| Let's say that you are depending on a teacher or a | | | | it's done? The recipe doesn't tell you. What does |
| mentor...someone you trust. What would happen if | | | | medium heat mean? Again, the recipe doesn't actually |
| you found out that they're not telling the truth, or at | | | | explain this. |
| least, they aren't telling you the whole truth? If | | | | A lot of times, the cookbooks that are made by a |
| you're depending on a book to teach you a new | | | | company that contain a lot of name brand products |
| kitchen culinary skill, you need to know now that the | | | | are often the worst offenders of not explaining all |
| book isn't telling you everything you need to know | | | | that you need to know. That doesn't mean that all |
| about cooking meals at home. In fact, it might shake | | | | cookbooks are like this. I have several books that |
| your faith and think, well, I can't even cook water | | | | are very clear and concise about explaining how and |
| now! | | | | why you do something. Here are a few examples |
| I want to help to restore your faith in recipes. I | | | | from my collection: |
| know I often bash recipes, but recipes are useful for | | | | - The Sauce Bible |
| trying to duplicate meals that you like, for duplicating | | | | - On Cooking |
| restaurant meals, and for getting new ideas on what | | | | - The Flavor Bible |
| to cook. However, the reason I have issues with | | | | - Professional Baking |
| recipes especially for a home cook that doesn't | | | | All of those are very specific and explain what I need |
| understand basic cooking method is that there are | | | | to know to cook food by method and by combining |
| things that recipes do tell you and there are things | | | | flavors, etc. I also like to get cookbooks that are |
| that recipes don't tell you. | | | | specific to a region to help me to understand how to |
| Unfortunately, if you really take a look at the | | | | create flavors from that region. Here are just a few |
| components of a recipe, you can begin to see that | | | | examples: |
| they are really a bunch of steps without explaining | | | | - Celebrate San Antonio |
| any nuances. For example, a recipe may say to cook | | | | - Tropical Cooking |
| shrimp until pink. But if they are large shrimp, the | | | | - The New Orleans Cookbook |
| shrimp are going to turn pink before the inside of the | | | | So, if you can't completely trust your cookbook, |
| shrimp is completely cooked. The recipe may say | | | | what do you do? |
| nothing about this. The recipe may tell you to add | | | | - You have to be smarter than your cookbook. |
| onion and parsley at the same time and cook until | | | | - You have to know when it's lying to you. |
| the onion is tender. NO! If you do that, the parsley | | | | - You have to know when it's pretending that it |
| will be obliterated by the time the onion is ready. | | | | knows and it really doesn't |
| Most cookbooks assume a basic knowledge of | | | | - You have to know when it's left something out |
| cooking methods that you just may not know. This | | | | Next time, I'll show you ways to be smarter than |
| is what I want to help you to understand. | | | | your recipe book, improve kitchen culinary |
| Here's another example, in one of my cookbooks it | | | | knowledge, and restore your faith that you can cook |
| says to cook the chicken for 45 minutes or until | | | | water! I'll also explain to you how to use a recipe's |
| done. Until done? How are you supposed to know if | | | | shortcomings to your advantage. |