Food is one of the great joys in life, as well as being an essential part of your everyday routine. Unless you are wealthy enough to have your own personal chef whipping you up something delicious three times a day, it is worth taking some time to hone your cooking skills. Like anything in life, practice makes perfect, but there are a few simple tricks and techniques that you can follow to improve your dishes.
Continue reading “Master Chef – 5 Easy Ways to Become a Better Cook”
Hospitality industry receives millions of applications every year. The candidates are attracted by the dynamism and glamour this domain has to offer. While a job in hospitality can represent a dream come true for many people this doesn’t mean that it is less demanding than others. On the contrary, this is a customer-facing environment which requires a lot of positivism and concentration. On the other hand, the rewards are extraordinary. As a professional working in hospitality, you have a special role. You help people create lifetime memories by offering them a unique experience in any destination you choose.
Continue reading “Top Skills You Need for a Job in Hospitality”
I will take all of the help I can get around the holidays when it comes to entertaining. I usually have all of my cooking and baking resources in use at the same time. We have a family inside joke every Thanksgiving. The broccoli casserole caught on fire 3 years in a row while trying to reheat it. The first time it was my house, then my sister-in-law’s, and lastly at my aunt’s. What are the chances?! I do believe we left it off the holiday menu on purpose last year.
Continue reading “The Whirlpool Convection Over-the-Range Microwave is a Handy Holiday Helper”
Cooking has never been easier with the Whirlpool Sunset Bronze Gas Convection Range. Your holiday dinner and baked treats will be a pleasure to cook this year. With this 5.8 cubit ft self-cleaning gas slide-in range, you can prepare a delicious meal in no time flat!
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When you have a large family or like to throw parties every now and then, having plenty of entertainment space in your home is important. While an upgraded living area or a kitchen works great, it’s also ideal to create an excellent outdoor space whenever possible. Mother Nature is the best exterior designer and she shows off her chops during summer and spring when the outdoors come alive with blooming flowers, nice breezes, bird songs, and the refreshing aroma of freshly-mowed grass. Is your home’s patio living up to her standards?
Continue reading “What Makes a Great Patio?”
Contributed by Hannah Whittenly
Everyone loves kitchen gadgets. Some are more useful than others. When you’re cooking for a large family, it is important to have the right tools. Here are some items that will help you prepare those large quantity meals:
A crock pot is a good way to save time on meal preparation. A large one can be used if you have a large family or if you are going to a family gathering. This is one way to ensure that there is enough food to go around. Crock pots are extremely versatile. It can be used for sauces, main courses, or desserts. This is a must have for every kitchen even if you don’t have a large family. You can make healthy soups and stews just by throwing in some ingredients. Then you can run out the door for the day, and still have dinner ready when you get home.
Continue reading “Big Family Living: 4 Kitchen Tools to Make Cooking for a Crowd Easier”
Do you walk into the kitchen and instead of cooking, pick up the phone and order out? Does cooking make you a little nervous or just seem scary because of past experiences? You are not alone! Many people feel this way. 🙂 All you need is a little patience and lots of practice. Soon, with a little guidance you’ll be cooking like a pro! Follow these simple tips to become an experienced cook.
Continue reading “Become an Experienced Cook with Simple Tips”
Improving your cooking skills can seem a tad overwhelming. Sometimes just looking at a cookbook can make cooking seem harder than it is. Learning to cook doesn’t have to be that difficult. Here are a few tips that may be useful to you.
Make sure that you understand the conversions for substituting dried herbs for fresh in recipes. While some herbs lose flavor during the drying process, others like oregano can intensify. If you are unsure how much of an herb to use, start with small amounts and gradually add more.
When you are chopping herbs before your meal, throw a little bit of salt on the chopping board. This adds extra friction so you can maximize your cuts. Quality cuts of herbs will produce a great meal!
It is important to season all of the meat you are cooking evenly. Sprinkle seasoning lightly over the meat like snow. This will even your seasoning and prevent it from clumping. Also, the flavor will be consistent all the way through it.
Keep your pantry well stocked with a selection of canned meats. These come in handy when you need to prepare a meal quickly. Plus, you never know when the power may go out! Simply add a few other ingredients from your pantry and you can have a quick and easy dinner.
Remove the skin from nuts such as almonds and pistachios when cooking. You can blanch the nuts by boiling them in a pan of water for one minute. Drain the nuts, and place them on a towel. Fold the towel over the nuts, and rub back and forth. The skins should rub off onto the towel.
To keep foods crispy in the oven, try using a wire rack on top of your baking sheet. If your oven “fried” chicken strips or other breaded items, tend to come out soggy on the bottom, try placing them on the wire rack. This allows air to circulate on all sides and bakes the food evenly for a nice crunch.
I hope these simple tips will allow you to gain more experience and become more comfortable in the kitchen. Happy Cooking!