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.
Many people know the health benefits of dark, leafy greens, though because they are so hard to prepare, many people do not eat them often. The stem is the most difficult to deal with. To make it simple, fold the leaf in half lengthwise and break the stem out from the middle. Or slice the folded side to remove the stem. This technique is a simple was to remove the stems from your leafy greens!
It is important to have sharp knives when cooking. Blunt knives are frustrating to use and they can also be very hazardous. If you have to work on forcing a dull knife to go through something, you're much more likely to accidentally cut yourself in the process than with the one quick, clean cut of a sharpened knife.
This type of seasoning is commonly used on other foods besides meat. Scrambled eggs taste delicious with it, or you can create a tasty snack by sprinkling it over roasted pumpkin seeds. It is a simple addition, but the burst of flavor it gives will have everyone raving.
Flavoring your meals with beef or chicken stock instead of water is a quick and easy way to spice up any meal. Bouillon cubes are a great way to add instant flavor when mixed with the right amount of water. The food that you are making will then have the moisture it needs while being infused with a bit of flavor.
Try adding cauliflower to your mashed potatoes to lower the fat content. Because cauliflower has a pretty bland taste, it blends well with the potatoes and enhances the flavors of the other ingredients. Additionally, mashed cauliflower has the same texture and color as mashed potatoes, so no one will know that you've boosted the veggie content of the d ish while removing calories.
You should think big when preparing chicken stock. Plan on preparing a large pot of stock in order to freeze it for storing. Stock is perfect for many dishes like stew, soup, and even casseroles. Let your stock cool off and pour it inside Ziploc bags.
If you need to warm up leftovers that are oily but don't want to contend with the greasy mess, try baking them in the oven instead of popping them in the microwave. When you cook foods in the microwave, there is a huge surge of heat, which will cause the oil (that heats the quickest) to start to separate from all of the other ingredients. Conversely, baking heats food gradually and evenly, helping it stay flavorful and unified.
When you tie the turkey using string, you are trussing it. It helps to keep the legs and wings of the turkey close so that the bird cooks more evenly. If the legs and wings aren't tied together, the tips could burn, cooking much more quickly than the main part of the tu rkey.
Do you want to take the guesswork out of deciding how long to leave your meat on the grill? Having a high-quality meat thermometer handy, especially a digital one, is a great way to ensure the meat you serve is fully cooked. If you're grilling especially thick slabs of meat - anything thicker than an inch and a half - bring the lid down on your grill to speed up the cooking process.
Use colorful foods in your meal preparation. Not only is eating colorful meals healthier for you, but it is more appealing to the eye. You can also use a diversity of garnishments to increase color; consider vegetable curls, cherry tomatoes, and small cuts of fresh herbs. Put your creativity and imagination to work when choosing colorful foods for your meals, and watch how quickly those meals disappear.
When seasoning meats, try a little piece before cooking the entire thing. Foods like meatballs, hamburger and even meatloaf may require careful seasoning. Never prepare the entire amou nt immediately after seasoning it. Cook a small amount in a pan and taste it first. Once you have tasted your creation, make any adjustments needed to the seasoning.
Make sure to use fresh herbs and seasonings whenever cooking a simple dish. If you cannot get your hands on fresh herbs, then herbs of a dried variety can still work. For a simpler dish, fresh herbs are more efficient because their flavor is much stronger. If you love to cook, create an herb garden, which will provide you with a variety of quality herbs any time you choose.
Use your creativity as much as you can. Don't always stick to the exact recipe. When you're comfortable with the recipe, play within it to see what can be reduced, increased, or added for a better taste or texture. That is the definition of a true cook!
The tips you just read about, can be put to good use if your incorporate them into your meals. Once you try them, you'll be assured that cooking isn't that bad after all! The better your food gets, the more you'll want to cook. Try cooking from home.
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