How many times have you dreaded going into the kitchen to make breakfast, lunch, or dinner? You might need a new perspective. Cooking can be enjoyable and relaxing if you try to see it in another way. Here are a few cooking tips that are sure to get your taste buds tingling and entice your inner chef to come out.
Although macaroni and cheese is considered to be a simple dish, there are steps that must be followed to produce the perfect bowl of comfort. The macaroni will be perfect and delicious because the great looking cheese is melted on top of the noodles. A simple serving dish and spoon are all you need to serve dinner. Pepper up your macaroni for some spice and extra taste sensation.
There are a few different ways to heat tortillas. Most people prefer to heat the tortillas directly on the rack, in a 350 degree oven. Alternatively, eating tortillas directly on the top of your gas stove makes them delicious while leaving gorgeous grill marks. When you use these methods, your tortillas will taste crisp and fresh.
Save leftover meat and bones from poultry. It is smarter to divide up the meat and seal it in airtight containers that you freeze. Turkey will stay fresh for a couple weeks and you can use it in sandwiches or a salad.
Use a generous amount of salt in your pasta water when making pasta. This allows the salt to be absorbed by the pasta. Salting the pasta after cooking it does not allow it to hold seasoning that well.
Be careful not to overcook or undercook your cake. Many factors can affect the cooking times for cakes. There are guidelines that come on many cake mixes that can be helpful but do not take into account the things that could impact the cooking time. The best test for a cake being fully cooked is to insert a 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!
Keep spices tucked away in cool, dry and dark areas. Storing them out in the light and heat will cause them to lose some of their shelf life. You can preserve the flavor and freshness of your spices by storing them in a dark, cool spot. Fresh spices offer better taste profiles than stale ones.
Raw potatoes should rest in chilly water for approximately 30 minutes. This will help them to be crispy and delicious. A cold water soak helps the potatoes stand up to the rigors of deep fat frying.
When baking pie or tart crusts, bake them longer than you think you should. The crust should turn a golden color, not simple blonde. This color means that the sugar has caramelized within the pie crust and will have a crunchy and sweet flavor.
Complete your prep work before you start cooking a meal. Otherwise, you might use the stove longer than you need to, and waiting can also make it safer and harder to burn food.
Enjoy hearty winter greens. Right after the first winter frost, broccoli rabe, collards and kale will taste much sweeter than normal. When you are picking your greens, chose ones that have a bright, strong color and stay away from those that appear limp or yellow. Wash your greens carefully before cooking, because they tend to hold quite a bit of soil. Place the greens into a bowl with cool water, shake them off and continue rinsing until the you see clear water.
Use these tips for your next meal. After your first taste, you will realize that cooking is not such a bad thing after all! You may find that you actually begin to look forward to cooking your meals. Make cooking a fun part of your life!