SQUEEZE BOTTLES
Yea, kind of flashy, almost celebratory, but you can use them like the pros to make dishes look nice too. To learn the basics, grab a copy of Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain at your local library. On page 78 the author covers squeeze bottles, why you should have some, and how to decorate a plate with two different color sauces and a simple toothpick.
Don't want to buy a set of squeeze bottles just to try them? If you wear contacts, simply save those plastic bottles that cleaning and wetting solutions come in. Wash them out really well and fill them with your favorites like chocolate syrup, raspberry sauce, and even ketchup and mustard! What fun... painting with condiments!
click photo to enlarge
You can even color-code the labels to help speed up identification and prevent you from putting hot sauce on a dessert crepe!
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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. |
