Cooking Tips and Tricks
If you have any cooking tips or tricks you have learned, please share them with the community.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Ciao Florentina on -
Little Tips & Tricks Every Cook Should Know!
1. Don’t rinse the pasta, the starches help the sauce to stick to the noodles.
2. Store delicate fresh herbs (dill, parsley) in the refrigerator in a glass of water covered with a plastic bag. Change the water every 2 days.
3. Keep fresh basil in a glass of water at room temperature, out of direct sunlight.
4. Store your garlic at room temperature and make sure to never burn it or it will turn bitter. If there are green sprigs attached to it = too old
5. Always add fresh basil and dill at the end of cooking, just before removing from the flame, or they will lose their aroma.
6. Never use dries Parsley, Basil or Chives, they have no flavor.
7. Remove the root of an onion before slicing or dicing to avoid Tears.
8. Always use plastic cutting boards for meat, chicken and fish, and wash it with hot water and soap after each use.
9. To make grating soft cheeses easier (mozzarella, fontina, cheddar), pop the cheese blocks in the freezer for 10-15 minutes before grating.
10. Always simmer your soups & stews, never boil them or they will become cloudy.
11. Chop your herbs just before using them to get the best flavor.
12. To flavor long cooking stews add a simple bouquet garni made out of: Parsley sprigs, Thyme, Bay leaf.
13. To get crispy french fries, let the cut potatoes sit in ice cold water for at least one hour.
14. Always allow a roast, steak rest for 10 minutes for the juices to redistribute.
15. To soften brown sugar simply place a dry piece of bread in the bag/box overnight.
16. Wrap celery in aluminum foil and store in the refrigerator to make it keep longer.
17. To season your pasta, the pasta water should taste like Sea water.
18. To get perfectly crispy skin on your chicken or turkey, make sure to dry off the bird very well before roasting.
19. Always cook your acidic foods like tomato sauce in an enameled cast iron pot. The seasoned cast iron will interact with the acidity in the tomatoes.
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Permalink Reply by Jon Barsanti on -
Great Combinations - Mushrooms with Blue Cheese and Lemon with Asparagus
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Permalink Reply by Greg on -
Ciao
Did you attend some kind of special classes in food preparation or self taught? Everything looks so professionally prepared..
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Permalink Reply by Ciao Florentina on
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Thank you Greg! I grew up cooking with my grandfather who was a butcher, a farmer, a fisherman and a hunter. I have studied every culinary theory I could get my hands on but didn't attend a culinary school.
My food is rustic but prepared with much thought, love and care. I hope you will always enjoy your time here. -Florentina
Greg said:Ciao
Did you attend some kind of special classes in food preparation or self taught? Everything looks so professionally prepared..
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Permalink Reply by Jake Smookler on -
I know Italians don't use Asian style rice (Thai Jasmine, Korean Long Grain, Japanese Sweet Rice, Sushi Rice etc). Quick tip for perfect steamed rice. For 4 servings use 2 cups rice and 3 cups of water in a medium sauce pan and bring to a rolling boil on highest heat setting. Once the boil happens, lower the heat to lowest setting, place a lid over the pan, and let the rice steam for about 10 minutes. After 10 minutes carefully open the lid and fluff the rice with a fork. Enjoy with your favourite Asian Supper!
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Permalink Reply by Asif Fasih on -
I always love to sautee garlic and onions FIRST (for a couple of minutes), for any dish calling for these ingredients!
Also, I don't see the need to buy "pasta sauce" from the store. It's SOOOO easy to make! Just sautee garlic, canned tomatoes, some basil, and olive oil and after an hour...voila! :-)
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Permalink Reply by Bob Duryea on -
Thank you ...some really great tips to apply. It's amazing some of the ingredients you use but not really knowing some great tips you give to enhance flavor.
Ciao Florentina said:Little Tips & Tricks Every Cook Should Know!
1. Don’t rinse the pasta, the starches help the sauce to stick to the noodles.
2. Store delicate fresh herbs (dill, parsley) in the refrigerator in a glass of water covered with a plastic bag. Change the water every 2 days.
3. Keep fresh basil in a glass of water at room temperature, out of direct sunlight.
4. Store your garlic at room temperature and make sure to never burn it or it will turn bitter. If there are green sprigs attached to it = too old
5. Always add fresh basil and dill at the end of cooking, just before removing from the flame, or they will lose their aroma.
6. Never use dries Parsley, Basil or Chives, they have no flavor.
7. Remove the root of an onion before slicing or dicing to avoid Tears.
8. Always use plastic cutting boards for meat, chicken and fish, and wash it with hot water and soap after each use.
9. To make grating soft cheeses easier (mozzarella, fontina, cheddar), pop the cheese blocks in the freezer for 10-15 minutes before grating.
10. Always simmer your soups & stews, never boil them or they will become cloudy.
11. Chop your herbs just before using them to get the best flavor.
12. To flavor long cooking stews add a simple bouquet garni made out of: Parsley sprigs, Thyme, Bay leaf.
13. To get crispy french fries, let the cut potatoes sit in ice cold water for at least one hour.
14. Always allow a roast, steak rest for 10 minutes for the juices to redistribute.
15. To soften brown sugar simply place a dry piece of bread in the bag/box overnight.
16. Wrap celery in aluminum foil and store in the refrigerator to make it keep longer.
17. To season your pasta, the pasta water should taste like Sea water.
18. To get perfectly crispy skin on your chicken or turkey, make sure to dry off the bird very well before roasting.
19. Always cook your acidic foods like tomato sauce in an enameled cast iron pot. The seasoned cast iron will interact with the acidity in the tomatoes.
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I am your host Florentina or the "Woman of Florence" and I created this happy cooking place for you, to connect and share your scrumptious recipes and culinary adventures with all of us.
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