Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Wonderful Ways To Cook Great Food Tonight

By John Dorian


Every novice cooker has to begin at some point. Cooking does not come naturally to everyone. Luckily, it is fairly easy to learn to cook basic foods. There are vital things that you need to know in order to be a good cook. In this article, we will offer you good advice to get you started.

You can use it on other types of food besides meat. Add it to seeds and nuts, or even scramble it with eggs. You can cultivate a reputation as a mysterious wizard of flavor just by using a judicious dash of such seasonings.

It is sometimes difficult to determine when your foods are thoroughly cooked on a grill. Try using a digital meat thermometer to judge when your meat is cooked thoroughly. Meat thicker than 1.5 inches should be cooked under a closed grill.

Always use airtight containers to store sugar or flour. By storing foods in airtight containers, you can ensure its freshness and prevent any contamination. These containers can be bought at just about any store.

When it's time to mash the potatoes for that good ole home-cooked taste, try using hot milk. Using hot, rather than cold, milk results in more fluffed-up and lighter mashed potatoes. Would anyone prefer boring mashed potatoes lacking in smooth texture?

Save the delicious taste of summer by drying tomatoes yourself. Drying them is easy - simply cut Roma tomatoes in half, or cut larger tomatoes into 1/2 inch slices. Lay your tomato slices across a cooling rack with the cut-side facing up, and salt them lightly. The next step is to put the rack on an old cookie sheet and then place in an oven set at 190 degrees for at least 10 hours. Once done, you can store them in your freezer in plastic bags. For flavored olive oil add some dried tomatoes and fresh herbs in a good quality extra virgin olive oil and store out of direct sunlight. Put this jar in the fridge and use it up in two weeks time.

Do you plan on cooking with fresh basil? Place your basil into a large glass. Fill the glass just enough with water so that the stems can absorb it. You could let it sit on your counter and it will stay fresh for weeks. Change the water from time to time so that the basil grows roots. You should also cut the basil so that it keeps growing.

If you want to make chicken stock, you might as well make a lot of it. Make enough so that you can freeze it and use it in your recipes. Homemade chicken stock makes a great base for casseroles, soups, stews, and many other wonderful dishes. To store your homemade stock, let it cool, pour it into a freezer bag, and stick it in the freezer.

Some people are said to be born with a natural talent for cooking, but if you are not one of them, you can learn to become an excellent chef. It really is not that complicated. The tips mentioned in this article will help get you started on the road to gourmet bliss.




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