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Why You Should Learn How To Cook

It’s a challenge to learn how to cook but the rewards are worth it. Every time you can properly use some kitchen tools and a good recipe to create a good meal.

Learn How To Cook

Finding out to cook is not a simple task for some people. If every time they select up the utensils or open the door of the kitchen area there is constantly a new potential problem, for some it feels hopeless. The end result is typically a food catastrophe. This is why finding out to cook can be an obstacle, which is why discovering to cook can be simplified with using some cooking tips.

Confidence is the crucial to learning to cook. Cooking courses are where the real art of presentation and food creation are perfected and where the true art of finding out to fix whatever meal of whatever eatable students believed they might make is gotten. It’s where a person finds out how to overcome their own fears about what they think they can and can not cook and lastly learn to assert themselves and reveal others what they can do.

Learn From Watching Others

Another great method to start finding out to prepare is to go watch cooking shows. There are lots of cooking programs on television today that offer a great way to begin learning to cook. The kitchens that they work in may be elaborate but the kitchen tools will be similar to the ones you will use.

The greatest way to find out to prepare is by in fact being in the kitchen. Seeing what tools you require to utilize when cooking will help you in the long run due to the fact that ultimately, you will require those tools to prepare with in the kitchen area.

Even if you have never cooked before, cooking in your home is simple. All you need to do is follow the directions that are composed on the bottle of the cooking area utensil that you are utilizing. Ask someone who understands how to prepare or ask a shop clerk or your moms and dads if you are having troubles understanding the directions. Ultimately, after cooking a couple of times, you will be able to make something out of your own kitchen area.

Use Recipes To Learn How To Cook

Novices cookbooks use recipes that are easy to cook with and at the exact same time, they are extremely delicious. Beginner’s cookbooks are likewise an excellent choice for a novice cook because often the recipes are developed to test the amateur cook’s cooking abilities.

This is why learning to prepare a meal can be a challenge, which is why discovering to cook can be made simpler with the usage of some cooking ideas. You can learn how to cook without taking years to do it. A kitchen is where a person finds out how to conquer their own fears about what they think they can and can not cook and lastly discover to assert themselves and reveal others what they can do.

Why We Love Our Crockpot

Do you use your crockpot often? You should, it is one of the most versatile kitchen tools that you can buy. Slow cooking is easy and the results are great.

Crockpot Cooking Tips

A slow cooker or crockpot is an electric kitchen tool that’s designed to cook at a lower heat than other cooking methods such boiling, baking and roasting. There are many options for crockpots. Crockpots can be used in nearly every method of cooking and for any type of recipe. While most people think of stews or roasts in a slow cooker, there are recipes for some amazing desserts and soups made in this kitchen appliance.

Crockpot cooking can make great leftover meals that can be stored in the freezer for up to a week. Slow-cooked vegetables and meats retain more nutrients than fresh and are better for your overall health. The slow cooker can often make a difference in making a delicious meal, or one that is just okay. Crockpot cooking is also more convenient for those who want to be able to cook their favorite dishes easily and without having to worry about them being overcooked or having to spend hours in the kitchen. Many crockpot recipes retain much of their original flavor even after they are refrigerated for several days.

There are many slow cooker recipes that can be found online or in books. All of these recipes come with all the ingredients required for preparation. Some crockpot recipes are simple to make and many require just a few common ingredients. The slow cooker can give flavor to many popular dishes. Many crockpot dishes use unusual spices and other flavors to create an innovative and exciting meal. You can create a remarkable dish with only a few ingredients and a few hours of slow cooking.

Crockpots Are Inexpensive To Buy

Many crockpot cooker enthusiasts have found that cooking in a slow cooker saves them money. Crock pots typically cost less than $40. Online, there are many places to find used slow cookers that are still in great shape. If you are not able to find any used slow cookers on sale, you can always buy the latest model from many retail stores. This is not an expensive kitchen tool and you will find that it will last for years.

Crockpot cooking pots can be used for almost all types of meat. Crockpots are great for cooking meats like chicken, steak, pork and fish. A slow cooker recipe that uses lean cuts can be prepared using boneless skinless chicken breasts. The recipes are flexible and can be altered to suit your taste. However, the meats will remain delicious and healthy provided they are properly prepared. Inexpensive cuts of meat are perfect for a slow cooker. Hours of low heat, using the natural juices of the meat, will result in a delicious meal that your family will love.

Let’s Make An Omelette!

An omelette is usually a simple egg dish to make but it can take time to learn how to make them right. You need a good electric skillet and a good spatula.

How to Make an Omelette On An Electric Skillet

It may look easy to make an omelette, but many have failed it too many times. There are many factors that can cause an omelette to not come out the way it should. The most common reason is often due to cooking errors. You don’t want to look at gourmet recipes and make the same mistakes you made. Here are some simple cooking tips to make an omelette.

