| | Sun Sep 05, 2010 7:55 am | | | | Comments: 10 Views: 2777 |
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Theculinaryreview.com presents a culinary quiz available for anyone to take. Is your cooking knowledge equivalent to that of a Prep Cook, a Line Cook, a Sous Chef or a Head Chef? Take the test and find out!
The quiz will bring up questions related to cooking terms, recipes, ingredients, methods and products. For example, do you know what a Jicama is? What does the term Beurre Manie refer to? How many calories does an egg contain? What does xxx sugar mean?
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| | Mon Aug 23, 2010 10:54 am | | | | Comments: 0 Views: 46 |
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Buying the right fish in the grocery store can be a bit tricky, after all we want to make sure we get a fresh piece that is of high quality. When you want to buy some nice fish, first of all, go to a store that sells a lot of fish. This is important, as you want to buy from a store where the fish isn't laying around.
Next, if the fish in the store smells fishy, then it's not good. It is true that some fish species smell fishier than others, but generally you want an aroma of ocean to penetrate the store, not a distinctively fishy smell. If the fish has a fishy aroma, then it's not very fresh, or the surfaces aren't very clean.
If you're looking to buy a whole fish, then it should be kept iced and fillets and steaks should be refrigerated. Also take a look at the fish you want to buy; does the skin look fresh, the eyes clear? If you're buying plastic wrapped fillets, don't buy those with liquid in the bottom of the package. You don't want mushy fish, so make sure to inspect the goods before you buy them. If you can, smell the fish before buying it. Another thing to look for, if you're in a place where the fish is very fresh, is a luminous slime that looks a bit like gelatin that hasn't set. You will see this right after the fish has been caught and if it's only been dead for a few hours – if you do see this, then the fish is indeed very fresh.
And lastly, you're the customer, so don't be afraid to ask questions. When was this caught? Is this species sustainable? Where is it from? What's the freshest catch you've got? Remember, you're the one spending money on this product, therefore you have the right to ask questions to ensure you get the very best.
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| | Thu Aug 19, 2010 11:21 am | | | | Comments: 0 Views: 32 |
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In order for a party to be successful, you need to do quite a bit of planning in advance. Not only will this ensure everything is taken cared of, it will also make you, the host, more relaxed when the party is in full swing,  knowing that you have checked everything off.
First of all, go over everything you will need and make several lists. Plan out the food in details with shopping lists and time tables. Are you renting glasses and plates, otherwise make sure you have enough. What about the bar, what's the plan there? It's a good idea to go over everything you're serving and what you're serving them on.
Next, think about when the guest enters, where do they go? Is there someplace to hang the coats and what about muddy boots and wet umbrellas?
Atmosphere is a big part, so carefully think about what kind of music you want to play as well as the lighting. Candlelight is great here, it increases the atmosphere, plus you can't see if everything is in top shape in your home!
When it comes to the food, it's usually better to make things simpler as opposed to more advanced. After all, you don't want to be worrying about the food as the guests start to enter. It's a good idea to focus on food that you can serve in room temperature such as thinly sliced cooked meat, quiche, cheeses etc... Of course a big pot of hot soup or stew is also very nice and simple to manage along with some good bread.
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| | Sun Aug 15, 2010 8:24 am | | | | Comments: 0 Views: 34 |
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To grill fish and seafood can really translate into a wonderful meal and experience. Fish on the grill can taste much better then cooked with other methods, however not all kinds of seafood are as appropriate for the grill as others.
So what type of dish and seafood is the best to grill?
Well, first of all it's a good idea to pick fish that holds together well. That would include firm fleshed fish such as salmon, tuna, swordfish and halibut. Another great option would be oily fishes such as fresh sardines and mackerel. These types of fish are great because it won't matter as much if they over cook, and they are truly delicious.
When buying fish to cook on the grill, it's usually a good idea to buy fish with the skin on. The skin will protect the fish and and keeps the flesh from falling apart, plus the fish will be more moist and flavorful. Some smaller fishes such as sardines can be gutted and then stuffed with herbs and citrus, at which point they are grilled. That makes for a delicious meal where everybody gets their very own fish.
Another option for the grill is shrimp and scallops. They are great because they cook so quickly and they will take on the slightly smoky aroma of the grill which will lend itself very well to other flavors. Shrimp you can either put on skewers or fry in a pan, or directly on the grill.
One problem with grilling fish on the grill can be stickiness. The best thing to do in order to combat this is to clean the grates carefully. Another thing to think about (however this applies to anything you grill), is to make sure the grill is hot enough when you place your food on it. Next, make sure to not turn the food too often. You need to develop a seared surface as then it will be much easier to turn.
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| | Mon Aug 02, 2010 12:07 pm | | | | Comments: 0 Views: 40 |
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If you have cooked a big ham for the holidays and have lots of leftovers, well don't despair! Ham is such a  versatile meat that is really easy to make various dishes with, it will be gone in no time.
