Mis En Place

Miss en Place: A French term referring to having all the ingredients necessary for a dish prepared and ready to combine up to the point of cooking.

Definition of Sweating

Sweating is a technique in which vegetables are cooked in a small
amount of fat over very low heat. Vegetables should not become browned during this process.

Honey for Sugar

To substitute honey for granulated sugar in your baking recipes follow these guidelines.

* Use 2/3 to 3/4 cup of honey in place of each cup of sugar.

* Reduce the liquid by 1/4 cup.

* If the recipe does not contain baking soda, add 1/2 teaspoon baking soda for each cup of honey used.

* Reduce the oven temperature by 25 degrees.

Nut Allergies

To assist guests who may have nut allergies it´s a good idea to use a nut as a garnish on any food items that have nuts on them.

Bacon; restaurant style

For flat, perfectly cooked bacon, lay strips on a sheet pan and bake in a 350 degree oven until crisp, 15 to 20 minutes.

Drain on paper towels.

Cooking with Wine

When cooking with wine, leave the pan uncovered so the
alcohol will burn off. The resulting liquid will have a rounder, firmer, fruitier
flavor.

Pretty Peas

Serve cooked peas in a scooped out fresh tomato for a nice effect on a dinner plate.

Bringing out the flavour

Paprika´s color is instantly visible, but its full flavour comes out when it is cooked.

For full flavor and aroma, saute paprika in olive oil or cook it slowly in stews

Reduce: A definition

Reduce: To boil a liquid rapidly until the volume is reduced
by evaporation, thereby thickening the consistency and intensifying
the flavor.

Storing Cookies: Soft

Soft cookies should be stored at room temperature in an air-tight container between layers of waxed paper.

If they begin to harden, place a slice of apple in with the cookies.

Dried vs. Fresh

1/3 to 1/2 teaspoons of dried herbs = 1 tablespoon
fresh herbs.

Where does Paprika come from?

Most commercial paprika comes from Spain, South America, California and Hungary.

Although Hungary is a highly regarded source, Spain produces more than half of the paprika imported into the United States.

Storing Dressings

Store homemade salad dressing in plastic squeeze bottles in the refrigerator.

The bottles are drip free and easy to use.

Crisp Celery

Wrap celery stalks in aluminum foil and keep in the refrigerator.

It will stay crisp for at least 2 weeks.

What is Paprika?

Paprika is the colorful garnish and seasoning made from dried, ground peppers that can range from mild bell peppers to feisty little chilies.

Green Peppercorns

Green peppercorns are mild unripe peppercorn berries. They come in jars or cans packed in brine.

How much Macaroni?

1 pound of uncooked elbow macaroni will yield 2 cups cooked macaroni.

Spanish Paprika Types

These are the three main types of Spanish Paprika.

Mild: a brick-red powder made from small, round tomato-shaped peppers, with a smoky aroma and a tangy flavor. This is what we get in the most popular commercial spice brands.

Bittersweet: a deep-red powder ground from dried, elongated peppers. It provides a piquant heat with an acrid edge.

Hot: duller in color, made from various elongated peppers. It adds a sharp heat to dishes and leaves a pleasant burn on the palate.