Have you ever tried blanching your vegetables? This is a method of heating and then freezing the vegetables that traps in their nutrients keeps them from degrading. It is very useful for anyone who is trying to freeze veggies and who wants them to stay fresh while in the freezer and while being stored over …
What do you do when you run out of cheese? Instead of running to the store to buy some more, why not make it at home on your own? Maybe the idea has never occurred and you don’t know how to make cheddar cheese, but once you learn how to make it, you might be …
Is there a more perfect simple dessert than ice cream? The sweet, creamy flavor and the refreshing coldness make for a beautiful combination. And then the fact that you can make ice cream in just about any flavor ensures that you’ll never run out of dessert options if you stick with ice cream. But there’s …
If you go to a county fair in the southern United States, you will find a wide selection of fried foods not found anywhere else. Some of these fried dishes have expanded beyond that area of the world, like fried okra, corn dogs, and funnel cake, but others have mostly been confined to a small …
If you’re like most people, you season ground beef by sprinkling some seasoning over the ground beef as it cooks. Most people don’t measure out how much seasoning they use with this method, nor do they season the food consistently. This works okay sometimes, making a surprisingly delicious beef dish from time to time. Other …
What makes eye of round steak stand out is how lean it is. In fact, it is one of the leanest steak cuts you can find, meaning it is healthier for you than most others. There is no need to trim the fat when the cut is already this lean. The low fat and low …
What is delicata squash? It’s a soft-fleshed squash that is versatile and rich in vitamins. You can most often find it at the grocery or the market during the winter, as that is when it is harvested, and it belongs to the same family of summer squash as zucchini, pattypan, and yellow crookneck squash. Because …
Why make pizza in the air fryer? There are a few good reasons. First of all, the air fryer is considered healthier than deep frying. There is a lot less oil involved, so you get fewer calories and less artery-clogging fat. It’s simply better for you. The other reason I want to share with you …
The flat iron steak gets its name from the fact that it is shaped like a traditional flat iron. This thin cut of beef comes from the shoulder of the cow, one of two parts of meat that are cut from the shoulder. The other piece of meat that is cut from there is the …
Did you know that you can cook a sweet potato in the microwave? This method is much faster than baking in the oven or roasting, and it produces some very similar results. I like to microwave sweet potatoes and white potatoes when I am short on time. You get a different texture than if you …
We are probably all familiar with stiffed chicken breasts. That’s a common holiday dish that always delights, but have you ever heard of stuffed pork chops? This one was a new dish for me not long ago, but I immediately got excited about the idea. The notion of sweet pork meat being stuffed with cheese, …
Buffalo chicken wings are one of the most popular appetisers in the country, thanks to their incredible flavour, slightly spicy kick, and juiciness. You can find buffalo wings being served at most football games and any respectable restaurant that serves burgers. Buffalo wings are a party favourite, and even people who don’t like spicy foods …
Potato Kugel is a traditional Yiddish dish that wasn’t originally made with potatoes at all. It started as a pudding, really, made with noodles, bread dumplings and rice. Those who have made kugel before probably baked it in an oven, but this dish started as a steamed food, mostly because ovens weren’t widely available in …
Have you ever noticed a lumpy, oblong-shaped fruit with pointy ends in the produce section of your grocery? You might have had a peek at the bitter melon, also known by the name bitter gourd. It’s actually a close relation to the cucumber, pumpkin, squash, and zucchini families. It may look different depending on which …
Russians love their bread, and they have a special kind of bread that a lot of the world doesn’t even know about. That’s Russian black bread, which is really more brown than black, but that’s not important. What is important is that this is a rich and flavourful bread that will definitely change up the …
Sometimes, I will do something very unhealthy and sit in my bed watching Netflix while snacking on a bowl of Cheetos. The Flamin’ Hot Cheetos are my favourites. I love the kick that they have, putting just enough spicy flavour in my mouth to make them exciting to eat. I’m not one for very spicy …
I need my cup of coffee in the morning to boost my energy levels and wake me all the way up, and I know a lot of other people feel the same way. Some people need a couple cups in the morning just to get started, but I don’t have it that bad, yet. I …
