Cooking Basics

Stock, broth and bullion are closely related kitchen staples; the flavor and consistency of each product, however, can vary significantly depending on how it is prepared. Because certain recipes...

Currants are berries that grow in grape-like bunches. Given its similar appearance to raisins, the fruit's name is derived from the Greek word for small, dried grapes. Currant jelly is common in...

Soy milk is used by many people for a variety of reasons. These reasons may be due to a dairy allergy, an aversion to animal products, or just because of the health benefits of soy. Many may not...

Over-salting is one of the top 10 complaints about cooking, and it can strike just about any food group, including something as simple as egg salad. Fixing the problem is as easy as figuring out...

Sour salt is crystallized citric acid, a weak acid derived from citrus fruits such as lemons and limes. Sour salt is used as a seasoning to add a soft pucker to lemonade, borscht and other...

When recipes call for seeding a tomato, what they really mean is removing the seeds along with the jelly and juice that surround them. Many cooks remove this "pulp" to prevent a finished dish,...

From a cooking standpoint, any olive oil will do. How the oil is to be used and your personal taste preference should help you decide which oil is the right choice for you. Olive oil has good fat...

You have many different choices when it comes to barbecuing. Once you decide on a charcoal grill, the next decision is what to use to cook your food: charcoal briquettes or wood charcoal? Both...

Grilling in the backyard on a warm summer's evening is an American tradition. For those who like to cook over an open flame the question is: should you use charcoal or wood chips for your flame?

Nutrition- and fiber-rich acai berry powder adds vibrant color and flavor to meals any time of day. Sneak some extra nutrition into snacks or feature acai berry flavor in a sweet treat your whole...

Sugar is an ingredient in anything that has a sweet flavor, from fresh fruit to candy. It also exists in fruits, vegetables and in many processed foods that aren't sweet. Sugar brings out the...

Karo syrup is used in cooking and baking recipes. It is a product of corn syrup and is not as sweet as other syrups. Even though Karo syrup is known as an ingredient for cooking and baking, the...

Using a meat smoker is a cooking process that takes longer than direct grilling in which the coals are directly under the meat. With smoking, the coals should either be in a smoker chamber, or to...

Many types of oil are available for cooking. They come from a variety of vegetable sources and have different flavors and properties. The choice of which oil to use will depend on the type of...

Truffle oil is made from truffles, a gourmet variety of mushrooms. It is primarily used in sparse amounts to flavor food, not for cooking. Truffles grow underground and their difficulty to harvest...

Many people don't realize that making their own chicken stock is as simple as adding just a few ingredients. Using just chicken bones, celery, carrots, onions, water and a few spices you can make...

The term "prepared mustard" is often used in cookbooks and recipes, but not everyone is familiar with its meaning. The definition of prepared mustard is simply ground mustard seed that has been...

Basil, oh basil... My life seems complete when I'm holding a bunch of freshly snipped, vibrant green leafy basil. Taking ordinary to extraordinary, basil is an herbal gift to any cook.

Grocery store prices for fresh herbs are OUTRAGEOUS! But if you do buy or grow dill, these few easy tips will help you get the most for your buck!

Chocolate shavings are delicious, serving as garnishes for hundreds of recipes. Chocolate shavings are the unsung heroes of many popular deserts and drinks, for they hold so much flavor and...

There are so many different cooking oils with many attributes. Some add flavor, and some complement the flavor of your dish. Here are some of the healthiest cooking oils to consider the next time...

Is your new year's diet food already making you gag? Or maybe you've just never been much of a cook? If you're tired of eating bland or bad tasting food at home, here are some proven tips that...

Have a leftover soup you've lost a taste for? Have more people coming to dinner than you expected? Tired of thin, watery soups? It's easy to extend the life of a soup to make it fuller, richer,...

This is an easy recipe for an old-fashion pie that you very rarely hear of these days. This is another one of those favorite southern foods. The egg pie is very similar to a chess pie but it is...

Sesame oil, also called gingelly or til oil, is derived from the sesame seed. The oil is easily available and used worldwide and has been for thousands of years. It is an important flavor for many...

Because of the trend toward cutting fats in the modern diet, most commercially sold pork products today are much leaner than old-fashioned, farm-raised or free-range pork. This new...

Shrimp is one of those delicacies that can have totally different flavors depending on its freshness. When fresh, shrimp will have a sweet, explosive flavor. Here's how you can tell if the...

Why season? The taste buds can only detect four (4) things: sweet, salty, bitter, and sour the rest of the flavor comes from the nose. The time to season is debatable. Two schools of thought are...

Do you spend a lot of time in the kitchen cooking? Now day’s people are making healthier choices and switching from the old vegetable oils to the heart-healthy mono- and poly- unsaturated fats...

Apples have numerous health benefits; They contain pectin, a natural soluble fiber that aids digestion and may help reduce cancer and heart disease. Pection also cuts down on the amount of fat...

Thyme is a versatile herb with an earthy flavor that can add an extra taste dimension to a variety of recipes. You'll find this herb used prominently in a variety of international cuisines where...

Learn how to with expert tips and advice on diabetic food in this free video series on recipes.

Learn how to prepare the red peppers with expert tips and advice on diabetic food in this free video series on recipes.

Learn how to prepare the yellow peppers with expert tips and advice on diabetic food in this free video series on recipes.

Celery has a great rich flavor, perfect for dips and sauces. Our expert shows you how to cut celery with great tips for chefs in this free cooking video.

Parsley can add flavor and color to any dish, especially dips and sauces. Our expert shows you how to mince parsley with great cooking tips in this free recipe video.

Onion can add flavor to any dish, especially dips and sauces. Learn how to chop onions in this free recipe video.

When you are cooking and baking, you will find that many recipes call for lemons. Even though they are hardly ever eaten straight, lemons are one of the most popular fruits when it comes to...

Cinnamon is a versatile aromatic spice which has many uses. In biblical times, it was an ingredient found in fragrant perfumes and anointing oils. However, cinnamon's most common use is for...

Everyone knows that pancake mixes are easy to prepare. All you do is add a bit of water and stir. These mixes can be a bit bland though. Thankfully there are ways you can easily add flavor to...

Serve up a hot, juicy roast beef, and everybody at your table will be delighted. Although cooking a roast is a fairly simple process, one secret to a roast that will stand out from all the others...

Soy sauce remains one of the most essential cooking ingredients for both Asian and non-Asian foods. Determining which brand of soy sauce to buy gets complicated with so many options available. Let...

Cooking with essential oils is a great way to add flavor to many foods. They can be used in place of herbs when fresh herbs are unavailable or to add a different flavor to a family’s favorite...

Grapes are very healthy, and when you mix strawberry preserves with grape jelly, the preserves will became a new flavor strawberry-grape. It is healthier and tasty. Read on to learn how to make...

Because taste is such an individual thing, one secret to good cooking is variety. We can all become deadened to taste if we don’t have surprise flavors in our everyday food to add some zip. Take...

Vanilla extract is a product of vanilla beans. Though we tend to think of it as a single seasoning, there are actually 150 varieties of vanilla. Like wine, the strain of vanilla, the soil and...

Traditionally, alfredo sauce is made from parmesan cheese, butter, and heavy cream and served over fettuccine. In American cuisine, it is often mixed with other ingredients such as parsley,...