Gravy Novices

Gravy is one of those deliciously simple dishes that may be a bit difficult to master at first. It is a great way to turn leftover broth or meat drippings into a tasty side and make your meals go further. Since gravy is equally appropriate at a family breakfast or a fancy dinner, it is a worthy addition to your cooking repertoire. Here are some tips for gravy novices. N-E-X-T Read through your recipe and set out the measured ingredients and tools before you begin. You do not want your gravy to burn while you are measuring milk. Multitasking Mishap You will need to closely monitor your gravy, so no multitasking. Are you making dinner or paper mache? When making a roux for gravy, the flour has to be cooked properly. Skip this step and your …show more content…
This guide will explain some of the most common oils available and their proper uses. The most important qualities of oils to consider include smoke points, saturated vs. unsaturated, and flavor, all of which will be explored in this article. Vegetable Oil This is one of the most common oils used in kitchen. Made from a blend of oils refined from vegetables, seeds, and nuts, vegetable oil is inexpensive and useful for many different types of cooking. This oil has a mild flavor which is ideal for baking and pan-frying. The high smoke point of this oil is also good for deep frying. Due to the fact that most vegetable oils are made from soybeans, they are high in monounsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fat which means that they are a healthy choice for cooking. Corn Oil Corn oil is another popular oil used in most kitchens. Corn oil is made from the germ of corn kernels and can also be used for a variety of cooking preparations. Corn oil does not have much flavor and is thus a popular choice for making salad dressings, mayonnaise, and margarine. The high 450¢XF smoke point is great for deep-frying and pan-frying. Corn oil also has a high polyunsaturated fat content but is a less healthy choice than vegetable oil. Peanut Oil This oil is very popular among Asian cooks and deep frying fanatics. Peanut oil is made from pressed, steamed peanuts. Asian cooks …show more content…
It started slowly and then grew as I learned how easy it was to get dinner on the table. I could prep it in the morning, start it cooking, and then do whatever I needed or wanted to the rest of the day. At four, I'd stop by the kitchen, check in on dinner, add any side dishes or a salad and voila', have dinner on the table by six easily! If you aren't using your Crockpot, why not? You may think you know everything you need to know about the crockpot, but for starters are slow cookers and crockpots the same thing? Not exactly. Crockpots are slow cookers, but not all slow cookers are Cockpots. The term Crockpot is the trademarked name for a specific brand of slow cooker made by Rival Small Appliances so for copyright protection, in this article when I use the term Crockpot, I'm talking about my Rival Crockpot, but other brands of slow cookers work along the same principles and most recipes for slow cookers are interchangeable. Slow cookers come in many sizes and even shapes. I have a small Rival Crockpot for cheese sauce and fondue dips. I have medium size ones for small soups, stews and small meals, and I have a large oval Crockpot for big family dinners and roasts with the fixings! Tending the garden, putting up the harvest, fall cleaning, busy work lives and busy families make the use of a slow cooker a wonderful idea for getting the family fed each night. Our Crockpot sits on the counter and is in almost constant use during this time of