At its heart, gravy is a sauce. Sauces flummox home cooks. I interviewed a woman at a supermarket who told me, "I've burned gravy, I've made greasy gravy, I've made lumpy gravy, I've made bland gravy. So, I add a packet of seasoning to my homemade gravy and it somehow works out." … [Read more...] about From a Box or Homade: Gravy
Pantry & Supermarket Tips
From a Can or Homemade: Cranberry Sauce
Growing up, I assumed that cranberries grew in the shape of a can. I am not alone. When I was nine, my Aunt Judy made cranberry relish from whole berries and nothing was the same again. I was only a kid, yet realized that when it came to canned cranberries vs. fresh, there's no … [Read more...] about From a Can or Homemade: Cranberry Sauce
From a Can or Homemade: Green Beans
Green beans are a classic side dish for any holiday. I debated an update on green bean casserole, but decided instead to serve fresh green beans and canned green beans, each were lightly sauteed in butter with garlic, salt and Fresh Green Beans Green beans are simple to … [Read more...] about From a Can or Homemade: Green Beans
Recipe: How to Make Homemade Flavored Butter
Here's a key reason you want to learn how to make homemade flavoredbutter. Walking in a fancy upscale supermarket recently, I ran across a 3 oz tub of herb-infused butter was $5.99. That means you're paying $31 for butter with some herbs in it. Save money and do it … [Read more...] about Recipe: How to Make Homemade Flavored Butter
A Cheat Sheet to Flavor Profiles
What makes something taste Italian or Cajun or Moroccan? Here's a quick guide to understanding flavor profiles and how ingredients work together to define various cuisines. What is a flavor profile, anyway? At its most basic, a flavor profile is made up of ingredients that help … [Read more...] about A Cheat Sheet to Flavor Profiles
