Baking Basics

Just four main ingredients make a perfect, rich pastry dough for any savory dish you make; empanadas, chicken pot pie, crusty casseroles, beef tenderloin en brochette, etc. If you'd like to add...

Maybe you know someone who is vegan -- meaning, he/she doesn't eat animal products (like eggs and milk, for example). Or maybe you have a food allergy. Perhaps you're just looking for a way to...

Olive oil has more uses and a greater production than almond oil, but the oils do share similarities in uses and benefits. Both oils provide a flavorful additive for cooks, are a good source of...

Layers of chocolate covered and filled with buttery frosting give German Chocolate Cake the flavors of a rich European dessert. But this cake is all-American, named in honor of the man who created...

Unflavored gelatin has plenty of uses in the kitchen. One of its main uses is for the binding in pies, jams and cream cheeses. It's also used to make the capsules for pharmaceutical pills, photo...

Flour is made from wheat, and different types of wheat yield different types of flour. Cake flour is derived from soft wheats and it is used in cakes because its characteristics allow it different...

Proper mortar and insulation are the keys to an effective wood-fired brick oven. Building strong layers of cement and bricks traps the heat inside the dome and directs it onto the cooking food. A...

It's easy to make chocolate candy bar brownies. All you need to do is tweak the recipe a bit from the one on the brownie mix and your friends and family will think you're a genius.

Sometimes the hardest thing about planning a family dinner is dreading the clean up afterwards! Here's some ways to have a great party or dinner and make clean up simple!

I love a good ham with a sweet crusty outside that compliments the natural salty flavors of the ham. Here is a super easy and quick way to prepare a ham.

Unless you are a serial-baker, a five-pound bag of flour is going to last you a while. But what is the best way to make sure that the last cup measured is as fresh as the first? Air tight storage...

This is one recipe that you will because it’s so easy to fix and so easy to cover your taste buds. The prep time usually takes about 29 minutes and takes baking 40 minutes. It tends to serve...

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and brown gravy is one thing you will find on most tables during Thanksgiving dinner. This how to will show you easy steps in preparing, brown gravy for...

Wheat flour is essential to many baked goods because it provides structure. All-purpose flour and self-rising flour can be substituted in many baking recipes with some minor adjustments.

Baking a cake is both a fun and rewarding experience. Whether you're a novice or you're a master, there are a few basic steps that you need to get out of the way in order to create the perfect...

Potato starch is a thickening agent used in many soups and gravies. Its versatility also allows it to be mixed with other flours for the purpose of baking.

Cakes split and crack on top when they rise in the center too rapidly after the edges of the cake are set. Some cooks refer to this problem as volcano-topped cakes, and several things can cause...

A combination thermometer and timer lets you keep an eye on a large piece of meat in the oven or on the stove without having to guess when it's done and without having to repeatedly open the oven...

It’s that time of year when everybody is puttin on their apron and turming up the oven and is planning on baking homemade Christmas cookies. Whether you are baking with the kids, a baking veteran,...

Fan ovens, which are sold at department stores, look just like conventional ovens. But fan ovens are especially well suited for making bread because the constant convecting air cooks the dough at...

Low carbohydrate diets have been around for many years now, and can be quite effective for losing weight. One baking ingredient that is hard to do without is flour, but there are some easy ways...

All-purpose flour was produced specifically for casual cooks who make a wide range of recipes in small quantities and without specialized equipment. Baking flours specialized for pastries and...

Apple cider was first brought over to this country on the Mayflower. It is a part of the Thanksgiving traditional foods and drinks of the pilgram. It is use in food recipes as well as made into...

People all over the world enjoy challah bread every day. This bread is part of Jewish tradition and is generally eaten as part of their Friday night dinner. However since almost all...

So you want to be a good cook. There are a few things that you need to learn along the way. These things can't be learned in school or from any cookbook. This is my Mother's recipe for being a...

A baked sweet potato is a healthy side dish option for a homemade lunch, but transporting a freshly baked sweet potato can be difficult. Sweet potatoes will cool quickly if placed in a brown paper...

