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How to Fix Common Cooking Mistakes

Contributor
By eHow Contributing Writer
(1 Ratings)

To err is human, or so the saying goes. That saying is multiplied in the kitchen. Problems abound, especially during the holidays and when time is short and there is so much cooking to do. Read on to learn how to fix common cooking mistakes.

From Quick Guide: Cooking Basics
Difficulty: Easy
Instructions

    Add Flavor to Dried Out, Overcooked Tomatoes

  1. Step 1

    Remove the moisture to increase the flavor of the tomatoes.

  2. Step 2

    Cover the baking sheet with foil and add the tomatoes. Sprinkle tomatoes with fresh herbs and salt.

  3. Step 3

    Preheat oven to 200° F. Roast tomatoes for approximately two hours.

  4. Step 4

    Cut large tomatoes into many thick slices. Halve Roma tomatoes lengthwise or make thick slices across the tomato. Leave grape and cherry tomatoes whole.

  5. Step 5

    Drizzle tomatoes with olive oil and serve.

  6. Cover Burned Chicken Breasts

  7. Step 1

    Spread a simple herb sauce to hide burned edges and a dry interior.

  8. Step 2

    Stir together olive oil and your choice of coarsely-chopped fresh herbs--tarragon, basil, thyme, tarragon, mint, parsley or a combination. Include salt and pepper.

  9. Step 3

    Slice chicken thickly and put pieces on the different plates. Spoon sauce across the top.

  10. Step 4

    Add lemon juice or vinegar to your herb sauce. Dress up the chicken and salad greens with your newly-made vinaigrette sauce.

  11. Save Mushy Vegetables

  12. Step 1

    Serve the vegetables anyway.

  13. Step 2

    Add a heaping spoonful of butter and a squirt of honey to steamed carrots. Coarsely mash sweet peas with fresh herbs and butter.

  14. Step 3

    Think about making soup. Saute chopped scallions in olive oil or butter until they soften. Add water or stock and vegetables. Simmer for 15 minutes.

  15. Step 4

    Make a quick minestrone by stirring in a can of drained white beans.

  16. Repair Crumbing Cake

  17. Step 1

    Glue cake back together when it comes out of a pan in pieces. Spread a liberal amount of frosting along the cake's edges and press pieces together.

  18. Step 2

    Seal in crumbs by applying a thin layer of frosting if the cake comes out intact but a layer of crumbs remains stuck to the pan. Rinse the blade with warm water. Dry it after every swipe.

  19. Step 3

    Apply frosting as usual.

  20. Improve Unripe Strawberries

  21. Step 1

    Slice strawberries and sprinkle with sugar. Set the strawberries aside until juices form, about half an hour.

  22. Step 2

    Add flavor. Include a few drops of lemon juice, a couple drops of vanilla extract or a pinch of cardamom or ground cinnamon with sugar.

  23. Step 3

    Include a dash of red wine or cassis right before serving for a boozier, bolder dessert. Try a fruity and light wine like Beaujolais.

  24. Step 4

    Scatter mint or thinly-sliced fresh basil over the top.

  25. Fix Cracked Pie Crust

  26. Step 1

    Cover the rip.

  27. Step 2

    Lightly brush ice water over the dough. Sprinkle the crust generously with coarse sugar or granulated sugar. Press on the dough gently to attach the crystals.

  28. Step 3

    Bake the crust as usual.

  29. Repair Squishy Potatoes

  30. Step 1

    Create home fries if do not want a potato mash.

  31. Step 2

    Drain moisture from the potatoes. Put potatoes in a skillet with a small amount of bacon drippings, butter or olive or peanut oil.

  32. Step 3

    Fry potatoes until crisp and golden--about 20 minutes. Stir occasionally.

  33. Make Use of Stale Bread

  34. Step 1

    Make crostini to show off the finer points of the bread.

  35. Step 2

    Slice the bread thinly. Toast the bread at 325° F until the edges are slightly golden and the bread is crisp throughout--about five minutes.

  36. Step 3

    Use the improved toast as garlic-rubbed croutons in soup, as a starter for bruschetta or as a melba toast replacement.

  37. Step 4

    Create bread crumbs by tossing the bread into a food processor. Set the processor to pulse if the bread is so dry it crumbles when it is sliced.

Comments  

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on 4/17/2009 I put to much cayene pepper in my red beans and now they are to spicy, how can I fix this..

Carol44 said

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on 12/23/2008 I'm making chicken/sausage gumbo. I forgot to add the oil to the roux. I just sprinkled it into chicken broth with the veggies and meats/. When I realized my mistake, I added the oil. Will this matter? Help!!!

jrjess said

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on 11/12/2008 there's way too much salt in my spaghetti sauce, how do i fix it?

jrjess said

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on 11/12/2008 theres way too much salt in my spaghetti sauce, how do i fix it?

chap783 said

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on 9/27/2008 how can I reduce spiciness/heat in black bean dip

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