It is a fact that people need to eat if they want to survive. Why limit yourself to subsistence grade food? What’s better than eating wonderful food, cooking something amazing. Here are some things you can use to bump your cooking skills up a notch.
Your favorite herbs should always be stored in a dark, cool area. If you put them above the oven, or in another warm place, the spices and herbs will not retain their flavor.
Use cooking oil when you are measuring out things that are sticky. Coat a spoon with a flavorless oil like canola, then use it to measure out the ingredient. The oil will allow the ingredient to slide right off the spoon, which makes cleanup a snap. This works well for peanut butter and honey, as well as other sticky foods.
If you are looking for a nutritionally beneficial way to cook your vegetables, try sauteing them in a small amount of chicken broth. Not only does it lessen the amount of cooking oil needed as per a traditional saute, the broth adds an extra dimension of flavor to the vegetables. This method produces healthy and tasty vegetables.
Do you need to juice your fruit? Stick in in the microwave for best results. Use the microwave to heat up oranges, lemons and other citrus fruits. Select a short time period like ten seconds. After you remove it from the microwave, roll it across your counter before cutting it open and beginning the juicing process.
Your cutting board retains the odors of certain herbs and vegetables despite repeated scrubbings. Mark one end, or side, of each cutting board so that you know which is which.
Ladle out some of the extra fat in your soup. If there is a lot of fat in your soups or stews, cool it off and let the fat rise to the top. If you place an ice cube onto your spoon you can skim it over the surface. Fat sticks to ice, so this will gather it right up. If you don’t have any ice, blot the fat with a paper towel.
Be sure to save your leftover turkey after Thanksgiving dinner as opposed to pitching it. Instead, slice up the remaining meat, put it in a plastic freezer bag or airtight container, and store it in your freezer. The turkey can stay fresh for weeks this way.
For an easy way to spice up a simple food such as dinner rolls or corn, add in some flavored butter. Soften your butter a bit in the microwave, or let it sit out for a while until it is room temperature. Then you want to add some sauce, herbs or spices to give the butter that extra kick. You can always add a little honey, lemon juice, or hot spice.
Enjoy fresh vegetables from your garden or buy healthy foods while they are at their peak. Following the year’s first frost, you will discover that collards, broccoli and kale become sweeter to the taste. Steer clear of greens that appear to be yellowing or limp. Instead, pick out greens that have a deep and vibrant color. Take your time to throughly wash the greens, because they can hold quite a bit of dirt. Submerge the greens in a bowl of cool water, shake off, and rinse until the water runs clear.
Obtaining skills in the kitchen and utilizing them can be just as enjoyable as eating. Use the suggestions outlined above to aid in your cooking skills, while adding your own personal touches along the way. Your cooking skills will get better, and everyone will desire your meals.