Have you ever went to a restaurant and tried to figure out how they make the food. Do you want to make those dishes at home? The advice that follows will give you some practical pointers for not only making better versions of what you can already cook, but making new dishes, as well. Getting into the kitchen to cook is enjoying and fun for many people.
Tomatoes can be easily dried. Slice tomatoes 1/2″ thick to dry. Romas should be cut in two lengthwise. Take a cooling rack and place the tomatoes on it. Sprinkle them with salt. 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. Another way to preserve your dried tomatoes is in olive oil, with herbs for added flavor, in a glass jar. Kept in the refrigerator, these tomatoes will keep for a couple of weeks.
When you cook macaroni and cheese, make sure to follow the listed directions on your box exactly. The macaroni will be perfect and delicious because the great looking cheese is melted on top of the noodles. Serve your dish with a nice serving spoon. Consider adding some pepper to your macaroni to add some spice.
Always measure the amount of cooking oil you use. If you take the time to measure how much oil you use when cooking, you can better control how much fat is incorporated into your dishes. Use a measuring cup instead of just pouring straight out of the bottle. This lets you keep an eye on just how much oil you use.
To cook a whole pumpkin, cut an upright pumpkin in half vertically. Lay each half on it’s own cookie sheet with the cut side facing down. Sprinkle the baking sheets with water, and put the pumpkin in a 350-degree (Fahrenheit) oven for one hour.
Be careful not to overcook or undercook your cake. Even though recipes have guidelines for recommended baking times, they can vary due to differences in ovens or elevation. To test for doneness, insert a clean toothpick into the center of the cake. If batter sticks to the toothpick when it comes out, more baking is needed; when the toothpick stays clean after insertion, it’s time to eat!
You can reduce your stress level by doing your prep work for an important meal the day or night before the event. Get the ingredients ready, chop the veggies, measure and prepare the spices and herbs. It’s also a great time to make sure you have everything that is needed. You will only have to get everything put together when it’s time for you to cook.
When cooking a large meal for a family gathering or dinner party, preparation is key. Save yourself time and trouble by having all your ingredients ready. It is not too much to get your meals ready the day before. Make sure you have the necessary utensils. Did you think of everything? This process will reduce your stress level and help manifest a more positive outcome.
Cut meat thinly across the grain when you are stir-frying. It can be a tedious, lengthy process. When the meat feels firm, pull it from the freezer and cut across the grain at a 45 degree angle.
Congratulations on becoming a better home cook! Use your imagination and experiment to create yummy meals and use new recipes. Considering all the various foods that the world’s many cultures provide, there is no end to the combinations you can cook up.