Cooking is not only a great skill to learn on its own but it’s also a fantastic way to keep yourself occupied during a pandemic. I use recipes frequently, some of you might recall several years ago when I did my own little cooking experimentation; I did not repeat a single meal for a year. When it comes to food, I improvise quite a bit, using a recipe for “flavor inspiration” based on what I have available in the house at the time. Part of my reasoning for starting a blog was to help home cooks elevate their cooking abilities by learning the basics of preparing food and how to…
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Practical Skills to Improve Your Cooking
There are lots of different practical ways to improve your cooking skills. Most people focus on cooking the same meal until they perfect it, but it makes more sense if you focus on improving several skills at once. This way, you’ll be able to prepare complete courses, be able to cook fancy foods by just examining the recipe, and you’ll never get bored of cooking different things. So check out these fun and practical skills which will greatly improve your cooking ability. Learn to make stocks and gravy One of the best investments of your time is to learn how to cook stocks and gravy. Stock is an incredibly important…
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Roasted Chicken Thighs with Herb Butter
One of the most simple cooking methods is roasting. Roasting means to oven cook food, whether meats or vegetables, in a shallow uncovered pan. This method usually produces a well-browned exterior and moist interior. Temperatures for roasting are generally higher than for baking, and the pan must be uncovered so the food does not stew in its own juices. Another criterion for roasting is that it requires fat, either as part of the food like duck or added, like butter to potatoes. Cuts of meat or poultry for roasting must be reasonably tender. Tougher pieces are better prepared with moist cooking methods such as braising. What happens in roasting? An…
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5 Ways to Discover New Foods
Are you bored with dinner and need to discover new foods? Over the last few months, you probably are cooking at home more and are getting tired of some meals? Of course, we all have our favorite comfort meals, but there is something very special about discovering new ways to leave our taste buds dancing. The more you cook, the more of a challenge this can be. The key is to try something new while respecting your taste preferences and dietary requirements. Here are five fantastic ways to discover new foods when you are tired of the same recipes. Change Your Salad Selections Leafy vegetables are low in calories; the…
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Creating an Edible Garden on a Budget
I have some sort of edible garden every year and it is always on a budget. Vegetables that you have grown yourself taste delicious, are healthy and can help you save on your grocery bills. In our house, it is a tradition to have a BLT, with the first tomato of each season. However, growing an edible garden can be an expensive business. Here is some helpful advice if you want an edible garden on a budget. What to grow in your edible garden Before you can pick which edible delights to grow, you need to carefully consider the resources you have available. In fact, there are two particularly important…
