Category Archives: Cooking Basics

How to Cook an Artichoke

Posted on 31 January, 2014 by Drew

I have to thank my husband, David, for this entry. He’s the one who discovered this cooking method for artichokes. I came to love artichokes when I lived in Northern California. Artichokes can’t be grown just anywhere. They need a … Continue reading →

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How to Roast a Chicken

Posted on 27 November, 2013 by Drew

Most of you are probably planning to roast a turkey for Thanksgiving, but here’s an option for a smaller gathering: roast chicken. The technique for making a roast chicken and a roast turkey are the same. I love roast chicken, and it’s … Continue reading →

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How to Calibrate a Thermometer

Posted on 22 November, 2013 by Drew

Calibrating your thermometer is one of the most important things you can do in preparation for cooking your Thanksgiving turkey. Why? If your thermometer isn’t calibrated you won’t get an accurate measurement of the internal temperature of the turkey as it … Continue reading →

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How to Make a Basic Vinaigrette

Posted on 31 January, 2013 by Drew

A basic vinaigrette is an oil and vinegar dressing for salads. Above is a photo of just some of the ingredients from my pantry and fridge that I have on hand to make vinaigrette salad dressings. The possible flavor variations … Continue reading →

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Storing Parsley and Other Fresh Herbs

Posted on 12 July, 2012 by Drew

Fresh parsley is a living thing, so I store it and other fresh, leafy herbs as I do fresh flowers. It’s best to have your fresh parsley washed and thoroughly dried before chopping it. Tweet

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Apples for Baking

Posted on 31 January, 2012 by Drew

I’m not very focused on baking, so when I want to bake something with apples I find myself in a quandary, as I don’t know which are the best for baking. In my experience, some apples are reduced to mush … Continue reading →

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Roast Turkey

Posted on 24 November, 2011 by Drew

It’s that time of year again, and the big question is: how does one roast a turkey? Well, I’ve tried numerous methods, and this is the one I’ve settled on. It’s from the now defunct Gourmet magazine. In the original article, … Continue reading →

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Store-Bought Stock or Broth

Posted on 8 February, 2011 by Drew

In a perfect world, I would always have freshly made stock on hand in my fridge. But in reality I sometimes run out of fresh stock, and so I keep a variety of fill-ins of commercially available products. Here are … Continue reading →

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Homemade Chicken Stock

Posted on 29 January, 2011 by Drew

A good stock is a wonderful thing. It provides a lovely foundation and a flavorful, savory enrichment for dishes. On its own, properly seasoned, it forms the basis of delicious soups. I use a lot of stock in my cooking … Continue reading →

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Thanksgiving Gravy

Posted on 12 November, 2010 by Drew

This is it: turkey day is approaching. Plenty of cooks who manage very well all year panic when Thanksgiving approaches. How do you cook the perfect turkey? What is stuffing, anyway? Yikes, gravy! How do you make that? I’ve received a request from … Continue reading →

Posted in Cooking Basics, Sauces, Dips, & Condiments | Tagged , , , , , , | 12 Comments