Braising Once you understand a few simple principles it’s easy to create braises as elegant and flavorful as those you find in great restaurants. As a technique, braising couldn’t be simpler. You just brown whatever it is you’re going to braise (in oil or butter), add liquids like wine, stock or even cider or Armagnac, [...]

Up to this point you may have found it perfectly acceptable to eat off paper plates, or out of the pot you cooked in, this can’t last forever. When your parents come for dinner (and they will), they’re going to want to see that you can put a table together. The best way to do [...]

My wife has been craving bread pudding lately, so I took a look at what we had in the frig. and pantry, noticed we did not have all the ingredients for the recipe I was using. So using what you have on hand you can improvise and the recipe can still come out great. So [...]

Tea Brewing Don’t just toss a tea bag in your cup and hope for the best. A little bit of knowledge can ensure a superb cup of tea.If your idea of a good cup of tea starts with plain tea bags from the grocery store, you are likely missing out on truly superior tea. There [...]

Whether it’s the delicate crunch or silky smooth, texture provides a vital component to the culinary experience.We consider texture in the abstract and in practice, as it’s accentuated, manipulated, and celebrated by chefs.Texture impacts the way food looks and tastes, and how it feels in your mouth. Chefs who are all about texture know that [...]

A Simple Guide to Olive Oil Flavors change a great deal from one region to the next, with Spain being the world’s largest producer. Keep the following shopping tips in mind when when purchasing olive oil. A bottle labeled “extra virgin” means that the oil has been made from the first cold pressing of the [...]

It’s all about the timing… cooking times.I have taught my wife how to be a great cook but she still has problems with her timing of the meal so that everything comes out at the same time. There is nothing worse then having your main item cooked but your waiting for your side items like [...]

Kitchen – Pan Mittens Here is a helpful kitchen tip…. You know when you open your kitchen utility drawer, the kitchen tongs that you have in their are open and generally stop the drawer from opening and you have to squeeze your hand in their to get them unstuck, or you have to pull the [...]