Chef Foundation

Archive for the ‘Cooking Techniques’ Category

Chicken breasts are possibly the planet’s most liked meat and the reason for this is perhaps its soft texture and adaptable nature that allows it to suit lots of cooking techniques. Its unproblematic to incorporate chicken-breasts into more or less all dishes – one can bake, grill, fry or boil them with ease.

The flexible character of chicken breasts enables it to be used easily in almost all recipes – be it quick & easy or exotic and complex recipe. However you must know that if you don’t remove the skin then the chicken is twice as fatty and therefore it’s ideal to remove the skin before you commence cooking. It’s also an actuality that lean chicken is more nutritious because it has lots of Vitamin A and Vitamin E aside from possessing lesser cholesterol and fat.

Tips on cooking chicken breasts:
1. Chicken or in general any meat must ideally be heated to a temperature of 165 deg since this assists in removing any all the bacteria and makes the chicken pieces devoid of food transmitted disease.

2. If stored in warm places the taste and odor gets worse and can even result in spoiling the meat, so stack it in the coldest section of your refrigerator and this applies to both the cooked & marinated chicken.

3. Uncooked chicken should be dealt carefully and you should not hold other food items while you are in contact with raw chicken. When you are through, clean your palms thoroughly.

4. Soft & moist breast pieces taste best, but cooking them for too long can make them hard and dry.

5. If you utilize moist mode cooking, do so with low heat and cook for longer periods. In case you like roasting, sauteing, baking or grilling then do so under high flame for short intervals. Grilling ought not be done for more than 20 minutes and the pieces ought to be frequently turned all through that time to stay away from burning them.

6. Here is a small secret. If you like the pieces really soft and juicy then dip them in salt water solution for close to 45 minutes prior to cooking.

There are usually 2 ways of deep frying in Chinese cooking:

Deep frying the ingredients directly Deep frying the ingredients with batter

The latter is the most commonly used method. Here are some pointer in how to deep fry Chinese food most effectively.

The sizes of the ingredient pieces should be uniform. The dimensions, including the thickness of the pieces that you are frying should be as close as you can get them. Otherwise, some pieces will be overcooked, some will be undercooked, and even the colors will be different piece by piece. Marinade the ingredients in the batter/paste This will enhance the taste and the aroma of your cooking. Maintain adequate oil temperature The oil temperature require for each dish will vary depending on the ingredient types, sizes, batters, wraps, etc. For those not easily cooked through, they will require cooking twice (see below). For those easily cooked through, it can be done simply in high heat. When deep frying, maintaining constant oil temperature is a must. Most idealy, the ingredients need to be put in together. If you are cooking large servings, then divide them up, but still put each divided servings in together to get the same taste and color. Once done, pick them up with a strainer to preserve the appearance. Deep fry Twice on ingredients that are not easily fried Some dishes like the ones that require chicken or fish rolled into balls are not easily cooked through when deep frying. So these will require deep frying them twice. The first time using medium heat until 70, 80% cooked. Take them out, crank up the heat to high, then deep fry them again to achieve the desired results.

Obesity is a serious issue throughout the country and the younger generation may be suffering even more than those who have reached adulthood. In order to have a long life with little periods of sickness or disease, it is important to eat healthy. In addition to eating nutritious foods, individuals should practice healthier cooking techniques.

The top tips for healthier cooking revolve around preserving as many nutrients as possible within the foods. Vegetables should be quickly cooked by either stir-frying or steaming. Incorporating vinegar, herbs, onions, tomatoes, and low or nonfat salad dressings and sauces is essential to healthy cooking. Making fruit smoothies are a nutritious way to curb the craving for a less-healthy snack. Using low-fat dairy products when cooking and eating will go a long way to improving heart health.

Individuals who have committed to healthy eating should replace salt, which can increase the risk of high blood pressure, with spices, herbs, or salt-free seasoning mixes when preparing foods. Hot chilies and lemon juice or zest will also add flavor to food while at the same time keeping things healthy. When selecting vegetables that are not fresh, they should purchase frozen or low-sodium varieties.

Using ingredient substitutions is another way to cook healthier. Replacing one-half cup of shortening or butter with three ripe, mashed bananas or one cup of the unhealthy ingredients with one cup of applesauce is a very easy healthy substitution. Using ingredients that contain whole grains, such as whole wheat flour, whole cornmeal, or oatmeal is another.

Healthier cooking can become a way of life if several tips are followed. Preparing items in a healthy way by steaming or baking and using low-sodium seasonings and sauces are healthy cooking techniques. Making ingredient and flavoring substitutions using healthier alternatives will result in a heart-smart meal that is as tasty as the alternative version.

You may be used to putting a knob of butter or lard into the frying pan before adding the streak bacon – this does not mean that you should. Instead of adding the saturated fat, try grilling without any added fat. Instead of streaky, try bacon and trim off any visible fat. You could even get rid of the bacon altogether. Knowing what the alternatives are is the key to enjoying your new low fat diet. You don’t have to forego everything you enjoy eating. Sitting down to a family meal together can be one of the most pleasurable parts of your day.

As a rule, avoid frying, as it is the least healthy way of cooking. Stir-frying is better as long as you use very little oil. Use a good quality wok and keep the temperature high, tossing the ingredients constantly so that they do not stick Try Prawn Stir-fry as follows:-

Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes

INGREDIENTS:-

8 spring onions

1 green pepper

1 red pepper

2 tbsp groundnut or sunflower oil

2 garlic cloves, very finely chopped

1 tbsp grated fresh root ginger

200g/7 oz mange tout

450 g/1 lb raw prawns, thawed if frozen, peeled and divined

4 tbsp Chinese rice wine

STEPS:-

1) Using a sharp knife, trim the spring onions and finely chop. Deseed and slice the peppers.

