Ever great journey begins with one step, and the first step in cooking is learning that basics of kitchen safety. Ever had food poisoning? I spent a weekend with food poisoning and it was no fun. That was the result of a cook forgetting their basic kitchen safety rules. Ever gotten a nasty cut while slicing and dicing? That’s another catastrophe that could have been prevented with a little knowledge of cooking safety.
The best guard against food poisoning is getting the freshest meat available and using it as soon as possible, this will prevent bacterial growth. Once you get it home, rinse it in cold water before cooking, making sure not to drip raw meat juices on anything that will come in contact with anything that won’t be getting cooked. Once cleaned it should be seasoned, marinated, or thrown straight into whatever it’s getting cooked. Once its starts cooking, it isn’t done until its juices run clear and no raw meat remains. You may have to slice open whatever piece of meat your cooking to be sure, and keep cooking if you find any raw meat, especially with ground meats because unlike regular cuts of meat where bacteria is primarily on the surface of the meat, the surface of the meat gets incorporated throughout the ground meat, increase your chances of illness causing bacteria not getting killed in the cooking process. And of course, wash your hands and anything raw meat as touched thoroughly with hot soapy water to prevent cross contamination.
Another sneaky way germs can get you sick is when they stick around on your cutting boards, counter tops, and sponges. Cutting boards, especially wooden cutting boards, can suck up and hold onto bacteria, putting you at risk. Soaking your cutting boarding in hot soapy water with a little bleach thrown in once a week or right after contact with raw meat is a good way to keep your cutting board from becoming a bacteria breeding ground. Before and after you cook you should also thoroughly clean your counters with a disinfect it to prevent your food from picking up any unseen trouble makers. As for your sponge, if you use your dishwasher daily you can toss it in there, or microwave it daily for a minute or two to kill all bacteria. Replacing your sponge every week or so is a good idea and a new kitchen towel should be used each day as well. Also it’s a good practice to wash your hands before and after cooking to prevent in germs from going into your food, or you taking away any germs with you after you’re done cooking.
Although it’s not too common today, botulism is another way you can get sick from food. Typically if you have a can of food that is bulging or bent in anyway, it may have botulism, a type of bacteria found when things are not canned or jarred in proper sanitary conditions.
Lately there have been a lot of occurrences of food poisoning in the news from fresh fruits and vegetables. All fruits and vegetables should be thoroughly washed. Melons and tough skinned fruits like avocados can be washed on the outside with antibacterial soap and rinsed thoroughly. Leafy vegetables, the likely culprit of my weekend encounter with food poisoning, should be purchased fresh and used as soon as possible, rinsed thoroughly, washed with fruit and vegetable cleaners available at most supermarkets, and then dried thoroughly. Of course if this vegetable is being recalled and has reports of consumers getting E-coli. from consuming it, this probably won’t do the trick and you should steer clear.
So there you have it. Follow these guidelines and you’ll be much less likely to give yourself or loved ones an experience they would like to forget.
Happy cooking!
-Melissa Kilmer
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Start your day
Start your day, and your cooking conquest off right!
With the sound of your shrieking alarm you wake, stumble to the kitchen, and put on a pot of coffee. While this morning ritual is fine and good, there are more activities in your kitchen that you can add to your morning routine beyond making coffee. While time is a valid constraint and concern, there is still a way to cook yourself a quick satisfying breakfast. After all, breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
Most people cringe at the thought of meatless alternatives, such as soy bacon and sausages, but not only are they more delicious than you’d expect, and so much healthier, they can be made in under a minute in your microwave. They’re worth a try and they can add a good amount of protein to your morning meal, which will help you feel fuller and more satisfied than an all carbohydrate breakfast.
Along with your meatless sausage or bacon, you can quickly make scrambled eggs by whisking eggs with a tablespoon of milk per egg and salt and pepper to taste, cook over medium heat while your meatless breakfast patties are in the microwave and your toast is in the toast.
Pancakes can also be made easily, without a mix, in the time it takes to heat a griddle with flour, milk, eggs, and little baking powder. A good way to tell when its time to flip the pancakes is when the edges begin to dry a half inch in and the bubbles have popped on the surface of the uncooked side. Instead of using butter, there are many butter like spreads that contain zero trans-fat or hydrogenated oils and good dose of heart health Omega 3 fatty acids. Also when it comes to maple syrup the real thing is better for several reasons. Not only does it taste amazing, but unlike artificial syrups, it’s made from natural sugars, not high fructose corn syrup, the main ingredient found in sodas. While a bottle of Mrs. Butterworth looks awfully cute on the table, go for the real thing if you want your breakfast to be delicious.
On weekend mornings there’s only one place where you can find me: the kitchen. Scones, coffee cakes, home fries, fried, poached, and scrambled eggs, banana bread, biscuits, crepes, muffins, cinnamon rolls, bagels, and on very, very special occasions you’ll find fresh made bear claws there. With a little practice and patience, you can have all of these fresh from the pan or the oven, just the way you like, when you want it, and all while you’re still in your pajamas.
