Skip to main content

Featured Posts

Steak Recipe - How To Make Steak Tender

Steak Recipe - How To Make Steak Tender   You invest a lot of time and money into the steaks for a special occasion and when dinner time comes, they are tough. What happened? How can you cook steaks as tender as your favorite restaurant? The first step to cooking a good steak is to choose the right grade of steak. The top quality beef is graded USDA Prime and commands top prices. USDA Prime grade meats are sold to the restaurant industry and specialty markets and are not as likely to be found at your local grocery chain. The next grade of beef is USDA Choice. USDA Choice is tender, flavorful and only slightly lower in quality than USDA Prime. The meat is well marbled with fat and will be tender and juicy when properly prepared. USDA Choice makes up about 70% of all graded beef and is readily available in your supermarket. USDA Good graded beef is an acceptable grade of beef that has only minimal marbling of fat. It is leaner, but may not be as tender as USDA Prime or Choice. Next, ...

How To Prepare Your Culinary Masterpiece

How To Prepare Your Culinary Masterpiece 


How To Prepare Your Culinary Masterpiece

First thing is first. So you want a culinary masterpiece? Be careful and to follow these instructions to become great.

Prepare Your Food Lists

Do you have any ingredients in supply? Do you have enough for your recipe? Are the ingredients still fresh or have they spoiled? List what you’re missing and how much you need. If you’re just cooking for one or two, don’t get the family packages of perishables unless you can freeze the extra and use it up before it gets freezer burn. Most dry spices keep quite a while, but can lose potency if stored in warm, damp areas.

Check the grocery ads

See what’s on sale. There’s no sense in paying more than you have to. Consider how many people you’re cooking for and how much refrigerator and freezer space you have. Nothing is a bargain if you can’t store it long enough to cook and eat it. A large roast, for example, can be chopped into meal-sized pieces and frozen, or you can cook the whole thing, eat what you want, and save the rest for sandwiches, stews, casseroles, and snacks–if you have the refrigerator or freezer space to store it.

Using coupons: Coupons can save you money or cost you.
If the coupon is for something you would have bought anyway, it’s worth using. If it’s just a different brand, the coupon makes it cheaper than your regular brand, and you can’t taste the distinction, use it. If the only reason you’re buying the product is to use the coupon, forget it! If it’s something new that you’d like to try, and you don’t have to buy a large quantity, look at the price and decide if it’s worth the money to you. Go ahead and treat yourself occasionally. Little treats make it easier to stick to a healthy routine the rest of the time.

How much should you buy?

Most supermarkets have the prices marked on the shelves, and show a unit price on the ticket. Sometimes the larger package costs less per pound, or ounce, or whatever unit is used. Sometimes the smaller package is in fact the better buy. Small calculators are so inexpensive nowadays that getting one to take shopping with you can save you money, especially when one brand, for example, lists the price per pound and another shows the per ounce price.

With foods that have to be frozen or chilled, or fresh fruits and vegetables that spoil quickly (known as “perishables”) only buy as much as you can use before they perish. The fresher it is, the better the flavor and nutrition, so, even though you can keep a lot of stuff in the freezer for long periods, it’s better not to keep it for more than a few weeks. (Keep track of what’s in the freezer–date everything as it goes in–so that nothing gets buried in the back or bottom for years at a time.)

It’s real easy to overbuy when things are on sale. Then you risk either having to eat so much of it that you can’t stand the thought of it for a long time afterward, or being forced to throw out some of it when it spoils.

Are national brands worth the price? Are house or generic brands just as good as the national brands?

All of the major chain supermarkets have house brands or plainly packaged generic products. Some chains have both. Check out your local chains, try the house products, and decide for yourself when (or if) you want to spend a little more for the national brand. If you really prefer a national brand, especially in non-perishables, watch the ads, and when it goes on sale, stock up. Many of the house brands are made by the same companies that make the national brands. The only difference is that the supermarket chain buys in quantity, and the manufacturer has no advertising expense.

Staple supplies that every kitchen needs.
All-purpose flour, cornstarch (for thickening gravy), assorted noodles and pasta, rice, oils (vegetable, olive, peanut), vinegar (white wine, red wine, apple cider, plain distilled), canned soups (beef broth, chicken broth, tomato, cream of mushroom), assorted spices and flavorings (dried minced onion, oregano for Italian dishes, salt, pepper, any others you like.)Buy small quantities on new items and taste test before stocking up.

Other good things to keep on hand.
Canned meats and vegetables, mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup, favorite salad dressings, horseradish sauce, ready-to-eat cereal, quick cooking oatmeal, Cream of Wheat, Cream of Rice, grits, gravy mixes, drink mixes, any other favorite foods.

With these basic pointers you should be well on your way to having a well stocked kitchen and great cooking experience.

Comments

Popular Articles

Coffee - Brewed Coffee & Gourmet Coffee

Coffee - Brewed Coffee & Gourmet Coffee   Coffee is something that we a drink to enjoy the quiet moments of our day. It is also something we drink to jolt our systems when our system is falling asleep and we still need to work. What contrasting reasons to drink this brew yet both are accurate. Coffee is a complex drink that is drunk at any time during the day. It is enjoyed by many millions of people yet not truly appreciated by these very same people. There are so many varieties and blends that it can be bewildering. In fact, as the character of Tom Hanks in Youve Got Mail puts it, it can be a challenge to choose for those who have difficulty making decisions to go into a Starbucks shop because suddenly you are asked to make six, all in one go. It is always great to learn new things and try out new tastes. It also helps if you can learn about what blends may match your taste without your having to waste money on a cup that you will find you absolutely unappealing after the fir...

Recipe Cheese Fondue : Try Non Alcoholic Cheese Fondue

Recipe Cheese Fondue : Try Non Alcoholic Cheese Fondue   Do you want to share your love of cheese fondue with your children? Or did you just find out that one of your fondue party guests doesnt drink alcohol? Well then its time to learn how to make non-alcoholic fondue. Non alcoholic fondue is great for kids and other people who for whatever their reason, have an aversion to alcohol. The white wine that provides the unique flavor to fondue can be substituted with apple cider. Apple cider will give you the great taste that you expect from fondue without the alcohol. The story of how fondue came about goes something like this. People living through long winters in the Swiss Alps had to worry about their food supply. They ate what was on hand. At the end of the cold season, usually all that was left was hard cheeses and wine. So with some experimentation and innovation, those ingredients were combined with crunchy bread to create the first fondue dinners. So take a lesson from the peo...

Grill - Gas Grill Buying Tips For Barbecue Grill

Grill - Gas Grill Buying Tips For Barbecue Grill   Gas grills are a popular choice among barbecue enthusiasts. Mainly because compared to charcoal grills, gas grills are easier to clean. In addition, there are lesser accidents related to the use of gas grills and in ten minutes it is ready to barbecue. For those thinking of buying a gas grill or upgrading to a gas grill for grilling, there are a number of things to consider before purchasing one. Taking these few tips into consideration will make the search faster and easier, and in the end the grill you purchase will be more satisfying for you to use. 1. Three Levels Of Gas Grills Entry-level These Gas grills are the most basic gas grills available in the market today. They are reasonable priced starting at $ 150 to $ 300. Entry-level gas grills don’t need wood or charcoal and produce their own heat. With regards to this type of gas grill, it is best to choose one made of stainless steel for the frame and main body. Mid-Range Thes...