Tips & Tricks

The ability to expertly thicken sauces and other foods is one way to separate the casual home chef from the gourmet home chef. Most of us have, at one time or another, been served a lumpy gravy or pie filling. And most of us didn’t…

Garlic is an ancient food and medicine, and while it may not protect against vampires or ward off evil spirits as some people once believed, it certainly will take an ordinary meal and make it something special. Garlic is not only…

Glance through any cooking tool catalog for home chefs and you’re sure to find a wide selection of non-knife chopping tools. But the truth is, you really only need a good knife set and a little know-how in order to make cutting up foods…

I have a confession: I’ve long hated cutting boards. I hate hauling them out of the cupboard, finding space for them on an already cluttered counter, finding room on the board for everything I need to prepare, and cleaning them. I…

In my part of the world, spring has sprung. This means I’m busy looking for early spring vegetables – like asparagus – and getting them planted in my garden. But even if you don’t grow your own vegetables, spring is an ideal time to…

Deglazing is one of those basic cooking techniques everyone should know, but many have never taken the time to learn properly. To "deglaze" is simply to pour cold liquid into a hot pan with the purpose of moving all the brown bits stuck on…

Valentine’s Day is a special day, and what would it be without a romantic meal for two? What makes a meal romantic? Mostly attitude – your attitude and the attitude of your significant other. But you can help that romantic attitude along…

Although salt has taken a bad rap in recent years, everyone needs between 1,500 and 2,300 mg a day to stay healthy. Too, properly used, salt imparts terrific flavor in your cooking. The trick is to know which salt to use when. Rest…

February 2nd is Candlemas – a holiday not everyone celebrates these days, but which is a great excuse for great food. During the 19th century, Candlemas was the to take a household inventory of how many candles needed to be purchased to get…

Although oysters were once the food of the poor, today you’re more likely to find oysters at the world’s great restaurants. Considered an aphrodisiac since ancient times, oysters add a touch of romance and class to any table. Oysters are…