Beginners

These articles are the essentials for people just beginning to learn how to cook. Feel free to browse the archives as well for more specific topics.

Recipes

• Grilled Cheese Sandwich – Simple recipe for grilled cheese. A classic.
• Simple Roast Chicken – A staple recipe.
• Basic Lo Mein – An easy and delicious recipe to use up any meat or vegetables that you have on hand.
• Basic Frittata – Another quick recipe for a weeknight dinner.
• Basic Grilled Lamb – A delicious dish if you’re in the mood for trying something new.

Equipment

• Chef’s Knife – Why you need it and what to look for.
• Minimum Kitchen Equipment – This is the minimum equipment you need to outfit your kitchen and still be able to cook almost anything.
• Nonstick Pans – Are they safe or not?
• Overview of Cookware Materials – A discussion of the different types of cookware and the pros and cons of each.

Techniques

• How to hold food when using a knife – Brief demonstration of the proper grip for food when cutting with a chef’s knife.
• What is a Mise en Place? – Describes what a mise en place is and why you need to use it.
• Thawing Food Safely – The proper way to thaw you foods without encouraging disease growth.

Stocking Your Kitchen

• Garlic – Five reasons why you should always have it on hand.

Food Profiles

• Rice – A look at the differences between long, medium and short rice and between brown and white.
• Grades of Beef – An overview of the grading procedure for beef and what you need to buy for different recipes.
• Flour – What all the different kinds mean and when you should use them.

Science

• What is ‘Browning’ Food? – A scientific look at ‘browning’ and what it means for the flavor of your food.
• Homemade Whipped Cream – The science behind making your own whipped cream.  Don’t turn it into butter!