Bir Tutam Tuz » Kitchen secrets

Baking with Fresh Pumpkin

admin — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 21:14:25 +0000

Finally I got the tine to cook the pumpkin we bought back in October. Plan is to bake a pumpkin pie and have pumpkin-apple soup. But first the fresh pumpkin needs to be baked and pureed. And we are not wasting anything; seeds will be roasted as well.

Cut the pumpkin in half and discard the stem section and stringy pulp. Save the seeds to dry and roast.
In a shallow baking dish, place the two halves face down and cover with foil.
Bake in a preheated 375°F oven for about 1½ hours for a medium-sized sugar pumpkin, or until tender.
Once the baked pumpkin has cooled, scoop out the flesh and puree or mash it.
While the oven is hot, roast the pumpkin seeds as well.

Extra pureed pumpkin also freezes nicely. Place 1 to 2 cup portions in freezer bags and lay flat in freezer.

Secrets of Cooking The Perfect Pilaf

admin — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 03:35:09 +0000

While cooking pilaf, add a thin slice of lemon or a couple drops of lemon juice for a snow white and flaky pilaf.

Once the pilaf is off the heat, place a paper towel under the lid and let it sit covered for 10-15 minutes. Paper towel will absorb all the extra moisture and prevent the pilaf getting sticky.

Heating the leftover pilaf is always tricky; sticks to the pan, pilaf at bottom of the pan gets warmer before the rest. Try the double boiler technique; place a cup of pilaf in a larger saucepan partially filled with water brought to a simmer or boil.

Dried Cubanelle Peppers

admin — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 03:33:27 +0000

Getting ready for winter: dried hot cubanelle peppers.

Slice half the peppers lengthwise. Clean the seeds. Wash and drain them thoroughly. Spread a clean sheet in a sunny corner. Spread the peppers over the sheet. Store the dried peppers in a cloth bag in the kitchen pantry to avoid molding.

How To Store Coffee?

admin — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 00:42:41 +0000

If you consume a bag of coffee beans in less than 10 to 12 days, store them either in the original bag or in a zip-lock bag away from heat and light. If you plan to keep beans longer than this time frame, store them in the freezer to limit contact with air and moisture. For the best results, portion beans in small zip-lock bags in one-day allotments to keep air and moisture exposure to the barest minimum. Never store coffee in the fridge, where it will pick up off-flavors.

Knowing When Pasta is Done

admin — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 03:00:22 +0000

Al dente cooked pasta will have a slight bite. Cut a piece in half. If you see a white core, the pasta needs more time. If the recipe suggest simmering the drained pasta in the sauce to help marry the two, undercook the pasta slightly.