Boiled peanuts are a delicious delicacy. But for those who did not grow up on them, the whole idea is strange and people often find them off-putting. You probably think that boiling peanuts is a peculiar tradition in the Southern United States. Not a lot of people know it, but boiled peanuts are also enjoyed … Read more
The great yellow vs. white onions debate usually centers on which one is ‘better’ for a specific dish. We’re told to use white onions for salsa and yellow onions for soup. But from a botanical standpoint, every ‘common’ onion in your grocery store, whether it’s white, yellow, or deep purple, is actually the exact same … Read more
A frequent cooking mistake is said to be overcrowding the pan. To say that you should never overcrowd a pan when cooking, however, is not an accurate statement. It depends on what type of cooking you are doing. When you are pan-frying, pan-searing, or sauteing, you should not overcrowd the pan. This is because one of the biggest keys to flavor … Read more
I’ll start this article off with complete honesty: I never do this. I never “sift dry ingredients together.” I consider it a waste of time and effort. My wife disagrees. She thinks that if a recipe tells you to sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, etc., then you must. Who’s right? The sift camp … Read more
Mushrooms can sometimes bought in bulk at the supermarket when they are sold by the pound. However, more often, fresh mushrooms are packaged in 8-ounce plastic containers which are wrapped in plastic wrap. Is it OK to leave them in this container for storage? While the mushrooms you purchase in a plastic tub, usually common … Read more
Most people set their oven at a certain temperature, say 350°F, and assume that the inside of the oven will reach exactly 350°F. Then, they assume that the oven will do a perfect job of maintaining this temperature during the cooking process. Quite likely, your oven is not that accurate at all. Many home ovens … Read more