You don't have to have a degree from culinary school to cook like a professional. There are simple and effective ways to transform an ordinary meal into an extraordinary taste experience, right in your own kitchen. That's right! I've learned so much on my food-loving journey and want to share some tried and true secrets traditionally reserved for the pros. I'll let you in on another secret...they are so easy to do! Let's get cookin'!
First two kitchen tool hacks:
Cut Like A Pro: This is a quick tip allowing you to cut like a pro. Place a clean, damp kitchen towel underneath your cutting board. This will keep it from moving around on the counter, so prepping all those ingredients is easier and safer than ever.
Invest in Quality Knives: Speaking of cutting, one of a chef's best kept secrets is using a quality knife. Invest in one or two quality knives to prep your ingredients. A sharp knife allows you to chop, slice, dice so much better and safer than dull ones.
Now, for some tricks of the trade:
Perfect Pasta: To create a silkier sauce for any pasta dish, add pasta water. When draining the cooked pasta, set some of the pasta water aside to incorporate into the sauce. The starchy water will magically marry the pasta and the sauce together creating a silky wonderful texture and flavor.
Heat Things Up: The pros know that a hot pan is the key to meat not sticking. We've all experienced our beautiful chicken breast or steak sticking to the bottom of the pan and ruining the whole meal! The key is to allow your cast iron pan to heat up for about five to ten minutes before adding oil and meat for a seamless and beautiful result. Note: If you have nonstick cookware, please refer to the manufacturer's instructions.
Cheers to Wine: The pros know that a splash of wine to sauces, soups, and stews adds a delicious dimension of flavor and aroma like no other. It will also ignite the taste and texture of an inexpensive cut of meat. Give it a try. Open a bottle of your favorite vino, enjoy a glass while cooking, and toast to cooking like a pro.
Roast Nuts: We all love walnuts, almonds, and other nuts for their nutritional benefits. A little secret to get the most flavor when you add them to recipes is to roast them first. Roasting brings the oils out that makes them more flavorful. Simply toss on a cooking sheet and roast in the oven for a few minutes.
Stay tuned for more tips from my "Cooking All The Time Kitchen." In the meantime, try out a secret or two. Cheers!