Cooking: Five Tips

by Owen Jones

There can not be a lot of individuals who do not enjoy their
food, but the human race, being what it is, I suppose that
there are a few of them. However, for the rest of us, food
is a font of daily enjoyment and, like a beverage, it is
frequently employed to denote a happy event. not only that,
but various foods are used for the different meals or
distinct events. Celebratory meals were indubitably planned
around the seasonal foodstuffs available, but some
foodstuffs were transported huge distances for the benefit
of those who could afford them. For example, my Dad
considered it a grand treat to be given an orange in his
stocking on Christmas Day 60 years past. How the times have
changed! Very few children would judge an orange a present,
special or not, any day of the year nowadays.

Yet, the storage of food is still a daily affair and so, I
have listed a couple of good tips on preserving foodstuff
below, so that you will get the best from that which you
have purchased or grown in your garden even a long time
later.

Chicken Stuffed With Spoons: a great way of preparing
chicken to be eaten at a cold buffet or in sandwiches, is to
put as many spoons as possible into the cavity of the
chicken (not silver or plated ones though). Then, place the
chicken in a large saucepan or pot and bring the water to
the boil slowly. Simmer for 10 minutes, cover and leave
until the water is room temperature. The spoons will retain
the heat and cook the chicken from the inside out. it will
be one of the most succulent chickens you have ever eaten.

Roasted Crisp And Light: if you like crisp-skinned roasties,
it is best to parboil them first, but that is only half the
story. so, boil the potatoes for five minutes and drain
thoroughly. Put the lid on the pan and shake it about
violently. Bang it hard on the chopping block several times.
The harder the better. Then put the parboiled potatoes in
the baking tray with the meat or fowl to cook as you would
normally.

Salad Soup: Do not throw away salad that has been soaked in
salad dressing. Whisk it up in a food processor with a can
of tomatoes of tinned soup. Add lots of garlic to taste and
adjust the thickness to suit your taste. Chill it down and
you will have one of the most delicious summer soups ever.

Curdling Cure: if your mayonnaise has curdled there is one
sure fire way to bring it back to life. stir in a couple of
tablespoons of Hellmann's mayonnaise and your problem will
be over.

Simply Scrumptious Topping: a really, quick, delicious and
almost infinitely variable topping for a savory pie can be
made in seconds. Choose the flavour you want from the crisp
rack; puncture the bag to let our the air and then crush the
contents in the gag. it really adds something to a pie. The
same trick can be used on the bottom of a potato pie a Texan
housewife told me.

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on many
subjects, but is currently involved with researching the
(http://largecrockpots.net/Programmable-Crock-Pot.html)
programmable crock pot. If you have an interest in cooking
or crock pots, please go over to our website now at
(http://largecrockpots.net) Large Crock Pots