In-N-Out has a very small menu but is known around the country for their animal style fries. It’s pretty amazing that a fast food joint with so few choices does do well and has such a great reputation. I guess it is a case of making what you know and getting really good at it. …
I know that to some people, each kind of cooking oil is interchangeable. One seems just as good as another, but substituting one for the other doesn’t always work out well. I know some people are curious about when cooking, can you substitute coconut oil for olive oil vs canola oil? All of these different …
Turkey burgers are the leaner, healthier (and some would say tastier) burger patties. They are a better choice for those of us who like to indulge our cravings for burgers far too often. Instead of stopping by the fast food restaurant to grab a greasy, artery-clogging cheeseburger, we can make up a turkey burger patty …
Guava paste is a common Latin American condiment, used in a lot of different ways, but it’s not as familiar to us in the United States. I came across some in a gift basket I received not that long ago and wasn’t entirely sure what to do with it, and you may have had a …
I think the sweet potato gets overlooked sometimes and is considered a not quite standard potato. The slow roasted baked potato is a favourite for family dinners, as it shows effort was put into the meal and honestly tastes amazing. The slow roasting creates a delicate texture and brings out all of the lovely flavours, …
Can anything really top the gooey, chocolatey goodness of chocolate chip cookies? I don’t think so, and this cookie is a staple of many a picnic, sporting event, cookout, and school lunch. It’s the dessert we all have in common- popular among kids and adults both. If you have ever made chocolate chip cookies, then …
Piri Piri chicken is a traditional Portuguese food that isn’t very common in the United States. There is a chain of restaurants called Nando’s that serves Piri Piri chicken as its signature dish. You won’t find these restaurants all over the states, though. They are only located in Chicago and Washington, DC. You may not …
If you have never made cheese quesadillas before, you might be surprised at how easy they are to make. The trickiest part, really, is just getting the right cooking equipment for it. Flipping the quesadilla over while it is cooking can be tricky as well, but I will get to how to do that later …
Who doesn’t love the crispy, crunchy taste of battered fish? It pairs nicely with some steamed vegetables and mashed potatoes or with a plate of fries. Battered or breaded fish (have you tried cornmeal instead of breadcrumbs?) filet is very simple and quick to make. It’s much easier than fried chicken, I find, cooks faster, …
I like the idea of a bundt cake and how the cake comes out looking decorative and is shaped differently from the traditional rectangle to simple circular shape of a regular cake. However, I have had some bad experiences with bundt cake, especially the bundt pan. It’s not the cake that is so much to …
Let me count the ways I love zucchini- I love it in zucchini bread, I love it grilled, and I love it in soup. It’s great as a kebab or as part of a stir fry, and I like to add it to salad as well to give the salad a bit of variety. Zucchini …
I never grew up in a home where pasta sauce was made from scratch, and I am not a big fan of making it myself. There are plenty of foods I will make using the base ingredients, but pasta sauce isn’t usually one of them because of how messy and time consuming it can be. …
Can you trust your nose to tell you when a turkey is done cooking? When you smell the lovely scent wafting through the kitchen and the rest of the house, does that mean the turkey has finished cooking? It would be a shame to take it out of the oven, slice it open and find …
Brown sugar has a look and a flavour to it that takes it useful in recipes for cookies, brownies and a variety of baked goods and desserts. Dark brown sugar is even richer and browner and might not be available in stores near you. Did you know that you can make your own brown sugar …
Tri-tip steak refers to the triangle cut of the loin butt from the cow. It’s a muscular part with a bit of fatty tissue to it, so it’s savoury and can be a little tough if not cooked properly. This is of the those pieces of meat that a lot of people have heard of …
The Delicate Art of Spiciness I like a bit of spiciness to some dishes, especially Mexican foods and Cajun dishes. That heat that’s added by chilli pepper, jalapenos and other seasonings can take a dish that is simply decent and elevate it, making it more interesting. I’m a fan of adding the unexpected spiciness as …
