I recently wrote about fast food fakeouts you can make at home, but people cannot live off fast food alone. Sometimes you need to step up your game a little and enjoy the fare at a popular chain restaurant with a bit more variety to its menu. Don't Miss: Check Out These 5-St ...more
Most recipes don't specify what type they mean when they call for onions. While using whatever kind you already have won't necessarily ruin a dish, using the best one for what you're cooking will definitely make your food taste better. There are no strict guidelines for what ...more
Knowing if your meat is cooked properly is both the difference between a delicious meal and an inedible one... and the difference between making your guests sick and keeping them safe. Yes, you can use a thermometer—but not everyone has a reliable gauge, and sometimes you may ...more
Even if you're a good cook, sometimes home-cooked food just doesn't taste the same as it does in a restaurant. Of course, there are some utensils and appliances in a professional kitchen that the average person doesn't have access to, but it's not just about the tools. There ...more
Summer's coming, and that means burger season. Okay, never mind... every season is burger season. Burgers are universally loved; they're the one meal you can find at numerous fast food shacks and haute cuisine spots. Don't Miss: Secret Tricks for Tender, Juicy Burgers Every T ...more
There's nothing better than real, homemade tomato sauce, but to really develop the flavors, it usually has to simmer for a few hours. And while it's totally worth doing if you have the time, some nights it's just not an option. That's where the pre-made stuff comes in. Jarred ...more
For many of you, the carving fork only comes out at Thanksgiving as an essential turkey-slicing aid. Perhaps you pull it out of the knife block to slice up the occasional roast. But the carving fork (also known as kitchen fork) can be used for many more tasks around the kitche ...more
Pickles come in all shapes, sizes, and names (gherkins in the UK, cornichons in France). There are even crazy flavors such as koolickles—dill pickles soaked in a mixture of Kool-Aid and brine, an American South favorite. Whatever sort of pickle tickles your fancy, you can coun ...more
Deep in the crevasses of the Songshan mountain range, an Indian dhyana master established the first Shaolin Monastery in 477 AD, seeking to spread the relatively new teachings of Buddha at the time. This monastery then bred the Shaolin monks, who are now popular for their incr ...more
I love making stock. It's thrifty because you get extra use out of poultry bones and vegetable peelings, plus having homemade stock on hand makes so many things taste better, from soup to stews to pasta sauces. If you deglaze a pan, homemade turkey stock, booze of some kind, a ...more
Sometimes, figuring out what to cook for dinner takes longer than actually cooking it. I can't tell you how many times I've gotten excited about a recipe, then realized that it requires marinating for twelve hours. When it's already 6 p.m., that just isn't going to work. A lo ...more
Okay, it's true: even the highest quality instant coffee is never going to replace really good fresh beans (and properly cleaning your coffee maker) when it comes to creating a great cup of joe. However, instant coffee does have all kinds of uses in the kitchen, as the smart f ...more
Dried fruit makes a great snack or salad topping, but after a while, they tend to become fossilized, rock-hard versions of their former selves. At this point, most folks probably just toss them out, as they're unpleasant to chew on when eaten raw and even more unpleasant to ea ...more
Poor chickens. Bacon fat is revered (and justifiably so), and duck fat is a staple at most fine grocers. Marbles of fat make a steak divine, and goose fat is the holy grail of fatty goodness. Yet chicken fat is usually thrown away. If you're one of those people who roasts a c ...more
I hate wasting money. To be fair: I doubt there are many people out there who relish the idea, but I especially hate it. And I also dislike spending in excess of what I need. This happens all too often, I feel, when it comes to recipes that involve using sausage. Don't Miss: ...more
I may be in the minority when I say this, but I love leftovers. Whenever I'm cooking for less people than the recipe calls for, I cook the full yield anyway. And when I go to a restaurant, I order whatever I want—regardless of how much I can actually eat in one sitting. For t ...more
Look on any bistro or pub menu in America and you'll likely find the term caramelized onions as an option for your burger. The word "caramel" may conjure up images of candy, which is somewhat correct. When high temperatures are applied to certain foods, the sugars within them ...more
Instant ramen and just-add-water noodles are lifesavers because they are convenient and fast, but they are also usually chock-full of processed ingredients and unrecognizable pieces of dehydrated meat and vegetables. These DIY cups o' noodles are still portable and fast for B ...more
There's nothing worse than biting excitedly into your indulgent restaurant-style burger only to find a soggy mess of a bun on your plate. The conundrum of keeping a patty moist but bun dry has perplexed home cooks and chefs alike, and even top burger joints are guilty of soggy ...more
Ever wonder why when you defrost meat, there's all that pink liquid at the bottom of the plastic bag? That liquid is called "purge," and it's not good. What happens is that ice crystals form and expand within meat as it freezes, which puncture the cell membranes. When the mea ...more