You may get an omelette pan before you can start cooking but electric griddles were made for this type of cooking. They have large non-stick surfaces to cook on and they are great at holding a steady temperature for the entire cooking surface. They also are large enough that you can cook the meats and vegetables that you are going to use and still have room for your eggs.

Be Sure To Use Fresh Eggs

Most omelettes are two or three egg creations. While you can add almost anything to your dish, the basic ingredients are eggs, butter and a bit of water. Crack your room temperature eggs into a bowl and whisk well. You want to end up with a creamy mixture of egg white and egg yolk. Add a tablespoon of water and mix well.
Heat up your electric skillet and, when it is ready, add a tablespoon of butter. Let the butter foam, then pour your eggs onto the griddle. Add you cooked vegetables and meats to one side of the eggs and top with any cheeses you want. When the eggs have started to set, use you sturdy spatula to flip the side without ingredients over, then flip the entire omelette over. Cook for another minute or two before serving.

There are a few tips for any kind of omelette that you are going to make. Don’t salt or pepper until the omelette is cooked, they can make eggs rubbery. Meats should be cooked before being added and vegetables are usually better cooked ahead of time. This is where an electric griddle comes in handy, the large surface lets you cook a lot of food at one time.

A Fun Jambalaya Recipe

This jambalaya was adapted from a recipe found on the Internet. The original recipe calls for a Dutch oven; since I have neither a Dutch oven nor a conventional oven, I have made adjustments for the equipment that I do have. I used a toaster oven and a round glass casserole dish that is 9″ in diameter. Start by sauteing the meats and vegetables in a pot on the stove; you may use a skillet or anything with enough surface space to brown the meats. After cooking on the stove, all the ingredients are transferred to a casserole dish before going in the toaster oven.

The original recipe included ham and shrimp; I only used chicken and sausage so everything would fit. The first time I made this jambalaya, I used an entire cup of rice and an entire cup of chicken broth. I have since cut back on these two ingredients, and it still makes plenty of rice.

If you do not have Cajun seasoning on hand, you can substitute cayenne pepper or make your own seasoning mix with the instructions below. The following recipe makes about 3 teaspoons of Cajun seasoning. You can cut back on the spices according to your preferences.

Cajun Seasoning

Mix the following ingredients together and use in jambalaya or other dishes.

1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
dash of thyme
dash of basil

Making The Jambalaya

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 chicken thigh, cut into bite-size pieces
1/2 pound of kielbasa, sliced
half a red onion, thinly sliced
2 stalks celery, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 bay leaf
1/2 cup converted or parboiled rice
1/2 cup chicken broth
one 14 oz can of diced tomatoes
2-3 teaspoons of Cajun seasoning

Heat one tablespoon olive oil in a pot or cast iron skillet. Add the cut up chicken and cook for 4 minutes per side. Set the chicken aside. Add the sausage and brown both sides, 3 minutes. Set aside.
Add the rest of the olive oil. Add the onion, celery, and garlic and cook until tender, about 4 minutes. Add the bell pepper, bay leaf, rice, broth, tomatoes, and Cajun seasoning. Put the meats back in. Bring to a boil. Preheat the toaster oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Transfer the contents of the pot to a casserole dish. Cover tightly with foil. Bake in the oven for 40 minutes. Remove bay leaf before serving.

Creuset Enameled Cast Iron 7 1/2 Quart Bouillabaisse Pot

If you have a slightly large family or love to cook regularly for many of your loved ones at once then your cooking needs can be satisfied only with a Creuset Enameled Cast Iron 7 1/2 Quart Bouillabaisse Pot. This French Bouillabaisse wonder not only exudes that traditional look but is also rugged enough to cook your favorite dishes on a daily basis.

This cast iron pot is similar to a cast iron dutch oven in terms of performance but looks just like a classic French pot with a narrow base so as to fit on most gas, ceramic, and electric stoves. Whether you love to cook brown rice or stew different meats for a longer period of time, this heavy-duty and large pot is sure to cater to all your boiling, stewing, roasting, and simmering needs. These attractive pots are available in 3 colors, namely Cobalt [Blue], Flame [Orange], and Cherry [Red]. You can also make delicious sauces or use the pot as a wok to stir up some delicious dishes.