You have to be careful how you reheat rice. Most people will just use the microwave, but is that the best way to reheat rice? If you reheat the rice improperly or wait too long to reheat it, you could experience food poisoning. There is a bacteria called Bacillus cereus that latches onto rice and …
I look at tomato puree as a base ingredient, as I use it to make tomato paste, tomato sauce, and tomato soup. I like to use it for a number of recipes, and having it at home and prepared to use is convenient for me. It tastes way better than the store bought stuff packaged …
Probably my favourite dipping sauce, garlic butter is great for making steak, shrimp, Italian bread, and pizza more appealing. If you make it right, garlic butter sauce can be packed with flavour and is the perfect addition to any number of meals. It can be used to transform decent or even bland foods into something …
A good marinade can really change up the flavour of chicken and make it far more savoury. The length of time you marinade makes a different, and you don’t always need to marinate for a long time for the marinade to do its job and be effective. You can also find some of our other …
One of the most versatile flatbread types is the corn tortilla. It’s not just healthy, but it can be used to make so many of my favourite dishes. I use them for burritos and enchiladas, of course, but you can also use them for pizzas, homemade corn chips, taquitos, chimichangas and more. How you heat …
The Basics of Fermented Rice When rice is fermented, it can be used to make rice vinegar, or rice wine or rice wine vinegar. All of these can be used for many of the same dishes you cook, but they don’t produce the same flavour. Your food will taste different and have different characteristics depending …
Is there a more satisfying comfort food than French fries? I sure can’t think of one. I like loading mine up with sour cream, cheese, bacon bits, and chives, but they are perfectly fine with just a pinch of salt on them too. There are tons of different ways to have fries, but probably the …
Did you know that there is a right way and a wrong way to cut flank steak? That’s true of lots of different kinds of meat. Cutting them the wrong way results in a cut that isn’t quite right. Steak is really tricky when it comes to cuts and how to slice it properly. The …
This seafood delicacy is one that pairs well with all sorts of dishes. Scallops make for a great dish on their own, but if you put them together with the right dish, that just take them to a whole new level. My love of scallops means I am always trying new pairings and seeing what …
Black rice might look strange and different but it tastes great. This whole grain rice goes by a few different names I found as I started to research it. This isn’t a very common kind of rice, and it may be called forbidden rice, Chinese black rice, or purple rice. It changes colour as you …
Texas toast is thick and buttery and a perfect addition to a hearty dinner. It makes for a great side dish with pasta, chicken, mashed potatoes, or roasted vegetables. Texas toast gets its name from its supposed origins at a place called the Pig Stand in Denton, Texas. According to the stories, a bakery ordered …
When it comes to tempering chocolate, there are many ways to get the job done. You can try the classic stovetop or microwave method, but if you want extra precision from the comfort of your own kitchen, then the sous vide cooker method should be right up your alley. In this article, we’re sharing a …
There’s hardly a food that is as versatile as dumplings. Dumplings are popular in many world cuisines and can be prepared using various ingredients, so you can definitely prepare dumplings for every occasion. What’s really impressive about dumplings is that you can always prepare them in advance and store them in the freezer until they’re …
Although the word “poached” might give you a false impression that it’s a difficult way to cook salmon, it’s actually one of the easiest methods and some ideas on what to serve with poached salmon Poaching generally refers to cooking tender meat and other food gently in a broth over low heat. Poaching a salmon …
Inexperienced cooks may often wonder if their food is fully cooked and if it is okay to eat. Is the bread done in the middle? Is the chicken cooked all the way through? Is the beef safe to eat? Is my pie supposed to be that wobbly or is it really cooked? These are questions …
Freshly baked bread has a distinctive aroma, texture, and taste to it. When it comes out of the oven piping hot and welcomes a little spread of butter- there is just nothing quite like it. I remember many mornings that I lingered in the kitchen just to be around the freshly baked bread. Bread doesn’t …
Potato soup is probably my favourite soup, and that’s mostly because of how many tasty things you can put in it and still call it potato soup. I like to throw tons of cheese in mine, as well as mushrooms, garlic, and onions. Then, I top it off with chives, parsley, or bacon bits. Making …