The first thing on the agenda, is of course sandwiches. Sandwiches with good ham can be simple or more extravagant. An example of a simple ham sandwich would be one with some good mustard and perhaps some pickles. For a more extravagant sandwich, you can't go wrong with the French croque monsieur which is made with Gruyère, a cheese sauce and ham toasted in the oven on good bread.
Another favorite of ours is to chop up some ham meat, fry it in a sautee pan and fill crepes with along with feta cheese. This is a wonderful combination that is so tasty and easy to do.
Ham is a great ingredient for various casseroles; it gives flavor and it adds a heartiness. Try casseroles with vegetables, cheese and ham for a delightful, yet easy dinner.
If you have a ham bone left with some  meat on it, then you can't go wrong with split peas soup. This soup allows all the flavor to come from the bone as it simmers for hours. This is indeed a perfect dish to make after a cooked ham, and if you're sick of ham after days of eating it, then you could always freeze the soup to eat later.
Other great options, include putting ham in a quiche, in omelets, or to stir chunks into macaroni and cheese, just to mention a few possibilities.
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| | Wed Jul 21, 2010 7:32 pm | | | | Comments: 0 Views: 55 |
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If you're having a party and forgot to put the wine or beer in the fridge, then everything is not lost. First of all,  if you have a large ice bucket, this is the time to take it out and use it. Put the bottles you want to chill in the bucket and then pour ice and cold water over them as well as a tablespoon of salt for each quart of water. Salt is a neat trick, because it lowers the freezing point of the water, thereby making the water even colder and allowing it to stay colder longer.
If on the other hand you need to chill a whole case of wine or a large amount of beer bottles, then you might not fit it all in an ice bucket. Instead, put the bottles in your bathtub, then pour ice and cold water over them. Ideally pour a lot of ice in here if you have it on hand, the higher the ice to water ratio is, the faster it will chill. If you do this, then the bottles should be chilled in about 25 minutes, which is pretty good. This is also a good technique if you need to chill a lot of bottles and you simply don't have the room in your fridge. This can especially be true if you're having a party and the whole food is filled with food, leaving you no extra space to chill bottles.
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| | Mon Jul 19, 2010 4:46 pm | | | | Comments: 0 Views: 55 |
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Many people think that fresh pasta is always better and superior to dry pasta. In fact, fresh and dry pasta are different from each other, almost like two completely separate dishes which you shouldn't really think of in the same terms.
Fresh pasta is made from all purpose flour and eggs. It has a very tender texture and it works very well with creamy and buttery sauces. Since fresh pasta contains eggs, it's more filling than dry pasta, so you don't need to serve as large portions. If you don't have the time or interest in making fresh pasta at home, another option would be to buy fresh pasta from the supermarket. These are not fresh in the literal sense since they have been pasteurized and packaged in a way that allows to them to sit on the shelf for a few weeks. However, the texture of store bought fresh pasta is similar to homemade fresh pasta.
Dried pasta is made from hard durum wheat (semolina) flour and water. You can get all kinds of shapes and sizes ranging from spaghetti to penne. If you use dry pasta that contains eggs, then the pasta will expand more as it boils, so it's definitely more filling and the serving portions may be smaller. All dried pastas are not the same however and for a better texture and taste, you can't beat 100% durum wheat pastas. In fact, it's the Italian law that dried pastas produced there need to be made of 100% durum wheat. Because durum wheat has a very high protein content, the pasta gets more of a bite to it.
The way the pasta is extruded and dried also makes a big difference. The method makes for uniform and smooth or coarser texture, depending on how it's made.
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| | Fri Jul 16, 2010 7:48 pm | | | | Comments: 0 Views: 100 |
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Ice is a very important part of most cold drinks, however not all ice cubes are the same. First of all, good water  makes good ice, so if you don't have good tasting water at home, use bottled water or filtered water when making ice. After all, if you wouldn't drink the water straight, then you probably shouldn't use it to make ice.
Some time ago, the ice cubes used in drinks were quite different, at that time old fashioned metal trays made cubes which in turn were frozen solid and took a longer time to melt. Nowadays, many ice cube trays and ice that comes from ice machines are designed to melt faster, however that also means they dilute drinks faster.
If you enjoy drinking a whiskey or scotch over ice, then ideally the ice shouldn't melt too quickly and dilute the drink. Instead, the ice should stay intact, keep the drink cold and just slowly melt. If you prefer this, then you want to pick larger ice for the job. When you choose ice disks, half cubes or quarter cubes, the ice will melt much quicker in a drink.
However sometimes, this is exactly what you want. When making sweet drinks such as mint juleps and fruit drinks, then cracked ice is often the best thing to be used. Cracked (or crushed) ice is also preferred when you're using a blender, as it otherwise can damage the blender, and you want the right amount of slushiness.
If you want to put high quality ice in your drinks, then you have to make sure to keep the temperature in your freezer cold enough. Also, if you're making ice for drinks, it can be fun to add a decorative touch to them by adding an edible flower, thin slice of lemon or a berry or two in the water of each ice cube tray before they freeze.