Creuset 7 1/2 Quart Bouillabaisse Pot

The Creuset Enameled Cast Iron 7 1/2 Quart Bouillabaisse Pot has a 7 ½ quart cooking capacity that should easily suffice for a medium to large family for their daily cooking needs.
The cast iron construction ensures even heat spread inside the pot for perfect cooking of all its contents. The tight and heavy lid along with the sloping sides ensures that moisture and juices given off during cooking are retained to produce juicy meats and vegetables.
The specialized enamel coating that is a Creuset trademark ensures that food does not stick to the inside of the pot or emit that burnt aroma.
This cast iron enameled pot can withstand up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit heat during cooking while its keep-cool knob on the lid can handle up to 450 degrees.
The two looped handles on either side of the pot ensure complete safety while shifting the Creuset Pot to the stove or from the stove directly to your dining table. The stunning looks of this pot will make it the focal point of all eyes once you walk into the dining room with your Creuset Enameled Cast Iron 7 1/2 Quart Bouillabaisse Pot.
This pot comes with a limited lifetime warranty that could just turn into a formality if you maintain the pot as per the instructions provided by Le Creuset.
This versatile pot is great for both cooking and baking.

Reviews – Bouquets & Brickbats

Most fans of Le Creuset have simply loved this oversized Bouillabaisse Pot from this French company that is well known for its expertise in creating top quality cast-iron products from specialized sand molds. The large size made cooking, boiling, braising, and simmering very easy while the narrow bottom made it an easy fit on most stoves. The flat bottom was also loved by most users since it could easily be used on a variety of heat sources. Some buyers were concerned about the high price of the Creuset Enameled Cast Iron 7 1/2 Quart Bouillabaisse Pot, since this pot is priced at around 290 US Dollars, although most agreed that the features offered by this stunning pot were indeed well worth the price.

When you want a dependable cast iron dutch or French pot that can easily cook up large quantities of foods or liquids without breaking into a sweat then Le Creuset has just the giant pot for you. You will not only be impressed with the smart looks exuded by the Creuset Enameled Cast Iron 7 1/2 Quart Bouillabaisse Pot but will also fall in love with its consistent and even cooking. Dig out your favorite recipe and give this good quality pot a try.

Dutch Ovens and Fascinating Facts About Them

Dutch ovens and fascinating facts about them tend to reveal a very famous, and historical, kind of cook pot that’s been well-known in America and parts of Europe for centuries. Made of cast iron and featuring thick walls, it comes with a top that fit tightly over the open pot. It’s still popular to this day and learning a bit about the oven might even prove to be somewhat entertaining.

Some Dutch Oven Fun Facts

A product of the Dutch of the 17th century, it was an ingenious device in both design and the materials it was made from. The Dutch, of course, of that day were highly motivated when it came to creating and then exporting many different goods. Soon enough, the little oven/cook pot began to make appearances all over Europe and Great Britain, which came to prize it highly.

The British themselves, who were also known for ingenuity and their own mercantile spirit, experimented with changes in design and manufacturing until a new version of the pot was patented in 1708. It was sent in great numbers over to Britain’s American colonies, as a matter of fact, where it became equally as valued and appreciated.

The Americans, not content to leave the little oven unchanged, added in order that it could be placed over hot coals and also make design changes to the lid, enabling other hot coals to be placed on its top without contaminating the food within. The oven’s pot also became somewhat shallower and the oven became wider as a result.

Cast Iron Dutch Ovens

Cast iron is a metal that can be susceptible to rust, but a special “seasoning” process was developed to deal with that problem. With a little bit of experimentation on the part of many different people, a specific kind of seasoning process was developed to help ensure that the bare cast iron wouldn’t be as susceptible to rusting once it was coated with certain substances.

Users of the pot in those days would take animal fat, usually, and coat the cooking surface of the pot in it. Once that was accomplished, they’d heat the pot to seal in the oils, which kept the pot from rusting, basically. Periodic re-applications of fat were, of course needed and they were almost never scoured or washed used any sort of soap. These pots are kitchen utensil friendly as well, almost any material works well.

Such seasoning processes are used even to this day, because most people feel that the best-made Dutch ovens are those that come with bare cast iron to allow their owners to engage in the seasoning of the oven by themselves, which is half the pleasure of owning such a cook pot. They are still a prized asset among many owners, who use them to cook, fry, stew or roast most any food, for what it’s worth. Not only are they great for cooking, bakers figured out long ago that they are great for baking as well!

Cast Iron Dutch Ovens, The Campsite Multi-Tool Of Cooking

Remember seeing cowboys cook with cast iron dutch ovens? Every good camper knows how handy a multi-tool can be when out in the wilderness, but have you ever thought about multi-tool cookware? That is exactly what you could call a cast iron dutch oven, the multi-tool of cookware. Just like how a mutli-tool can do everything from cutting rope to turning into a pair of pliers, a dutch oven can cook everything from a delicious hardy breakfast to even rolls for dinner.

Now, you might be asking yourself, how can you cook bread in a dutch oven, with only hot coals, outside, and no oven? Well, to answer the question, it is actually quite simple. First, place the dough in a tin pie pan, then place a couple of small coals on the bottom of the dutch oven, and place your pie tin on top of them. The space between the bottom of the dutch oven and pie tin helps hot air circulate and helps to prevent the bottom of the rolls from burning. For the next step, you will need a dutch oven with a flanged lid, that is a lid with a raised outer border. This border, or, flange, helps to hold hot coals on top of the lid. The coals on top is what helps it to cook like an oven and will give your rolls perfectly browned tops.

