|
A key ingredient to cooking success is knowing a little
something about the ingredients themselves. Here is some
useful information on what to look for, how to buy,
where to store, and how to prepare meals with them.
All-purpose flour
All-purpose flour is milled from the inner part of the
wheat kernel. It's a combination of hard (high-protein,
like bread) and soft (low-protein, like cake and pastry)
flours, and is suitable for most uses. For best results,
avoid bleached flour.
Allspice
This dried seed pod comes from evergreen trees and has
the flavors of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. This spice
is also known as Jamaican pepper for its peppercorn-like
appearance, and its growth on the
island
of Jamaica.
Almond extract
Almond extract is made from bitter-almond oil and is
usually combined with ethyl alcohol. If stored in a
cool, dark place, it will keep indefinitely.
Anaheim
peppers
Also called Green Chiles. Mildly hot.
Angel hair pasta
Spaghetti made in very fine strands.
Artichokes
Artichokes can be purchased fresh or canned. Use a
scissors to trim the top fourth of the outer leaves and
the stem. Soak to clean thoroughly. With a stainless
steel knife, slice off the top quarter of the pale green
cone. Rub all cut surfaces with lemon to maintain color.
Cook by steaming, or simmer in boiling water with
additional lemon juice, covered, for 40 minutes, or
until tender. Scoop out the fuzzy choke with a spoon and
discard. The artichoke heart is below the choke.
Asiago
An Italian cheese with a rich nutty flavor.
Baking powder
A derivative of baking soda. Baking powder is a double
action leavener that is activated when mixed with a
liquid.
Baking soda
Use this leavener with pastries that contain acid to
make them rise. Instead of baking soda, use baking
powder with recipes that contain little to no acid
(baking powder already contains acid).
Balsamic vinegar
A sweet but pungent vinegar. A bottle of medium-quality
balsamic vinegar will cost around $10, and is well worth
the price.
Bay leaf
This leaf comes from the evergreen bay laurel tree in
the Mediterranean. If used whole, remove bay leaves from
a dish before serving.
Bibb lettuce
Small, tight leaves that have a crunchy sweetness.
Black pepper
Black peppercorns are the strongest of all peppercorns.
You can buy black pepper as cracked or finely ground,
but freshly ground pepper is always the best.
Boston lettuce
Tender, pale green leaves.
Brown sugar
Brown sugar is white sugar mixed with molasses. To
create, add two tablespoons molasses to one cup white
sugar.
Butter
Butter can be purchased salted or sweet. For cooking
purposes, sweet butter can be purchased, since salt can
be added as needed to any recipe. For great results,
replace butter with Crisco butter flavored shortening
sticks.
Buttermilk
Buttermilk is made by adding a culture to whole or skim
milk, giving it a thicker texture and a slightly tangy
flavor.
|
