vegetables
The mention of tofu can induce a wide variety of reactions, often a grimace from many Americans. Deep frying is a reliable way to make tofu more appealing to many palates, but can be tricky to execute. Should the tofu be fried "naked"? Coated with cornstarch? Battered? I&
products
While on a trip to Disneyland, I discovered my hotel's quick service restaurant served the Impossible Burger, the competing faux-meat foil to the Beyond Burger. Unlike Beyond's creation, which is regularly stocked at Whole Foods, the Impossible is only possible to obtain at selected restaurants, each
bread
The Flour bakery is a local institution. While it has its faults and limitations, Joanne Chang synonymous cookbook is a useful collection of recipes and techniques.Her brioche au chocolat is a perennial hit. The buttery brioche dough (which is surprisingly light and airy considering the ingredients) envelops a balanced
vegetables
In the US, the term "yam" is often used to refer to sweet potatoes (e.g. the garnet yam), but true yams include the African white yam and Jamaican black yam (name negro). I found the latter at a local supermarket, where I had also found yuca earlier
breakfast
Breakfast treats are a common weekend occurrence at our home, and Mother's Day is an excuse to take it to the next level.I typically make cinnamon buns using my buttermilk bread recipe and top them with a cream cheese glaze. For a special treat, I decided to
vegetables
Until recently, my experience with squash had been largely limited to butternut, zucchini, and summer squash, plus the occasional canned pumpkin in pies if I'm being loose with the definition. This fall, that all change when I discovered the king of squash: the kabocha.Forget everything you thought
dessert
I loved candy bars as a kids, and my own children are no different. Twix is a perennial favorite (come on, you get two in one package!). I'm sure the taste hasn't changed significantly, but they don't create the same reaction in my adult
bread
I love to make quick breads like banana bread. They are an easy way to use up leftover ingredients and require minimal effort. The main downsides I’ve run into are the long baking times (often an hour or more) and the disagreements about the appropriate add ins. Nuts or
dessert
There's no birthday cake more classic than the golden cake with chocolate frosting. Everyone seems to like it, yet finding a good reliable recipe has been a challenge. I have had consistently good luck with King Arthur Flour's Golden Vanilla Cake, topped with a chocolate ganache
flavorings
Order from a scam artist online and you may find yourself with a box filled with rocks instead of what you had ordered. The suspicious spice shopper looking for kala namak could think they had been swindled at first glance.This moderately obscure Indian ingredient adds a sulfurous kick typically
dessert
Cinnamon rolls are popular in my household, and for good reason. Sweet, soft, and fragrant with cinnamon, and perfect with a tangy cream cheese frosting. I wondered how essential cinnamon would be to the balance. What about another classic flavor, like chocolate? I prepared my usual rolls, but divided the
bread
I used to attribute the dark color of pumpernickel to its rye flour, but it is in fact artificial, typically contributed by added cocoa powder or caramel color. Even knowing this secret, the rich dark color combined with the slight bitterness of rye adds a certain air of sophistication. Why