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| | Thu Jun 03, 2010 9:53 am | | | | Comments: 5 Views: 6700 |
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How much does a simple sandwich cost to make at home? Sandwiches are some of the most common meals - they can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch and even dinner. So how much does one sandwich actually cost? As shown below, the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich is clearly the cheapest, and the basic grilled cheese sandwich comes in a close second... 
Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich - $0.29 per serving, 370 calories The classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich takes first place on the cost scale. It is cheap, tasty, stays well at room temperature and provides protein - no wonder it's such a staple in the lunch box.
Grilled Cheese Sandwich - $0.43 per serving, 334 calories The basic grilled cheese sandwich simply consists of white bread, cheese and butter. For a fancier sandwich, add sliced ham, bacon or tomato slices. Egg Salad Sandwich - $0.51 per serving, 460 calories When eggs are the main ingredient, the price is usually low. This sandwich has a slightly higher calorie content then the other contestants, due to the addition of mayonnaise. Bagel with Cream Cheese - $0.89 per serving, 360 calories Can it get more simple than this? The toasted bagel with cream cheese is such a common meal, especially among college students. For a more interesting twist, add some smoked salmon or sliced deli meats... Tuna Salad Sandwich - $1.24 per serving, 431 calories Tuna is inherently expensive and this sandwich tops the price chart. However tuna, with all its good fats make an excellent sandwich which makes up for the high price...
Classic BLT Sandwich - $1.29 per serving, 339 calories The classic BLT consists of bacon, lettuce and tomato on white bread with mayonnaise. Contrary to common belief, bacon isn't very high in calories once it's cooked since so much of the fat renders in the cooking process. Salami & Havarti Cheese Sandwich - $0.98 per serving, 501 calories The cheese and coldcut sandwich is a common sight. Here salami and havarti is served on hearty bread with mayonnaise, mustard, lettuce and tomato. Vegetarian Hummus, Avocado and Tomato Sandwich - $0.75 per serving, 376 calories This sandwich might not be very common, however it's very tasty. Homemade hummus is very cheap - however if you use store-bought hummus, this sandwich will be considerably more expensive.
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| | Mon May 31, 2010 8:02 pm | | | | Comments: 0 Views: 105 |
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Getting into good eating habits starting with breakfast...
You've heard it before: breakfast is an important part of the day. If you start your day with a substantial meal you will most likely be more alert during the day and you won't over eat later on. Some people think that skipping breakfast is a good way of reducing calories, when in fact this puts your body in an unbalanced state and you end up eating more later in the day. 
Many people have terrible breakfast habits: it's common to eat pop tarts, muffins and scones which are high in sugar and low in grains and protein. Others might think they are eating a good breakfast through cereal, however if you're reaching for the sugary cereal which contain more sugar than many cakes and cookies, then you're not any closer to getting into good habits.
One big problem is sugar. Sugar seems to be everywhere when it come to breakfast: in cereal, in pop tarts, in scones, in syrup which cover pancakes and waffles, in breakfast sausage, the list goes on...
 Many people think that it's difficult or complicated to make a good breakfast in the morning when you're stressed out and tired. However, it does not have to be very cumbersome to set up a substantial meal which will take you through the day. There are a couple of staple items to consider which are filling and easy to prepare: eggs first of all can be varied endlessly, secondly whole wheat toast with toppings such as nut butter, sliced turkey or cheese. Oatmeal is another winner and so is yogurt or milk with the right kind of cereal or granola and fruit.
A good breakfast should be: - Filling and substantial (you don't want to be hungry within the hour!) On this count you can't beat eggs. - Easy enough to prepare (if takes too long you simply won't do it.) - Tasty (nobady wants to eat food that doesn't taste good.) - Balanced and contain some protein, fat and carbohydrates (some fruit with each breakfast meal also doesn't hurt!). The following breakfast ideas are easy to prepare and substantial for your body:
Eggs:
- scrambled eggs
- boiled eggs
- frittata
- omelet
Cerial
- full fat yogurt with fruit, nuts & unsweetened cereal or granola
- unsweetened cereal with whole milk + fruit
- old fashioned unsweetened oatmeal with fresh fruit (add: milk, a touch of maple syrup or a teaspoon brown sugar)
Avoid:
- pop tarts
- sugary muffins and cakes
Instead try:
- whole grain toast with fruit marmalade or honey
- whole grain toast with almond or peanut butter
Avoid too often:
- bacon, sausage (processed meat)
Instead try:
- unprocessed turkey / chicken / roast beef … either on a piece of bread or scrambled with eggs or in an omelet
Avoid:
- pancakes, French toast or waffles swimming in sweet syrup
Instead try:
- eat fewer pancakes, French toasts or waffles and serve them with fresh fruit and perhaps some cottage cheese or ricotta cheese with a touch of syrup If you get in the habit of switching your go-to-snacks such as pre-made pop tarts, frozen waffles and breakfast sausage on a continous basis when it comes to breakfast, then you will soon notice you have more energy to get through the day and you will overall feel better.
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