Whether you need to lose weight or save money by dining in, cooking homemade meals is a very rewarding prospect. You can save money, increase your health and enjoy delicious meals when you cook at home.
Before chopping fresh herbs sprinkle some salt on the cutting board. The salt helps to keep the herbs on the cutting board during chopping and also adds some extra flavor. Make sure to avoid over-salting by not adding additional salt directly to what you are preparing. The salt used on the board provides that extra bit of flavor by sticking to the herbs.
There are times when you want to keep food warm, such as a large batch of pancakes or waffles, until you are ready to eat. You need to preheat a 300 degree oven. After the pancakes and waffles are finished cooking, place them on a plate. Then place the plate in the oven so they can stay warm.
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. If you are cooking thicker cuts of meat on the grill, for instance thicker than one and a half inches, close the lid to cook it faster.
You should blot ground meat before you cook it. The reason for the blotting is to remove the surface moisture. If you allow the moisture to remain, it will be released when you cook the meat. All the moisture will vaporize out. Instead of being properly seared, the meat will get steamed, altering its taste and texture.
For a delicious take on pie crusts, bake them for longer than the recipe calls for. They should not be a pale blond color, they need to be golden brown. The crust changes to the caramel color only after the sugar has had time to caramelize. This will give the crust the sweet flavor you want.
Potatoes should be mixed with hot milk (not boiling) when they are ready for mashing. Using hot milk instead of cold milk will make your potatoes mash up light, fluffy and smooth. Why eat lumpy mashed potatoes if you don’t need to.
All good cooks organize their cooking supplies well for the most efficient experience in the kitchen. If they’re not organized, you’ll waste time looking for needed items. Save time searching by keeping similar items stored together. As an example, parsley and basil are spices, so they should be stored in a cabinet together with all of the other spices.
After you slice fresh produce, it will start turning brown, especially with avocados, bananas, and pears. Salt water and lemons can prevent this from occurring. However, in order to get the best flavor while preventing browning of your fruits, you should instead dip the fruit into pineapple juice. A small amount of juice is all that you need to keep your fruit looking fresh.
Use flavored butter spreads to add some zest to corn or rolls at dinner time. Either use room temperature butter to start, or try warming it up in the microwave. Include a variety of spices, sauces and seasonings to add a savory kick. You can always add a little honey, lemon juice, or hot spice.
Following these suggestions can help you make some great, simple recipes! With practice, you will be able to cook healthy, delicious and inexpensive meals with ease. Also, good home cooked meals will give not only you, but your entire family, a much healthier lifestyle. Use these great tips to make delicious, healthy and affordable meals that the whole family will love!