SHARPEN YOUR KNIVES
Chances are, your knives aren't as sharp as they should be. Dull knives are one of the things that can separate you from good cooking. Besides, dull knives can actually be more dangerous than sharp ones since you need to force your way through some foods. Time to fix that.
If you have a sharpener, this tip doesn't even cost you a cent... unless, of course, you cut yourself in the process and end up at the emergency room! If you don't have a sharpener, it's time to invest in one. I recommend a kit with diamond sharpening stones. I got my kit at Walmart, but stores that cater to fishing and hunting (Cabelas and Bass Pro Shops) are good places to shop.
Start by reading the instructions that came with your kit. If all you have is an old sharpening stone, that's fine. Just learn how to use it. Work through your knife rack one at a time until they're all sharp. If you're limited on time, sharpen one knife each evening.
Be careful! Don't let anyone talk to you until your done! My wife knows enough to leave me alone when I'm busy sharpening knives. Stay focused. Nuff said!
Not comfortable sharpening knives yourself? You can always opt to send them out to a professional. Just do it.
Finally, use a good butcher's steel to reset the "teeth" every once in a while.
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Cooking Tips
>Cook with Wine
Use wine and spirits to boost flavor!
>Fresh Herbs
Many home cooks use dry herbs, some old enough to be in small metal tins! It's time to move past the quick and easy and try some fresh herbs.
>Grill Smoke
Use this clever trick to add smoke flavor to grilled food.
>Hang your Pots and Pans
Make every pot and pan easy to get... covers too!
>Home-made Stock
Next time you want chicken, buy the whole bird. Then make chicken stock using my simple recipe. You'll never buy that canned stuff again!
>Lapsang Souchong Tea
In A New Way to Cook, Sally Schneider extolls the virtues of lapsang souchong tea to make smokey tea essence.
>Measure by Hand
Learn what a TSP and TBS look like in your hand to speed up cooking.
>Shallots
They've been said to be like a cross between an onion and garlic, but they're really their own thing. Just get some, and cook with them. You'll never look back!
>Sharp Knives
If you have a sharpener, this tip doesn't even cost you a cent... unless, of course, you cut yourself in the process and end up at the emergency room! If you don't have a sharpener, it's time to invest in one.
>Spice Rack
Maybe it is time to organize your herbs and spices. You can weed out ove-the-hill spices while you're at it.
>Squeeze Bottles
Yea, kind of flashy, almost celebratory, but you can use them like the pros to make things look nice too.
>Steel Cut Oats
What to do with this miserable product if you get caught with a tub.
>True Citrus
Real citrus in crystallized form, available in lemon, lime, and orange. Substitute for zest or extract. |
