Cast iron pans are a timeless treasure—they're an essential kitchen tool that will stand the test of time, and no home kitchen is complete without one. However, they do have a reputation for being difficult to care for... with arguments both for and against regular seasoning. In 2010, a blogger named Sheryl Canter claimed that she found the best way to season a cast iron pan that would keep the cast iron from rusting... or requiring re-seasoning! And after a few hands-on test by Cook's Illust...
Smelly foods are what make my culinary world "go 'round," so to speak. I grew up with fish sauce, learned to cook with and love fermented beans and veggies, and am one of the biggest garlic advocates I know... other than my husband, who thankfully shares the same smelly food sensibilities. (Let's put it this way: anyone that can stomach stinky tofu can handle anything I could possibly cook up.)
In my opinion, biscuits made from scratch (American biscuits, that is, not the British kind) are just flat out amazing, but I'm typically too lazy to actually make them. That's why I always have a can/tube of refrigerated biscuits on hand. They're not only good for quick biscuits and gravy or as a simple side of bread, they can be used for so much more—sweet or savory!
This is a really fun dish that brings together the wonderful flavors of bacon and onions. Bacon onion rings is a really tasty BBQ snack that's simple and easy to make. Just replace the batter of an onion ring with bacon! (Cooking temps were approximately 140ºC / 285ºF.)
It goes without saying that a pizza stone is one of the keys to making a perfect pizza. The science behind pizza stones is relatively simple: the stone conducts and holds heat, which keeps the oven temperature steady even when a cold ingredient (such as an uncooked pizza) is introduced. This not only helps the pizza cook more evenly, but also allows the bottom to get crisp.
In an age where restaurants can charge $20 for eggs Benedict at brunchtime (if you're lucky enough to even get a reservation on a Sunday), many people long for a way to create this classic dish at home. But once you've taken pains to perfectly poach an egg and gently crisp your sourdough, the problem of the hollandaise still lies before you. The key to any good hollandaise sauce is to apply enough heat to cook the egg yolks, but not enough to scramble them. The minute the eggs begin to solidi...
This Video will Show you how to make a Semi-Southern Meal Quick and Easy! I will be Having Fried Chicken, Greens, Sweet Potato Soufflé
Few things in life are as exciting and magical as fire. And setting things on fire while cooking? Well, now you're speaking my language. I'm not talking about grilling, though I do love some outdoor cooking. No, I'm talking about the most badass trick in any cook's arsenal: the flambé.
Indoor electric grills are nothing new; George Foreman grills have been around for over 20 years now, providing healthy, smokeless grilling options for indoor use. Yet as nifty and fun as George Foreman grills are, indoor grills have never been considered a hot item for passionate and avid home cooks.
At first glance, mandolines seem like such a good idea. After all, who wouldn't want a tool that can create picture-perfect and paper-thin slices of fruits and vegetables that would put even the sharpest chef's knife to shame? Your French fry game would never be the same. Salads would become works of art. Your casseroles would cook perfectly evenly, since the ingredients would be cut uniformly.
A good, sharp knife is a cook's best friend, which is why there's so much passionate debate about what kind you should get. Most enthusiastic home cooks opt for a stainless steel knife, but it turns out there's a different option that the pros favor, and that's carbon steel.
Eating vegetarian isn't just for vegetarians. There are plenty of reasons, health and economics-wise, to consider forgoing the meat for a meal or three. Rather than get deep into the world of fake meat (although there's many a tasty alternative to be found there, to be sure), you should consider getting to know your humble-seeming fungal friend: the mushroom. Thanks to their hearty flavor, cooks tend to treat mushrooms like meat, albeit one with its own unique characteristics. Mushrooms are e...
One of the golden rules to cooking a Thanksgiving turkey is to place it on a roasting rack before it goes into the oven. Missing this step and cooking it directly on the pan will burn the bottom of the bird, resulting in overcooked, dry meat.
Okay, so you've read our guide on how to make the perfect poached egg. Maybe you've also read our tutorials on making great hard-boiled eggs and even scrambled hard-boiled eggs. Now comes the question: what's next?
Salad greens are a staple in my house and for good reason: they're cheap, nutritious, and work as a base or an accompaniment for almost all meals. However, it's all too easy to forget about them and then pull out a bag filled with sludgy dark goo or yellow, inedible leaves.
Hard as it is to imagine, there are people out there who loathe garlic and onions. Some might have allergies or medical conditions like IBS, or are supertasters (i.e. people who carry a certain gene that makes them extremely sensitive to how certain foods taste). Others might just be picky eaters.
When you know how to cook it, tofu is a delicious dish in and of itself—truly. Too many people have been subjected to poor quality or badly cooked tofu and told to eat it because it's a "healthy alternative" to meat. Usually what they bite into is a bland, rubbery mess coated with a random array of flavors.
