 cups apple cider 1 1/4 cups sugar 2 tablespoons lemon juice Pinch of salt 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground mace 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg Directions In a large pot, bring the apples and cider […]

Desserts

Baked Pumpkin Spice Donuts

Ingredients 1 cup vegetable oil 6 large eggs 3 cups sugar 1 – 15oz can pumpkin pie filling 1 – 15oz can pumpkin 1-1/2 tsps. pumpkin pie spice 1 Tbsp. baking powder 1 cup oat flour 2-2/3 cups whole wheat pastry flour 2 cups Pumpkin spice/Cinnamon sugar Directions In a […]

Desserts

Bread Pudding

Makes 6 servings Bread Pudding Ingredients 1 pint milk, warm 4 eggs, large, beaten 2 egg yolks, large, beaten 1/2 cup sugar 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract 3 cups challah, preferably 1 to 2 days old, cubed 1/3 cup raisins Directions Preheat the oven to 325ºF. In a large bowl, whisking […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Brines for Tender and Flavorful Meats

Curing meats, poultry, and fish in a salt and water solution is known as brining or wet curing. Brining provides depth in flavor, tenderness, and a moister final product. The base of a brine is salt and water, and sometimes sugar. Kosher salt is preferred because it doesn’t have any […]

Beverages and Cocktails

Caipirinha

Yields 8 portions Ingredients 16 limes 1 cup sugar 2 cups cachaça Crushed ice, as needed 1 lime, thinly sliced Directions Cut the limes in half lengthwise, remove the white pith in the center, and cut into wedges. Divide the limes and sugar between 8 cocktail glasses and, using a […]

Allergen Friendly, Desserts, Family Fun

Candy Coated Apples

Makes 12 apples These are the crunchy-coated carnival apples of your childhood! You can skip the red food coloring if you prefer. They will be glossy and just as tasty. Ingredients 12 apples 12 sticks 4 cups sugar 1 cup light corn syrup 1 cup water Red coloring, as needed […]

Desserts

Candy-Coated Fruits

Makes up to 80 pieces Candy-dipped fruits are the perfect combination of fresh fruit and hard candy. They have a crisp outer shell of sugar and the season’s best fruit within—the perfect way to impress your guests at the end of a meal. They should never be refrigerated and must […]