Preparing the same meals from the same recipes day after day can get dull fast. Make things more interesting by acquiring new skills. Cooking is not only the way to get your nourishment; it can also be a fun experience that shows you something new every time you go about it. To get you started, some good ideas are offered here.
To prepare pumpkins for baking, cut the standing pumpkin in half through the center. On separate baking sheets, place both halves with the cut side facing down. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Sprinkle a little bit of water onto the baking sheets, then bake for about one hour.
Lengthy cooking processes such as boiling remove many of the important nutrients found in vegetables. Opt for quicker cooking methods instead. You can steam or saute your vegetables or eat them raw.
Would you like to cook with fresh basil? Take a bunch of the basil and set it in a glass. With water you then want to cover the stems. Keep it on the kitchen counter and it will stay fresh for weeks. You can even promote the growth of roots if you replace the water from time to time. If you keep the basil trimmed regularly, this will promote growth and allow a decent supply of basil on an ongoing basis.
When you tie the turkey using string, you are trussing it. By holding the legs and wings close to the body, this allows for more evenly cooked meat. If not tied down, the tips of the wings and legs tend to burn easily while the rest of the bird is still cooking.
Save on cooking time by prepping ahead of getting started. Many ingredients can be prepared a few days before you actually cook the meal for which they’re needed. Sometimes, preparing your ingredients in advance yields a bonus in the form of better flavor. Once you get used to prepping ahead of time, you will always do it.
Tomatoes can be easily dried. To be able to dry them yourself, cut the tomatoes half an inch thick, or you should cut Romas lengthwise in half. You should place them on cooling rack, and salt them lightly with the cut side up. Next, the tomatoes need to spend about 10 hours in an oven set to 190 degrees. Put a cookie sheet under the rack before it goes in. After the tomatoes have cooled, place them in plastic bags, and store them in the freezer. Alternatively, dried tomatoes can be packed in a jar filled with olive oil and fresh herbs. This jar should be used within 2 weeks and kept refrigerated.
To maintain the freshness and flavor of herbs and spices store in a cool dry place away from direct light. Storing these items in warm locations will lead them to lose their flavor quicker.
Salvage a less-than-perfect pie crust instead of writing it off. Spending too much time kneading and rolling your dough can cause it to become overworked and cracked. Try putting some cold water on cracks and then smoothing them out with your finger. If there are cracks on top of the crust, brush milk on it and then sprinkle sugar over top. The sugar will form a gorgeous glaze, and cracks will remain hidden.
You can learn to cook by using the tips above and get a new hobby too. Cooking is a great way to learn about nutrition. You can find things out about your heritage and about yourself while you learn to love cooking. As you start to get more pleasure out of cooking, you will notice that it is enjoyable and helps you cook tastier dishes.