Kitchen Basics refers to the essentials you need to keep a stocked pantry and handy cooking tips Many times, great meals come down to knowing your way around the kitchen, first and foremost.
That means keeping the core ingredients stocked, knowing what you will need for prep, and having a kitchen hack or two up your sleeve. Or behind your apron…
With a few core tips, tricks and techniques, you can be the master of your own kitchen.
And pantry!
If you have a few of basics down pat, then you don’t need to worry about having every kitchen gadget or a huge collection of pots and pans destined for the Smithsonian.
Truth be told, you can also get by with a few basic seasonings in the pantry. Because if you know how to blend them, then you can create all sorts of seasoning blends perfect for any dish.
Knowing how to make a broth comes in handy and it is so simple to do too. A great broth adds depth and character to a dish. Your homemade broth makes a wonderful soup, or an amazing sauce. You can braise with it.
And homemade broths keep well in the fridge or the freezer too. So it is easy to keep some handy too.
If you stock the pantry with some standard seasonings, then blending them is easy. Better yet, with the right basic seasonings on hand, you possess the culinary DNA to create dishes from simply provincial, to absolutely exotic.
It is all about technique. At the end of the day, if you master a few basic skills, then you have the power to make “basic” seem extraordinary. It might just be understanding basic kitchen terms. Or it might mean knowing your way around a few utensils, most importantly things like knives, where safety plays a meaningful part.
Make your own self rising cornmeal mix and skip the store bought version. Not only is it healthier, but more budget friendly. Self-Rising Cornmeal Recipe I love a nice slice of corn bread. Hot right out of the skillet is best. Light and fluffy with a golden top and a crunchy crust on the bottom. …
When it comes to converting different units from the U.S. measurement system, the easiest way is to have a handy conversion table that you can refer to on the fly. Here is a reference for how many quarts in a half gallon. The short answer is 2 quarts in a half gallon. There are a whole …
Learn the secret to perfectly cooked pasta al dente. Discover the best techniques for boiling and timing your pasta for a delicious meal every time. Pasta is one of my favorite foods and often the go-to for family meals—for all good reasons! It’s cheap, quick to prepare, and delicious every time, making it the perfect …
There’s nothing quite like the smell and taste of fresh-out-of-the-oven homemade biscuits, but is there a reheating method that allows you to enjoy them for days without them turning dry or hard? Keep reading to find out how to reheat a biscuit quickly and easily! How to Reheat Biscuits in the Microwave The quickest way …
You’ve found a great recipe with a delicious new dish that you want to try and you’re super excited. That is until you realize that the recipe calls for cup measurements and you don’t have one. How can you figure out how many teaspoons in 3/4 of a cup? The quick answer is 36 teaspoons! …
Can you freeze Hamburger Helper? Definitely! If you cook them in large batches like me, I’ll share the best way to store, freeze, and reheat them. Plus, I’ll share my go-to recipe that’s a family favorite! Can You Freeze Hamburger Helper? Yes. Hamburger Helpers are one of the easiest meals to cook and freeze in …
When you’re looking for a quick meal that the entire family will still enjoy, making a delicious hamburger helper dinner can be a great option. The instructions on the box tell you to add 2 cups of milk. But, what if you can’t have dairy? Can you make hamburger helper without milk? The quick answer …
When you’re looking for easy dinner recipes that even your picky eaters will love for those busy weeknights, a box of Hamburger Helper is your best friend. If you don’t finish it in one night, how long is hamburger helper good for? How Long Can I Store Hamburger Helper In The Fridge? Healthy hamburger helper …
If you are like me, you always cook too much pasta! Leftovers are great but if you don’t want any, you need to know how many cups in a pound of pasta. Read on to find out. The quick answer is generally 4 cups. But it also varies on shape, size, and freshness of the …
Ground beef is a great addition to many meals. But seasoning ground beef can be tricky? How much salt per pound of ground beef do you use? The quick answer is 1 teaspoon of salt per 1 pounds of ground beef. This salt can be kosher salt, coarse salt, sea salt, or any other kind …