We've told you how a rice cooker can work as a DIY sous vide machine and make amazing risotto the lazy way, but did you know that it can also make pancakes, bread, mashed potatoes, and poached fruit?
Chances are you've got a bunch of wooden takeout chopsticks doing nothing but cluttering up your utensils drawer. That's a darned shame, considering that chopsticks aren't just for shoveling food into your mouth—they're actually the best cooking tools a cook can have (plus they come in handy when you run out of extra-long matches). Sautéing, Grilling, Deep Frying, & Stir-Frying
One booze hack that's been making the rounds for years is that inserting a spoon by the handle in a champagne bottle's neck will preserve its carbonation. This is one of those tips that I wish were true. Champagne is a great thing to have around on a special occasion, and it seems a shame to pour any leftovers down the drain once its lost its fizz. While there's lots of anecdotal evidence surrounding this trick, Harold McGee and Stanford University chemist Richard Zare debunked this myth as d...
Cook Sausage Gumbo Soup in the Crock pot. This is a Quick and Easy meal.
I had such a hard time making black beans until I met the slow cooker. With this magic device I was able to make the deliciousness I was after. In this post I look to show you how to make black beans perfect every time
Yesterday, I was halfway through a recipe when I realized it called for puréed tomatoes, and all I had was diced. I definitely wasn't going to abandon ship and start over on something else, but I didn't want my sauce to have the wrong texture, either. So, I did a quick search and found that I could use my metal sieve to purée the tomatoes.
You've probably used Google to search for recipes, or to find out what the heck that mystery food on the ingredients list is. But with all its built-in features, there are plenty of other ways the search engine can help you out in the kitchen.
A turkey baster is one of those single-use kitchen items that most people only need once or twice a year (although you can use it for a few other things). You never seem to miss having one until the holidays roll around when it's time to cook your Thanksgiving turkey. But do you really need a baster to end up with a moist, delicious bird? The short answer is no.
It's known that during the Thirty Years' War that took place in Europe between 1618 and 1648, soldiers used Swedish fire torches (also called Canadian candles) for heating, lighting, and cooking meals.
There is never a dull moment when it comes to the internet. You can find practically anything you want, whenever you want it. To make that process even smoother and more direct, companies have created a bunch of apps designed to help you find what you're looking for, or enlighten you on a subject you may not have even thought of yourself.
Looking for a way to boost your iTouch device's wifi signal at home? The answer is rather simple - all you need is an Asian cooking wok! The shape of the pan functions like a satellite dish, boosting your signal!
Forego the Bisquick! You can make healthy and nutritious pancakes easily from scratch. All you need is some flour, a little bit of sugar, baking powder, and a bit of salt. Then blend with an egg, cooking oil and some milk or buttermilk.
This dish is easy, and the perfect thing to bring to a potluck or a picnic. Start with small pasta (such as elbow macaroni, shells or penne). After the pasta has been cooked, toss with your favorite fresh vegetables (such as tomatoes, olives, mushrooms or peppers) and some olive oil.
There are few recipes as American as the basic pot roast. This video shows you how to take a basic cut of beef and turn it into a delicious dinner. All you need besides the beef is some flour and olive oil, as well as your marinating spices.
This is a great gift for anyone in your life who enjoys cooking. Crochet them a pot holder. This tutorial shows you how to incorporate a ring into the pattern so it can be easily hung from a hook or an oven door.
A pizza that's a dessert? Pepperoni and cheese don't exactly sound like after dinner treats to us, but this dessert pizza, made from cookie dough crust, is certainly a handsome treat any time of year.
Dal is a thick, creamy stew made from dried lentils, peas, and beans that have had their outer hulls removed. "Tadka" means "tempering," which is achieved by adding spicing agents like curry powder and garlic.
Prime rib is one of the most delicious types of meat that man can prepare, and is a staple of many of the world's finest restaurants. If you want to make your own prime rib roast, watch this video for detailed instructions on how to do so.
In this Thanksgiving day guide, we learn how to prepare fresh cranberry sauce from scratch. You'll need cranberries, orange rinds, brown sugar and water. It's as simple as that. For a complete recipe, and to get started making your own fresh cranberry sauce, watch this free video cooking lesson.
Blintzes are thin pancakes that have their origins in Russia. Like French crepes, they can be eaten with either savory or sweet toppings. Some examples of what you might add to a blintz are honey, sour cream, butter, cottage cheese, and even caviar.
If you've seen or read V for Vendetta, you may remember him preparing a dish he called Eggy in a Basket. It's basically an egg cooked inside a slice of bread that makes a hearty snack and which you will learn how to make in this video.
Want something that will both keep your children occupied while you're busy cooking Thanksgiving dinner, while still getting them into the spirit of the holiday? Here are some great ideas for art and craft projects you can give your kids, like turkey tags and paper napkin rings.
It really doesn't take a lot of cooking know how - or an ingredients list longer than the last "Harry Potter" book - to create a delicious dish. In this recipe video the focus is on side dishes.
