Category: Cooking 101
Basil and Garlic Oil Recipe
Peel 4 large garlic cloves and bruise them with the back of a spoon. Put them into a bottle with 2 tablespoons chopped basil, 1 teaspoon black peppercorns and 600 ml (1 pint) extra virgin olive oil. Firmly secure the bottle with a stopper and shake well. Store the oil in a cool place for…
Basics of Salads
Salads come in many different forms and can be served in many ways. A salad makes a great light starter or an accompaniment to a main meal. Salads can also be a meal in themselves when they contain a variety of substantial ingredients as well as leafy greens. How to Store Salads Most salad greens…
Basics of Pasta
How to cook fresh pasta Fresh pasta needs less water than dried pasta. To cook fresh pasta, have a large saucepan of rapidly boiling water ready. Make sure you have enough boiling water for the pasta to cook in. Add a little oil to the water, so the pasta doesn’t stick together. Add pasta to…
How to Select and Store Lobsters, Crabs, Oysters, Scallops and Other Shellfish
Shellfish can be divided into two groups: crustaceans and molluscs. Crustaceans (prawns, lobsters and crabs) have an external skeleton that forms a shell. Molluscs (oysters, scallops, mussels, clams and octopuses) are invertebrates and are usually protected by a hard shell. How to select shellfish Crustaceans should have an intact shell, no discoloration around the joints…
Terms to Know About Baking
Sifting Sift flours and lumpy sugars to incorporate air into them and to remove lumps that may not break down when mixing. Flours Flours come in a wide variety, including white, wholemeal and self-raising. Wholemeal flour gives finished products a heavier texture and wheatier flavour. Self-raising flour is plain flour with baking powder added. Whisking…
Milk and Cream
Buttermilk Originally, buttermilk was the liquid that remained after making butter from cream, hence its name. It is now made from skim (reduced-fat) milk and cultures. It has a slightly acidic taste and a thick consistency. Buttermilk not only adds flavour to cooking, its acid content also reacts with raising agents, giving some baked and…
How to Select, How to Prepare and How to Store Fruits
Best seasons to buy fruits The best time to buy fruit is at the peak of its season, when it has optimum flavor, texture and color. Its price is at its lowest, also, when it’s in season. How to Store Fruits In the warmer months it’s best to keep fruit in the refrigerator, with the…
Different types of sugars and where to use each
What is white sugar White sugar, or granulated table sugar, is the most common type of sugar and it is used extensively. White sugar is processed to medium-sized crystals. What is caster sugar Caster (superfine) sugar has finer, smaller crystals than white sugar. It dissolves faster than white sugar and is often used in meringues…
How to Prepare and Eat Cooked Lobster and Crab
Crustacea, such as crab, lobster, shrimp and the many kinds of prawn comprise a group of seafood which have limbs and also shells. Preparing Cooked Shellfish Although diners are often given cooked shellfish, notably crab mayonnaise, which takes practice, and left to fend for themselves, it is usual for the cook to give some preliminary…
Fish: How to Clean, How to Choose, How to Store and More
The rules of cooking seafood are simple: start with fresh, don’t over cook and serve as soon as it is cooked. Easy. Because it is low in fat, high in protein and an excellent source of vitamins, fish has long been considered an important item in healthy cooking. The great variety of fish available is…