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Coconuts: How do I open a fresh coconut?
A few weeks ago Blondell asked the Kitchen Shrink how to open a fresh coconut and, with the spring holidays just around the corner, this seems like the perfect time to share my favorite method for this tricky procedure. I have tried lots of different ways of cracking a coconut…
Garlic: Is there an easy way to peel garlic?
Frank e-mailed the Kitchen Shrink that he likes to use lots of garlic but hates to pick the white papery skin off. He wondered if there is an easy way to do this. I usually arrange the cloves, with a flat side down, on my work surface and whack them…
Breakfast Strata
Although this recipe from Sara Moulton Cooks at Home is called Breakfast Strata and the dish was originally designed for a weekend brunch, it will solve your busy-night dinner problems as well. You set it up the night before and then just put it in the oven 60 minutes before…
Chocolate Caramel Peanut Truffles
Here is everything you want in one candy–chocolate, caramel, and nuts–and these truffles couldn’t be simpler to prepare. Make a big batch, box them attractively, and you have the perfect holiday gift. Makes about 40 truffles Ingredients 1 cup sugar 2/3 cup heavy cream 9 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped…
Poussin en Cocotte
The baby chickens called poussins by the French are often tastier than large supermarket chickens because they are not mass-produced. If you cannot find poussins for this recipe, use Cornish game hens, which are about the same size as poussins but more widely available. (Look for Cornish game hens in…
Design your own Converse Sneakers
You already know that my very favorite shoes for the kitchen are Converse hi-tops (they’ve been in the Sara’s Pick’s archive ever since this site launched.) So you can imagine how excited I was when Bill Nichols, a viewer who is also a Converse fan, e-mailed me that the company…
Moravian Cookies from Old Salem
The North Carolina community of Salem was founded in 1766 by a Protestant group known as the Moravians who had come south from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 1753. In 1950, work began on Old Salem, an authentic restoration of the area. One of the highlights of a visit to Old Salem…
Grilled Asparagus with Lemon Truffle Vinaigrette
Posted with permission of author, from Girls at the Grill by Elizabeth Karmel The flavors of fresh lemon juice and white truffle oil are the perfect compliment to grilled asparagus. I didn’t think grilled asparagus could get any better until I created this “truffle lemonade” to dress up my favorite…
Finding the Right Cooking School
I am frequently asked how to find information on cooking schools around the country and occasionally around the world. I usually recommend picking up a copy of The Guide to Cooking Schools or Culinary Schools and Programs by Peterson’s. Both are available on line and in bookstores and it is…
Wonton Skins
One of my favorite “secret” ingredients is prepared wonton skins. They are found in the freezer section of the supermarket and occasionally in the refrigerated section. They come in a variety of sizes and shapes and cook up just like fresh Italian pasta. I keep them in my freezer to make…