Eating out is great, but being able to cook the delicious ethnic foods you eat at restaurants is even better. It may seem daunting to put together a bunch of ingredients with which you might not be familiar (some with names you've never even heard of!), but with the guidelines ...more
One of my favorite things about American Chinese food is how easy it is to eat: the pieces are bite-sized, the flavors are addictive, and the meat is always tender and easy to chew. But if you've ever tried to replicate any of your favorite takeout in the kitchen, you've likel ...more
Hands down, chips and dip are the best entertainment foods to ever exist. This fact can be confirmed in an instant by any grocery shopper strolling down the chip isle on Super Bowl Sunday or New Year's Eve. However, you may want to hold off on buying those standard salsas or d ...more
Eggs are incredibly important to cooks, and not just because they're tasty and a complete protein (many erratic genius/artist types make a point of eating an egg or two for breakfast). Yes, they are great when perfectly poached, scrambled, hard-boiled, and even scram-boiled, b ...more
Jerking is a Jamaican method of marinating meat. Here is a very helpful and detailed how to video on how to make Jamaican jerk chicken. We are sure your whole family will enjoy this chicken recipe. Jamaican Jerk Chicken Ingredients: 1 scotch bonnet 4 scallions, chopped 3 garl ...more
Making a pulled pork sandwich requires great skill, and the best kind of pulled pork sandwich comes from the smoker (if you're lucky enough to own one). A smoker is the absolute best way to cook pork!Mark Patuto mixes a sweet dry rub to get things started and a citrus, brown s ...more
It happens to the best BBQ chefs - you throw some delicious sausage on the grill and it explodes, spilling all those yummy juices into the pit. In this clip, learn how to prep your sausage before you grill it so that you get the best possible taste and texture. Ryan Farr of 45 ...more
This succulent dish has all the things I love in a recipe; an easy piece of meat to work with, a super simple sauce that tastes like something that took hours, and the classic flavor combination of hot/tangy with sweet/fruity. Ingredients needed are pork tenderloin, garlic clo ...more
It doesn't take a nutritionist to know that eating too much meat is not good for your body. From hormones added to the feed for cows and chickens to contamination from bacteria, it's a good idea to integrate lighter vegetable dishes into your diet on a regular basis. But don' ...more
Now we explain how to marinade and barbecue on the grill. Skill level is beginner. For great-tasting chicken, consider whole chickens over light or market chicken parts. Combine herbs and spices with oil and an acid like juice, vinegar, or yogurt; the acid tenderizes the meat. ...more
Just because it says "steaks" doesn't mean there's any meat here. Unlike most dishes that call for cauliflower, this one creatively slices the cauliflower into "steak" slabs instead of the usual separated florets. You won't believe your eyes! Or your mouth! This is the perfect ...more
When you sauté kale, it tends to retain all of its nutritional value, whereas boiling and steaming kale will kill the vitamin-enriched goodness. So, this simple kale side dish should be in every cook's recipe box. Kale by itself has a rather bitter flavor, but when cooked in s ...more
Looking for a super quick meal that you can make in the summertime? In this tutorial, Betty will show you how to grill up some yummy boneless pork chops that go perfectly with some of Betty's delicious side dishes. Enjoy! You Will Need: *4 boneless pork chops, about ½-inch thi ...more
Nothing tastes better than "fried". Even lobster. Even rice. Yes, and in combination, fried rice and lobster meat in a tightly pack crusted ball of yumminess is one of the best things you can try at home for the courageous at heart. What's it called? Lobster arancine. 'Aranci ...more
Nothing tastes better than "award-winning", so make sure and try out this barbecue glaze for your meats. See how to best use this BBQ glaze on a pork tenderloin, which looks more than delicious. This is a great sauce to try out for any meat dish. Andy Husbands, chef/owner of ...more
Make the perfect sauce for any meal needed a little garlic flair. But you don't want it to be a strong garlic taste, which means you're going to have to blanche the garlic three times. Yes, three times. Watch this video recipe to see how to make a mellow garlic cream sauce. T ...more
If you're not a vegetarian, but one of your family members is, or perhaps a dinner guest, you're going to have to give in a little. Realize that they eat vegetables, you eat vegetables, so it's not that big of deal to exclude the meat for one sitting. Something easy to make is ...more
Quinoa tabbouleh stuffed peppers are a great healthy meal for vegetarians. They also make a great side dish for fish or meat entres. Watch this how to video to learn how to prepare quinoa tabbouleh stuffed peppers. Ingredients: 1 cup quinoa, well rinsed and drained 1 lbs plum ...more
You don’t have to eat meat to get all the iron you need. There are many very iron rich vegetables that can be eaten on their own or juiced and drank to make sure you have appropriate amount of minerals in your blood. Step 1 Add iron to a vegan diet by eating the right types ...more
