Cooking Basic

To make eggplant a little less bitter try soaking the sliced pieces in salt water for around 45 minutes prior to grilling. My dad taught me that trick.

I have been trying to eat a little less red meat so I have opted for turkey instead of beef for burgers. The first time I made them they were a little bland….okay really bland. So to spice things up a bit I like to use some McCormick Grill Mates seasonings. I had the Spicy Montreal Steak seasoning in my cupboard but you can use any variation.

Simply sprinkle on each side of the turkey burger and lightly pat so seasoning does not fall off. Cook burgers accordingly. I also like to top my burgers with some Bell Pepper Saute, and go bun-less to cut down on carbohydrates. Serve with a side of spinach to complete your healthy meal and enjoy!

This is a tip for a tool. Not everyone has fancy kitchen utensils. A quick and easy short cut to using a pastry bag is a zip-lock bag. Just fill and snip one of the corners and throw away when you are done. Great for easy clean up!

The skin on salmon holds the fish together while cooking as well as retaining the moisture in the fish so it does not dry out. Always start grilling the fish skin side down 5-10 minutes and then flip and grill an additional 5-10 minutes depending on the temperature of your grill. Also don’t be afraid to try the skinless salmon.

Pastry blenders range anywhere from $3-$10 and are used for making pie crust amongst other dishes.

When making a grilled cheese sandwich make sure to cook it over low heat. This allows the cheese to melt without burning the butter on the bread. Also for quicker melting cheese use either grated or thin slices.

Believe it or not these come in very handy and for around $3 - $10 it is worth it! Oven rack pusher/pullers are made of wood (which does not conduct heat) and are easier and safer to use than just your hand in an oven mitt.

Don’t break your spaghetti prior to cooking. I’m not sure who decided they should start doing that but it makes a dish look trashy and it’s harder to eat. Spaghetti should be rolled up into a fork and eaten gracefully. Have you ever seen Lady and the Tramp?

Along with posting recipies I will be posting cooking tips and information about kitchen utensils.  Please feel free to submit your own tips to cookingbasic@gmail.com.