Cooking Corner
I was amazed at how much of cooking was simple. Simple, 101-level stuff that they somehow forgot to tell us in school…but that an intelligent 10-year-old could do.
And once I started learning all these simple things, I could do anything!
- I can look at a recipe (because Pinterest has a million recipes…that’s a conservative estimate), and know whether it will work or not.
- I can look at a bread recipe and make adjustments before you even start.
- I can make pasta. (It is BEYOND easy. You don’t even need a bowl…you can literally mix it on the counter if you want).
- Oh, and I now eat delicious food. Better than I’ll ever find in a store or restaurant. Trust me.
- When I do eat out, I pick better things on the menu because food is now an adventure of tastes and methods.
Why visit here? After all, there are master chefs out there who can explain bread and know more about the complex history behind bread than anyone. True. But if you’re anything like me, while the history of grain since the beginning of time is interesting, it isn’t going to affect the loaf of bread in front of me.
What is going to affect the loaf of bread is knowing the following: you really only need 4 ingredients to make bread. Everything else is optional.
This is part of an ongoing series, so please be patient as content is added!
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How to Make Perfect Cake Pops: Part 2- Recipe & Instructions
This originally started as a single post. Then I discovered so much information, did so much testing, and researched so much that it has now become three posts. This post (Part 2) contains the recipe, instructions, and step-by-step pics for making and decorating them. I highly suggest reading "Part 1: Questions & Answers" first because it has [...]
How to Make Perfect Cake Pops: Part 1- Questions & Answers
This originally started as a single post. Then I discovered so much information, did so much testing, and researched so much that it has now become three posts. This post (Part 1) is going to go through all of the questions and answers that pop up during making cake pops. This post is before the actual directions [...]
The Ultimate KitchenAid Mixer Review: KitchenAid Comparison Chart & Everything You Need to Know
A KitchenAid Stand Mixer is a fairly big investment for the average household. So you're going to want to buy the one that is right for you. I’ve had two KitchenAids. No, the first did not break (that is very, very rarely a problem with KitchenAid). My husband bought me an upgraded version for Christmas. So [...]
How to Develop A Recipe (or Improve One)
I get a lot of compliments on my recipes. I've also gotten constructive criticism. And some not so constructive, but that's another story. I love the compliments for one reason: I've never just copied someone else's recipe. I've always done research and made adjustments. I've always tested recipes multiple times. Along the way (the way [...]
Cilantro: All About and How to Choose the Best Substitute
Ahhh, delicious cilantro. At least, it's delicious to me. Cilantro is the single herb that causes debate and hatred that equals the political arena. Even the famous Julia Child, infallible in so many ways, hated it. It turns out some people might be actually genetically predisposed to hate cilantro! It may be news to some [...]
Bread Making 101: How to Make Bread, Everything You Need to Know
There are a few things in the baking world that seem almost magical to others. Bread making is one of those. To those who haven’t made homemade bread, it seems mysterious and vast. Unknown terms and the unknown magic of yeast. But it doesn’t need to be. People have been making bread since…well, the beginning of recorded […]
How to Bake the Perfect Loaf of French Bread
Perfect, crusty French bread. Which is better? The crusty, chewy outside? The soft, delicate inside? The combination together? Whatever your choice, this recipe is fabulous. I love it warm smothered with butter. This recipe isn’t hard. Even though it’s homemade bread, it’s straight-forward. But as with all bread, don’t be discouraged if your first loaf […]
All About Parsley and How to Choose the Best Substitute
We’ve gone through a lot of ingredients over the last year or so during my “Ingredients: Everything You Need to Know” series- their uses, where they come from, etc. And it’s time to start with the all of the spices you might run across. Let’s get started with parsley!
Salt Substitutes: Conversion Ratios for Types of Salt -and- Salt Alternatives
Funny story time. Back when I knew very little about cooking, I didn't know salts were different. Salt was just salt. I had a brine that called for coarse kosher salt. All I had was regular table salt. Unbeknown to me, they don't substitute one for one. I ended up using about twice as much salt as I [...]