Place 2 Tbsp. oil in a wok or large frying pan over medium to high heat. Add garlic, galangal (or ginger), shallots, and chili. Stir-fry until fragrant (about 1 minute). Stir-frying Tip: Add a little water to the wok/pan when it gets too dry instead of more oil. Add cabbage, ...more
In this tutorial, we learn how to make great tasting chili. You will need: 4 cans of chili beans, 2 can of kidney beans, 7 cans tomato sauce, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 2 packs of chili seasoning, and 5 lbs of ground beef. Once you have all your ingredients together, brown your groun ...more
Don't make a plain, old meatloaf for dinner. Make a rockstar meatloaf. This meatloaf recipe is sure to be a family favorite, and includes baking, veal, carrots, tempura, and plenty of other goodies. The perfect loaf for meat lovers. Felino Samson, chef-owner of POPS Restauran ...more
Make mouths water with this crab cake and lemon dill sauce recipe. In a bowl add 2 eggs, 1/2 cup breadcrumbs, 1/4 cup of mayonnaise, 1 teas. Worcestershire sauce, 1 teas. Old Bay Seasoning, 1/4 teas mustard powder, and 1/4 teas. black pepper. Blend mixture until it is all meld ...more
What meat goes good with your beer? The obvious is beef, but what about lamb? It actually compliments your brew better than beef, and packs a punch of flavorful juices. This recipe for lamb sliders is perfect for as any ale companion! But don't let the small size fool you, the ...more
Shepherd's pie is such a staple that if you actually did mess it up, you had have the entire British Isles chasing you down to hang you ritualistically! But it's ok! In this fantastic video chef Jason Hill shows you how to make a great tasting Shepherd's Pie, and on top of it, ...more
In this clip, Dede makes a yummy Mediterranean specialty - meat stuffed eggplant or ablama. This easy dinner tastes great and will satisfy picky eaters all over the world. Turn that boring eggplant into a unique treat for your tastebuds with this tutorial.
Summertime food focuses heavily on all things grilled - BBQ pork, ribs, chicken, and anything else you can throw onto your George Foreman. But you can make these savory meats taste even more delicious by complementing them with a vegetable side dish. In this segment of "The M ...more
Johnny O the Barbecue Hobo demonstrates how to cook kangaroo on the grill--Delicious! Kangaroo meat needs to be prepared in a similar fashion to filet mignon. Learn how to grill up an unusual but great tasting steak.
Tofu for breakfast? Oh yeah! And it's great tasting and good for you too.
Tzatziki sauce is a perfect accompaniment to grilled meats and vegetables. Watch this how to video to learn how to make the classic tzatziki sauce using think Greek-style yogurt and cucumbers. Tzatziki sauce ingredients: 2 cups greek yogurt 2 cucumbers, peeled, seeded and dic ...more
Los Angeles is filled with a myriad of options restaurant wise for all of your foodie needs. I am indeed a foodie, but there is nothing better to me then simple produce inspired plates. Here are three of my favorite spots in Los Angeles to find great organic treats all around ...more
Samosa House This southern Indian market and restaurant is a stellar choice for any veggie. Their jackfruit is superb! If you've never tried it, please do. It looks like pulled pork, tastes like a seitan or chicken and is a great natural alternative to meat. Lucky you, they j ...more
See how to bake without butter, sugar, eggs, dairy milk and more. If you think it’s impossible to bake without butter without losing flavor and texture, then keep on reading. Even if you already substitute butter in your cakes and cookies, there may be some things in this art ...more
The secret to Paula Deen's famous beef tenderloin dish? Bacon grease. Now that the holiday season is in full swing, don't you dare feel guilty about indulging a little...or adding a pound of lard to deep fry your next turkey. If you want to prepare a holiday dish your friends ...more
Butter by itself is like a recipe cure-all, making everything from chicken to layer cakes taste magnificently rich and creamy. So imagine what butter flavored with garlic could do. While we wouldn't use it for cakes, we're sure that garlic butter would be an excellent and qui ...more
Sloppy Joes, an American classic. Fed to more kids in more cafeteria's around the nation than anything else, besides those cardboard pizzas (ick). If you want to make one, don't run out to the store and buy the pre-made stuff, make your own! It'll taste a lot better and you wi ...more
In this video, we learn how to grill salmon on a gas grill. First, place the salmon onto the grill with the meat side down. Make sure before you do this you spray your grill with non-stick spray and coat your fish with olive oil and seasoning. Grill the fish on both sides unti ...more
Cooking chicken tonight for dinner? It may be a dinnertime staple in your home, but you're probably used to store-bought chickens that you store in the freezer. Well, sometimes the best tasting poultry comes from the chickens with their heads still attached… well, at least bef ...more
In this clip, learn how to make a very authentic Japanese recipe - octopus scallion karashi sumisoae. This dish is full of veggies, fish, tofu and spices and tastes incredible. Don't be afraid of it's long winded name, the recipe itself is actually quite easy. You Will Need: ...more
In this Food video tutorial you will learn how to make chicken curry or butter chicken using Kashmiri meat masala. Masala means spices. Ingredients are 1-2 tablespoons regular sour cream or plain yoghurt, 11/2 tablespoons Kashmiri Meat Masala, 1-2 tablespoons tomato paste, lit ...more