A personal favorite, scones, are not only incredibly easy and quick to make, but are so delicious straight from the oven that the thought of buying a scone sitting all day, cold, in a case at your favorite coffee house will never cross your mind again. Most recipes will have you mix flour, baking powder, a little salt, and some sugar together in a bowl, then incorporate cold butter. When doing this it’s best to work quickly, first slicing the butter into one eighth inch tabs then rubbing the pieces into the butter with your finger tips until there are no more big chunks of butter remaining and the mixture resembles course crumbs. Next you will beat together milk or cream with and egg with a fork and add this to the flour mixture, mixing with the same fork, until the mixture forms a loose ball with some flour still unincorporated. This will keep the dough from sticking when you turn it onto a bread board or other flat, clean surface. Once this is done press the dough into a ball and flatten it, folding it over and flattening it again into a small disk 7-8 times. Then this disk is cut into 8 pieces or so and sprinkled with sugar. The scones are cooked until golden brown, usually 10 to 15 minutes, which will give you time to clean your kitchen while you wait for your delicious scones.
So in just 20 minutes you can have hot delicious scones right from your oven and share them with your roommates, family, or sweetie.
It’s a pretty sweet way to start your day. Happy cooking!
-Melissa Kilmer
With the sound of your shrieking alarm you wake, stumble to the kitchen, and put on a pot of coffee. While this morning ritual is fine and good, there are more activities in your kitchen that you can add to your morning routine beyond making coffee. While time is a valid constraint and concern, there is still a way to cook yourself a quick satisfying breakfast. After all, breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
Most people cringe at the thought of meatless alternatives, such as soy bacon and sausages, but not only are they more delicious than you’d expect, and so much healthier, they can be made in under a minute in your microwave. They’re worth a try and they can add a good amount of protein to your morning meal, which will help you feel fuller and more satisfied than an all carbohydrate breakfast.
Along with your meatless sausage or bacon, you can quickly make scrambled eggs by whisking eggs with a tablespoon of milk per egg and salt and pepper to taste, cook over medium heat while your meatless breakfast patties are in the microwave and your toast is in the toast.
Pancakes can also be made easily, without a mix, in the time it takes to heat a griddle with flour, milk, eggs, and little baking powder. A good way to tell when its time to flip the pancakes is when the edges begin to dry a half inch in and the bubbles have popped on the surface of the uncooked side. Instead of using butter, there are many butter like spreads that contain zero trans-fat or hydrogenated oils and good dose of heart health Omega 3 fatty acids. Also when it comes to maple syrup the real thing is better for several reasons. Not only does it taste amazing, but unlike artificial syrups, it’s made from natural sugars, not high fructose corn syrup, the main ingredient found in sodas. While a bottle of Mrs. Butterworth looks awfully cute on the table, go for the real thing if you want your breakfast to be delicious.
On weekend mornings there’s only one place where you can find me: the kitchen. Scones, coffee cakes, home fries, fried, poached, and scrambled eggs, banana bread, biscuits, crepes, muffins, cinnamon rolls, bagels, and on very, very special occasions you’ll find fresh made bear claws there. With a little practice and patience, you can have all of these fresh from the pan or the oven, just the way you like, when you want it, and all while you’re still in your pajamas.
A personal favorite, scones, are not only incredibly easy and quick to make, but are so delicious straight from the oven that the thought of buying a scone sitting all day, cold, in a case at your favorite coffee house will never cross your mind again. Most recipes will have you mix flour, baking powder, a little salt, and some sugar together in a bowl, then incorporate cold butter. When doing this it’s best to work quickly, first slicing the butter into one eighth inch tabs then rubbing the pieces into the butter with your finger tips until there are no more big chunks of butter remaining and the mixture resembles course crumbs. Next you will beat together milk or cream with and egg with a fork and add this to the flour mixture, mixing with the same fork, until the mixture forms a loose ball with some flour still unincorporated. This will keep the dough from sticking when you turn it onto a bread board or other flat, clean surface. Once this is done press the dough into a ball and flatten it, folding it over and flattening it again into a small disk 7-8 times. Then this disk is cut into 8 pieces or so and sprinkled with sugar. The scones are cooked until golden brown, usually 10 to 15 minutes, which will give you time to clean your kitchen while you wait for your delicious scones.
So in just 20 minutes you can have hot delicious scones right from your oven and share them with your roommates, family, or sweetie.
It’s a pretty sweet way to start your day. Happy cooking!
-Melissa Kilmer
Monday, September 17, 2007
It’s a fact of life: everybody’s got to eat. But what, and how? Do you take the easy route and catch a bite to eat at a nearby restaurant, chowing down on something that could have been dropped on the floor for all you know, and was most likely deep fried or otherwise laden with something artery clogging? Or do you venture into the scary world of home cooking?