Accurately measuring your baking ingredients directly determines the outcome of the recipe. Improper ratios of wet and dry parts of the mixture can throw off the delicate chemical balance of the...

Roasted garlic is delicious and versatile. It takes a milder, sweet taste after roasting. It can be used as an ingredient in dishes, as a spread, or eaten whole. After roasting the garlic, crush,...

The key to keeping anything at a specific temperature, whether it be a casserole or even a home, is insulation. This keeps any heat or cold from escaping. Insulating a casserole can be done...

Don't be scared away by the title, for this is a delicious recipe. Not only is it inexpensive, it is something you can design to your liking. Leave out a step that you don't prefer if you want, or...

Mailing a homemade cake can be the ultimate gift for a loved one. The fresh homemade taste, preservative-free cake, and yummy ingredients can all add to the appeal of mailing a frosted, ready-made...

Convection ovens have built-in fans that move hot air around the oven to evenly heat your cooking vessel full of water and potatoes. This evenly controlled heat will cook all the potatoes at the...

How to make a classic delicious green bean casserole for this year Thanksgiving or anytime of the year. Try this as a side dish with your thanksgiving turkey. Trust me it will be delicious.

How to make classic homemade pumpkin bread for this Thanksgiving dinner. This makes 1 loaf about 7x3 inch's. And is also a amazing side dish and winter snack with melted butter on a piece of warm...

This very easy explanation will ensure perfectly toasted pecans to use on any recipe requiring these tasty morsels. Toasted pecans can be used to top Sundaes, in recipes such as Banana Bread or...

What we are going to make here is my version of shepherds pie, taco style. Shepards pie has been around for years, and can be made in numerous ways. It is very simple to make, delicious and will...

Not all flours are created equal. All-purpose flour and cake flour differ in several ways and are used for different purposes, although it is possible to replace cake flour with all-purpose flour.

Pastry dough flour is milled from soft wheat and, as far as protein content and baking characteristics are concerned, sits midway between all-purpose flour and cake flour. Pastry dough flour is...

Open a cookbook full of baking recipes, and you'll find you often need to use flour. Flour is the main ingredient in many baked goods including bread, cake, cookies and brownies. If you don't add...

Carob powder is made from the pod of the carob bean. The beans grow on the carob tree, which is part of the legume family and can live up to 100 years. The carob tree does not bear fruit for the...

Flour can be made from any type of milled grain, although baking flour is usually made from wheat. Baking flour serves a variety of purposes for making goodies such cakes, pastries and bread.

You can flavor pumpkin seeds in many ways, but first you have to get them out of the pumpkin. There's no short-cut for this--just scoop them out and remove as much of the pulp as you can. Rinse...

This is a quick and easy recipe that requires little work and can be modified for taste. I'm going to show you the basics for this and obviously you can make if you like and modify with different...

You'll learn how to bake cupcakes from scratch and make chocolate cream cheese frosting. Even if it's hot you can still have hot chocolate cupcakes! It's best for the holidays.

Flour is usually made from wheat, but it can be made from any type of milled grain. Baking flour has a combination of physical characteristics that create the right texture in baked goods.

If you are cooking or shopping, it is useful to know how to change ounces to cups and pints. If you want to double a recipe, or get the most for your money, you need to know the following...

It happens to every cook once in a while---you run out of a basic cooking ingredient, but you still want to cook the planned recipe without having to take the time to run to the store to purchase...

Whether you are planning on baking, roasting, frying or grilling your meat this recipe for seasoning will liven up your chicken, pork or beef and give any of those meats a more seasoned taste. ...

Vegetable shortening is used in baking as a fixative and moistening agent. It helps to hold batters together, grease baking pans and prevent sticking. Shortening is high in trans or saturated fats...

Frozen or homemade pizza is always a great option for an easy yet delicious dinner. Pizza can be cooked in several ways, including on the grill, in a conventional oven, or in a standard or...