Do you ever wish you could make the delicious meals that you enjoy at the homes of your family members and friends? The helpful tips in this article can help anyone become a great cook.
Sharp knives are a kitchen necessity. Dull knives make it harder to cut and are more dangerous to use. When your knife is dull, it can be easier for it to slip off the vegetable and end up cutting you instead. Keep your knives sharp for safety as well as convenience.
Keep all dried spices in a dark space that stays room temperature. Humidity and heat, in addition to light, will cause spices and herbs to lose their flavor. Ground spices typically maintain their flavor for around a year. Whole spices might retain their flavors for three to five years. Their changes at longevity increase with proper storage.
Don’t overcook your vegetables. They will lose a lot of food value and won’t taste good. Opt for quicker cooking methods instead. You can steam or saute your vegetables or eat them raw.
You can sprinkle it on many other foods besides meat. Use it with roasted pumpkin seeds for a wonderful snack, or go ahead and add some to scrambled eggs. Just be sure not to use too much seasoning, because you don’t want to completely overpower the natural flavor of your food.
Garlic is a delicious ingredient that has a place in many recipes, but it has no place on your hands. If you have a stainless steel sink or other utensil, rub your hands over the inside of the sink to remove the smell. This works for onions as well. While ridding your hands of the garlic odor, it will also have the added benefit of preventing its transfer to other foods, as you cook.
If you make sauce, freeze it into ice cubs to use later on. This makes it easy to prepare a quick meal by reheating the sauce using a saute pan. Nothing to worry about as the sauce will be fine even after it’s been sitting in ice cube trays.
When burgers and other foods become stuck to the grill grates, it can be hard to loosen them without damaging the food. To prevent your burgers from sticking, brush the grill with oil prior to cooking.
Soy products and beans are a wonderful place to get protein if you need to add some to your diet. You can buy these in almost any grocery store. Seasoned tofu is a wonderful alternative to meat, and can be cooked in a variety of ways, such as pan frying. Beans can be used in vegetarian chili, added to baked goods, or just boiled with herbs and vegetables.
If a recipe calls for milk or water, try some other flavorful liquid to enhance the flavor of your dish. If the recipe has called for water, you could easily use chicken broth, beef broth, or juice when suitable. Rather than using milk, think about yogurt, buttermilk or sour cream. Mixing up the base of your sauces and soups is a great way to liven up old recipes.
To cook flavorful veggies that turn out well, use chicken broth. Not only will the chicken broth stop the vegetables from getting stuck to the pan, but it will also make the dish more tasty. Chicken broth doesn’t cost much, and is widely available at most grocery stores.
Leftover Turkey
Be sure to save your leftover turkey after Thanksgiving dinner as opposed to pitching it. Simply chop and seal in a freezer safe container to store in the freezer. Leftover turkey can be used for enchiladas, pot pie, sandwiches and salads.
Organization is key to cooking efficiently and not letting anything burn. A well-organized cooking area is conducive to great results. If you are unorganized, it is easy to lose track of things and waste your money and delicious food that you could have been eating!
Before cooking your pumpkin, have it standing in a vertical position and slice it directly down from the stem the entire way around, making two equal halves. Place them on individual baking sheets, cut side down. Add a few tablespoons of water to the pan and roast the pumpkin for one hour in a 350 degree oven.
Follow the advice you find helpful and within your means. Your loved ones will quickly be asking you for your recipes.