With a little a knowledge, know how, and a dash of passion for good food, you can create something far more delicious, healthy, and satisfying meal yourself.
While collecting ingredients and the time may seem like a daunting hassle, a little planning ahead can save your butt when you’re tired, hungry and need to eat now.
You know what you love, so keep the basic elements of your favorite cuisine on hands. If you love Italian, keeps a variety of pastas and canned tomatoes, etc on hand. You should have everything you need besides fresh meat and produce to make your favorite meals so that in a pinch a quick trip and short grocery list are all that are required to make your meal a reality.
There are three basic consumers: vegans, vegetarians, and the give-me-what-you-gotters. Each eater has their own specific needs. Vegans will need to stock up on beans, nut butters, and frozen corn in order to meet their nutritional needs plus a variety of canned and frozen fruits and vegetables. Vegetarians will need to stock up on these items as well, plus keep eggs, yogurt, cheeses and butter on hand to make delicious meals. And last but not least, the give-me-what-you-gotters can add canned fish, frozen chicken breasts, and canned broths to the above lists.
With these items already on hand you can create a meal seemingly out of thin air. Have nothing but pasta and peanut butter? With the help of a few spices you can turn the two into noodles with spicy peanut sauce. Out of Easy-Mac? A bit of butter, flour, cheese and milk make a delicious sauce for bite sauce pasta you cleverly had on hand.
Not only is cooking yourself practical, it’s a great skill to have. Trying to impress your new love interest? Both guys and girls can impress their special someone with a meal that’s delicious, beautifully presented, and from the heart.
In the weeks to follow you’ll get tips and techniques to make scrumptious, hearty, and health meals, snacks, and desserts right in your home. You’ll also be able to explore healthy alternatives to your favorite fattening foods.
Take for instance french fries, which are not French, but french-cut, can be made healthier by first micro waving a potato for a few minutes, slicing it into wedges, spraying them with little olive oil, seasoning with salt, garlic, anything you like really, and placing them on a baking sheet to cook for 15 minutes at 425 degrees F until golden and crispy.
There’s a multitude of clever alternatives to make your favorite foods healthier, and it’s worth taking the time to seek them out. Your health is extremely valuable, but you don’t have to sacrifice flavor when eating healthy. Yes, candy bars and ice cream are delicious, but there are many nutritious foods that taste great too, and once you find and develop a taste for delicious healthy food you won’t miss those tasty heart stopping treats.
Happy cooking!
With a little a knowledge, know how, and a dash of passion for good food, you can create something far more delicious, healthy, and satisfying meal yourself.
While collecting ingredients and the time may seem like a daunting hassle, a little planning ahead can save your butt when you’re tired, hungry and need to eat now.
You know what you love, so keep the basic elements of your favorite cuisine on hands. If you love Italian, keeps a variety of pastas and canned tomatoes, etc on hand. You should have everything you need besides fresh meat and produce to make your favorite meals so that in a pinch a quick trip and short grocery list are all that are required to make your meal a reality.
There are three basic consumers: vegans, vegetarians, and the give-me-what-you-gotters. Each eater has their own specific needs. Vegans will need to stock up on beans, nut butters, and frozen corn in order to meet their nutritional needs plus a variety of canned and frozen fruits and vegetables. Vegetarians will need to stock up on these items as well, plus keep eggs, yogurt, cheeses and butter on hand to make delicious meals. And last but not least, the give-me-what-you-gotters can add canned fish, frozen chicken breasts, and canned broths to the above lists.
With these items already on hand you can create a meal seemingly out of thin air. Have nothing but pasta and peanut butter? With the help of a few spices you can turn the two into noodles with spicy peanut sauce. Out of Easy-Mac? A bit of butter, flour, cheese and milk make a delicious sauce for bite sauce pasta you cleverly had on hand.
Not only is cooking yourself practical, it’s a great skill to have. Trying to impress your new love interest? Both guys and girls can impress their special someone with a meal that’s delicious, beautifully presented, and from the heart.
In the weeks to follow you’ll get tips and techniques to make scrumptious, hearty, and health meals, snacks, and desserts right in your home. You’ll also be able to explore healthy alternatives to your favorite fattening foods.
Take for instance french fries, which are not French, but french-cut, can be made healthier by first micro waving a potato for a few minutes, slicing it into wedges, spraying them with little olive oil, seasoning with salt, garlic, anything you like really, and placing them on a baking sheet to cook for 15 minutes at 425 degrees F until golden and crispy.
There’s a multitude of clever alternatives to make your favorite foods healthier, and it’s worth taking the time to seek them out. Your health is extremely valuable, but you don’t have to sacrifice flavor when eating healthy. Yes, candy bars and ice cream are delicious, but there are many nutritious foods that taste great too, and once you find and develop a taste for delicious healthy food you won’t miss those tasty heart stopping treats.
Happy cooking!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)