Cast Iron Dutch Ovens Are Really Versatile

Cast iron dutch ovens are not just great because you can make a variety of meals in them, but also because you can even cook with the lid. There are not too many lids I know of that I can use as a lid and a cooking device. Cooking with the lid of the could not be simpler. All you need to do is flip it upside down and place it over some hot coals to warm it up. To test the heat of the lid, you can simply sprinkle a couple of drops of water on it. If the water sizzles around, the lid is warm enough. If the water just sits there, it is not warm enough. If the lid is too hot, the water will quickly sizzle away. With the lid turned upside down and properly heated, you can use the lid to cook sausage, bacon, eggs, and even pancakes. Because of the shape of the lid, you will be able to make perfect single pancakes each time.

These are just a couple of examples of what you can cook with in your cast iron dutch oven. If you love cooking and camping, then a cast iron dutch oven is the perfect camping tool for you. Your friends and family will be amazed at the delicious meals you create with your dutch oven. The only hard decision for you will be deciding which recipe to cook next time.

BBQ Beef Brisket Recipe for Your Cast Iron Dutch Oven

Can you cook great BBQ in your cast iron Dutch oven? Absolutely, I’ve got a great recipe for Dutch oven BBQ beef brisket. But why cook beef brisket in a Dutch? Why not just use your smoker grill?

Well, maybe you don’t have a smoker grill that can hold the temperature at 225F. Or, maybe you’re out camping and still want good barbecue. Or, maybe you just love cooking outdoors in your cast iron Dutch oven.

Whatever your reason, the point is, you can make delicious BBQ beef brisket in your cast iron Dutch oven. The trick is to use a trivet to raise your brisket off the bottom of the Dutch. This prevents the meat from boiling in its own juices so the meat will keep that good barbecue texture. But, more on this later, let’s get to the recipe.

BBQ Beef Brisket Recipe

Use a 12 inch camp Dutch oven.

Place 7 coals underneath your Dutch oven.

Place 14 coals on the lid of your Dutch oven.

This gives you about 300F.

Place your trivet in your Dutch oven and preheat.

Dry Rub

¼ cup firmly packed dark-brown sugar
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon liquid smoke

1 (4-pound) boneless beef brisket

You can of course use your own dry rub if you prefer but, I do suggest using dark-brown sugar. It will caramelize on your beef brisket and adds good maple flavoring.

To prepare your beef brisket, rub your dry rub into all sides of the brisket. Then place the brisket fat side down onto the trivet inside your pre-heated Dutch oven and let cook for about three hours or until done.

At 300F, beef brisket needs to cook 30 to 45 minutes per pound. When I did this the other day, it took right about 45 minutes per pound. You will need to replace the coals about every hour, and use a charcoal chimney to prestart the coals.

Which Cast Iron Dutch Oven Should You Use?

Well, we’re cooking outdoors with coals, so, you need a camp Dutch oven. All camp Dutch ovens have a raised flange on the outer edge of the lid. This allows you to place coals on the lid. And most camp Dutch ovens have legs on the bottom so you can place coals beneath it.

I used a Bayou Classic 8.5-qt. cast iron Dutch oven. This Dutch has the flanged lid of the camp Dutch oven but does not have legs. So, I used a tripod stand with chain to suspend the oven above the coals.

Both types of ovens work very well, I own both types and use both quite often. But, the Bayou Classic is a more versatile Dutch oven. The flat bottom allows you to cook with it on the stove top, in the oven or on a camp stove. And, with a tripod stand you can cook over coals or a camp fire.

The Bayou Classic oven even comes with a fry basket so you can use it as a deep fryer. I have deep fried lots of fish and chicken with. But, let’s get back to the BBQ brisket.

Use Your Trivet To Ensure Even Heating

As I mentioned earlier, by using a trivet, you raise the meat above the bottom of your pot. This allows the heat to circulate all around the brisket, sort of like a convection oven. The meat gets cooked evenly and thoroughly and, the moisture stays trapped inside the oven.

The result is an incredibly moist and tender BBQ beef brisket. In fact, I think I like the Dutch brisket better than any brisket I’ve cooked on the smoker grill. When I cook brisket on the smoker grill it tends to be more on the dry side. But in the Dutch, the moisture stays in the meat.

The one thing missing in the Dutch oven BBQ brisket is the smoke. I use liquid smoke, but it’s not the same. I think next time I might try placing a couple of wood chips in the bottom of my oven. Maybe that will give me the right amount of smoke.

Anyway, if you like cooking in your cast iron Dutch oven, give this BBQ beef brisket recipe a try. It really is delicious.