2 pounds leaf lard or fatback , diced as finely as you can (it’s easiest to dice while frozen) NOTE: You can use this same method for beef tallow and other animal fats This can be made in the slow Read More …
How To Make Lard
Category: Hints, Tips and Tricks
Cookout Math: How Many Burgers, Hot Dogs, and Ribs to Buy Per Person
When buying meat for a cookout, think in terms of weight. Buy a total of 1/2 pound (8 ounces) of boneless meat per person, or 3/4 pound (12 ounces) of bone-in meat. (For these purposes, count children under 10 as Read More …
How to Julienne
A lot of very precise cutting that’s not going to come easily to someone who didn’t mince their way through hours of knife skills class in cooking school. If you can slice a vegetable, you can julienne: Take any fruit Read More …
Plantains
Yellow-brown, brown and black plantains can be peeled as you would a banana, but it is almost impossible to peel green and yellow plantains. Cut their skin off with a sharp knife. Slice plantains, with the skin attached, on a Read More …
Moroccan Preserved Lemons
The peel and pulp of these lemons are used whole or chopped in Moroccan and Middle Eastern dishes of rice, fish, or meat. Preserved in winter, the lemons will be ready to serve with summer grills and barbecues. To avoid Read More …
The Art of Serving Cheese
Taleggio – Italy; sophisticated and meaty Always serve cheese at room temperature, not cold from the refrigerator. In order to ensure the emergence of its full flavor, always take the cheese out of the refrigerator early enough for it to Read More …
Baking Better Bars and Cookies
Easier to bake than drop cookies, bar cookies are a treat few can resist. Here are 10 great tips for baking better bars. When making bar cookies, pay close attention to the size of the pan called for in each Read More …
Crumb Guide
Here is a handy guide as to how much crumbs to prepare for a 9-inch crust. For a graham cracker crust you will need 16 squares. It will take 24, 2-inch cookies for a vanilla wafer crust. A chocolate crumb Read More …
Flour Varieties, Facts and Tips
All-Purpose Flour / Cake Flour / Self-Rising Flour / Instantized Flour Bread Flour Semolina Flour / Pastry Flour / Durum Flour Natural Grain Flours / Flour Tips / Flour Substitutions Flour Types All-Purpose Flour The most common called for flour Read More …
Candy Making Chart
Thread begins at 230° The syrup will make a 2″ thread when dropped from a spoon. Soft Ball begins at 234° A small amount of syrup dropped into chilled water forms a ball, but flattens when picked up with Read More …
Candy Making Temperatures
Thread Stage Binding agent for fruit pastes A spoonful of sugar drizzled over a plate forms a fine, thin thread. 223-234 ºF (106-112 ºC) Soft-ball Stage Fondant, Fudge A spoonful of sugar dropped into ice water forms a ball that Read More …
Candy Cooking Temperature Chart
Hardness Temperature Cold Water Test Soft Ball Stage 234 – 240°F 110 – 115°C Forms a soft ball that flattens when removed from water. Firm Ball Stage 242 – 248°F 115 – 120°C Forms a firm ball that holds its Read More …
Stuffing Tips
Stuff the bird immediately before roasting to avoid any bacterial contamination. If you prefer, place stuffing in a baking dish, cover and bake alongside the bird for the final hour. For health and safety reasons, when turkey is finished, pull Read More …
Timetable for Roasting Fresh or Thawed Turkey in a 325 °F Oven
Weight Unstuffed Stuffed 6 to 8 pounds 2-1/4 to 3-1/4 hours 3 to 3-1/2 hours 8 to 12 pounds 3 to 4 hours 3-1/2 to 4-1/2 hours 12 to 16 pounds 3-1/2 to 4-1/2 hours 4-1/2 to 5-1/2 hours 16 Read More …
Thawing Times for Whole Turkey
Weight of TurkeyIn RefrigeratorIn Cold Water 8 to 12 pounds 1 to 2 days 4 to 6 hours 12 to 16 pounds 2 to 3 days 6 to 9 hours 16 to 20 pounds 3 to 4 days 9 to Read More …
Turkey Roasting Tips
Cooking by high heat method gives a gorgeously brown turkey which remains juicy. Proper timing (or an instant read thermometer) is essential to make sure the turkey is cooked. Preheat oven to 400oF. Bring the bird to room temperature and Read More …
Cake Ribboning
The technique known as ribboning is the way to perfect cake-making. When your egg batter forms a ribbon when dropped from lifted beaters, then it’s exactly right. The batter should drop in a wide, flat band that folds in on Read More …
Tips on Whipping Cream
Be sure to chill a metal bowl, beaters, or the whisk you’ll use to whip the cream in your freezer, about 15 minutes for best results. You’ll find the cream will whip faster and more fully. If, however, you don’t Read More …
Fish and Seafood Tips
Here are some tips for buying a fresh fish: The eyes are slightly protruded, bright and clear. The gills should be red or pink. A stale fish has eyes that are pink, sunken and cloudy, and the gills are gray. Read More …
Characteristics of Poor Quality Bread Products and Rolls
CHARACTERISTIC BISCUITS MUFFINS YEAST BREADS AND ROLLS Outside Appearance Shape irregular. . Too much liquid. Dough not rolled to uniform thickness. Improper cutting of dough. Uneven oven heat. Too much flour. Not enough liquid. Overmixing. Too much batter in Read More …