2) Heat the groundnut oil in a preheated wok or heavy-based frying pan. Add the spring onions, garlic and peppers and stir-fry over a medium heat for 4 minutes

3) Add the mange touts and prawns and stir fry for 4 minutes, or until the prawns have changed the color. Stir in Chinese rice wine, then transfer to four large, warmed serving plates and serve.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION:-

Calories……………………..203

Protein………………………28g

Carbohydrates………………..5g

Sugars…………………………4g

Fat…………………………….8g

Saturates………………………1g

VARIATION:-

Substitute thinly sliced broccoli florets for the mange tout for an equally colorful and tasty dish. Replace the Chinese rice wine with dry sherry.

Also, let me share with you one of my personal favorites, The ‘Low Fat’ Coffee Ice Cream:

Preparation Time: 1 hour, plus

Cook Time: 0 minutes

Freezing: 6 hours

INGREDIENTS:-
25 g/1 oz plain chocolate

225g/8 oz ricotta cheese

5 tbsp low fat natural yogurt

85 g/3 oz caster sugar

175 ml/6 fl oz strong black coffee, cooled and chilled

Many people enjoy cooking and love to spend hours in the kitchen recreating dishes that they have had in restaurants or abroad. Trying to ensure that the dish tastes as it did when you first experienced can be difficult, but with the right recipe books it is far easier. One cuisine that is cooked over and over again is French food; people love the taste of it and always have fond memories of where they first tasted it. Mastering The Art of French Cooking is a timeless cook book which many chefs will have on their bookshelves and use time and time again.

With beautiful illustrations, and easy to follow techniques this book is simply fantastic. It suits professional chefs and amateurs alike, everyone can recreate something new and exciting once you have read Mastering The Art of French Cooking. The key to any good cookbook is the way it is laid out, any meal can be recreated if the instructions on how to do it are clear, and simply laid out. There are no secrets to good cooking and all it takes is the ability to read a recipe. The ideas and step by step guides are great in this cookbook; they guide you through every element from going to the store to actually buy your produce, right up to the finished meal.

Mastering The Art of French Cooking is a chef’s bible to other useful tips and hints. It advises you what are the best cuts of meat to buy and even offers advise if you can’t find the exact French ingredients. It tells you what you can substitute for another item, and this is invaluable advice when trying to cook a meal. The book also suggests what to serve with your meal, including what side dishes will compliment it, and what wine to drink with it.

The book is laid out easily, and is based around themes although it offers countless variations to cook. The recipes are in a sensible order, and once you have got the confidence then you can move through the book cooking better and better meals. All of the recipes have been adapted to allow for the modern conveniences of today, the classic ways of doing things are approached in a new style. All of the ingredients can be found at your local store, and there is no need to worry that you won’t find an ingredient.

Mastering The Art of French Cooking really is the bible of cookbooks; it has everything you could possibly want in a book. Once you have read the book a few times, and tried the recipes you will gain confidence within yourself. You will begin to realize that cooking isn’t difficult; with the right recipes and instructions supplied you can achieve great things. This cookbook guides you through the world of food, from breakfasts, soups and so much more, you can create delicious meal after meal with this book. Your family and friends will never tire of you cooking from this great cookbook– Mastering The Art of French Cooking!.

Soul food recipes making a strong comeback? Yes, and not only with African Americans but also with Whites, Latino and other races discovering the deep south inspired menus.

The recipes handed down from slavery, and one of the true American creations continues to make a roaring come back in popularity. “It stays with you longer than most foods,” commented a diner at a popular restaurant.

“If you eat a lunch of fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, black-eyed peas, candied yams, you’re full. Top that same meal off with peach cobbler for dessert, you’re still full at dinner”, chimed in another diner.

What has slowly brought back the popularity of this southern inspired fare? The updated cooking and preparation techniques. Long favored for it’s taste, but criticized for its health hazards, soul food cooking has taken on a healthier change. The change it’s going through continues to attract a larger crowd than before.

Gone are the lard, fatback and animal fat of the past in cooking and preparing soul dishes. Now cooks use peanut, olive oil and other healthier oils. Deep fat frying replaced with pan frying, steaming and baking. Salt replaced by natural herbs and spices. This all adds up to healthier recipe and menu choices.

For people watching their weight, this change continues to have a positive affect. They have more menu choices now than ever. They can enjoy some of their favorite southern dishes without cheating their diet goals with the new healthier menus.

The biggest concerns for adopting the healthy soul food change by leaving out the traditional high fat cooking ingredients? Was the taste left out also? But with natural herb seasoning such as garlic powder, tyme, basil, onion power, and other natural seasonings, the taste remains. The growing popularity of this southern cuisine proves the healthier changes have succeeded.

Because of the health based changes, soul food restaurants report an increase in business as healthier cooking improves. People, especially African Americans continue to have large amount of heart issues, high blood pressure and diabetes and obesity. That’s why more attention to the diet.

This is not your grandmothers soul food cooking. It’s much leaner, less oily and with less or even no salt. As the health concerns of people continue to grow, the health ingredients of recipes will grow as well.

Healthier menus will not only be a marketing slogan, but will reflect in the recipe ingredients, preparation and cooking techniques used. The cookbooks that will sell in the future will include healthy alternatives that don’t compromise taste and satisfaction.

The next frontier to conquer? Desserts, such as peach cobbler, sweet potato pie, sock-it-to me cake, 7-up cake, banana pudding and other favorites. The push is on to find ways to make them healthier too. Health conscious bakers will overcome this challenge like many soul food cooks have, but it will take time, determination and commitment.