by Kathleen Flinn Learning to make stock is a kitchen fundamental. Given that a quart of stock averages $2.25 in the supermarket, it's a worthwhile investment to learn to make it on your own. This is especially true if you're a fan of roast chicken, either homemade or … [Read more...] about Recipe: How to Make Basic Chicken Stock
Basics
How to do a Comparative Tasting and Why You Should
Salt to taste. If you've ever read a recipe, you've probably seen that line. Though common, it's also a common source of confusion for home cooks. "Whose taste?" some ask. The answer, your taste, often leads to more questioning: "What is my taste?" or "What if my taster's no … [Read more...] about How to do a Comparative Tasting and Why You Should
Spices & Herbs: A Quick Lesson
As this terrific video by Consumer Reports shows, you don't need to spend a lot of money on fancy spices. However, the key element is when spices get old. Ground herbs and spices are more exposed to air, and thus they lose their potency more quickly. Spices vs. Herbs First, its … [Read more...] about Spices & Herbs: A Quick Lesson
Vinaigrette Basics [video lesson]
Do you have so many bottles of vinaigrette in your fridge that when you open the door it sounds like wind chimes? Vinaigrette is one of the first things that any home cook should master for a couple of reasons. One, it's expensive to buy and tends to be loaded with ingredients. I … [Read more...] about Vinaigrette Basics [video lesson]
How to Avoid Wasting Food
Comedian John Oliver took to task the issue of food waste on an episode of This Week Tonight. Seemingly overnight, it's become a burning issue. Finally. I dedicated an entire chapter of my 2011 book, The Kitchen Counter Cooking School, to the issue of food waste. Here's an … [Read more...] about How to Avoid Wasting Food
