Posts Tagged ‘kitchen’

Top Ten Kitchen Mishaps and How to Fix Them

Wednesday, March 30th, 2011

We’ve all been there: you take your eye off the ball and you end up with a soupy, raw, oversalted mess.  Cheer up – there are ways to salvage the mishaps, though some things you just have to chalk up to a loss and move on.  Below are ten of the biggest kitchen mishaps and how to fix them: 

1. Too Much Salt 

First off, season your food along the way to avoid adding too much salt to begin with.  If you went overboard, try adding a few slices of raw potato, which should absorb some of the salt.  Also, a bit of sweetener, acid (like lemon juice) and extra liquid (like water) can cut the saltiness. 

 2. Too Much Sugar

Add a little salt and acid.  If all else fails, you can always run to the bakery.

3. Overcooked Veggies

 Throw them in the blender with a little cream, salt and pepper for a luscious soup.

 4.    Too Much Spice 

Sometimes, there can be too much of a good thing.  Try a few slices of raw potato or adding more water to dilute the spiciness.  

 5.    Soupy Sauces

 Flour and butter are great thickeners as is cornstarch mixed with a bit of water.  Also, boiling down the sauce can help.

 6. Undercooked Cookies and Cakes  

Combine with fresh fruit and whipped cream for a dessert parfait or use cookie crumbles for an ice cream topping.

 7. Too Sour

Add a little sweetener and salt to cut the acidity.

 8. Too Bland

Bring on the salt and spice.  As recipes often say, season to (your) taste, otherwise, you’ll end up with No. 1.  Also, try a splash of lemon or a sprinkle of fresh herbs.

 9. Stuck on Food

Pour a bit of water and a squirt of dish liquid into the bottom of your pots and pans and let simmer on the stove until boiling.  Let cool, then wash. 

 10.  Burnt Food

Order out for pizza.  Burnt food is burnt food and if you try to serve the part that’s not burned, all people will taste is…burnt food.

Culinary Escapes, LLC - Unique Food Tours of Metro Detroit

www.culinary-escapes.com

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Culinary Escapes Kitchen – Summer Salads

Monday, August 9th, 2010

The kitchen is the last place you want to spend your summer days.  Between it being too hot to cook and wanting to be outside soaking up some rays, quick and easy is the order of the day when it comes to food.

Salads are great because there’s no cooking involved and they lend themselves to a lot of variety.  Summer also means an abundance of fresh, seasonal produce, so why not take advantage?  If you can, visit your local Farmer’s market.  Not only are you supporting local agriculture, but you’re getting high quality fruits and vegetables at their freshest.

While salads can be simple to make, a little imagination can take it from blah to bravo.  Resist the urge to go with tried and true iceberg (save that for the grilled burgers instead). Take advantage of the myriad of lettuces on the market including Romaine, Butter, Arugula and Bibb.    Sprinkle your salad with a few capfuls of olive oil for greater depth of flavor and add ingredients that will lend texture and taste such as paprika, French Fried onions, chives, olives, avocado, peppers, chopped nuts, goat cheese, chopped nuts and dried fruit. To ensure everything is properly incorporated, toss your salad 30 times – no more, no less.

 Try this cool and tangy salad for a new twist:

 Watercress and Belgian Endive Salad with Orange Vinaigrette

1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
Dash sugar
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2/3 cup olive oil
6 cups washed and torn watercress
3 heads halved Belgian endive

Whisk together the orange juice, lemon juice, mustard, and sugar in a small bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste. Slowly whisk in the olive oil until well blended. Toss the greens in a large bowl or arrange on a platter or individual salad plates. Top with the dressing and toss gently or serve immediately.

Makes 8 servings.

Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes

 Recipe courtesy of http://www.perfectentertaining.com/summersalads.html

Culinary Escapes, LLC - Unique Food Tours of Metro Detroit

www.culinary-escapes.com

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