A Few Tips

I've been off for a couple days and cooking quite alot. However, I'm still tweaking a few recipes before I post them. I thought I would share a few tips that I have learned over the years. Hopefully, you will find them useful too!

1. ALWAYS heat your pan before adding oil if you plan on browning and sauteing. Why? Because cold oil on a hot pan help keep things from sticking!

2. When using  heavy cream, or an abundance of dairy, in dishes like creamed spinach or macaroni & cheese use fresh ground nutmeg. It breaks up the "dairy" taste and adds an earthy warmth to the dish.

3. Add 1-2 bay leaves to dishes like soups, stews and Italian or Mediterranean sauces. (Remove the leaves before serving.) Bay leaves add a background flavor to these type of dishes.

4. If you are using canned tomatoes or sauce to make spaghetti, add 1-2 tablespoons of brown sugar. This cuts the tangy flavor that some canned tomato products have. HOWEVER, always add a little at a time and taste frequently. No two cans are the same and therefor, you may need more or less to break the taste down.

5. When making pasta remember, add oil to the pasta if you don't intend on the sauce clinging. In other words, with spaghetti you want the sauce on each strand, it's the focus of the meal. Therefor, keep your boiling water rolling without any added oil. The pasta shouldn't stick if the water is boiling rapid enough. With manicotti you want the sauce more as a "dressing" because the filling is the star of the dish. Add a few tablespoons of olive oil to help keep the pasta from sticking.

6. Always add COLD water to cornstarch before adding it to a hot ingredient to thicken. Adding the cornstarch directly, or mixing with hot water, will cause clumps in sauces, soups etc. With flour, always fry with butter or oil before adding liquid to prevent clumps.

7. Try using non-metallic bowls and mixing utensils. Metallic ones react with some ingredients, not a good taste in the mouth!

This is just a few of the tips I have, when I remember some more I'll be sure to share them!

Happy Cooking!