Sara Moulton
Malaysian Cuisine
Suddenly I have noticed that there are Malaysian restaurants popping up all over New York City. I have never focused before on this particular kind of Asian cuisine and so I decided to check out a restaurant in my neighborhood (which has a woman chef!) called Laut. I tasted roti…
Potatoes: What are the green patches you find on potatoes and are those potatoes safe to eat?
Heather recently asked the Kitchen Shrink if it is safe to eat potatoes that were green in places. If potatoes are exposed to light for a period of time, the toxic alkaloid, solanine, develops just under the skin causing the area to turn green. Not only would this area taste…
Ramps: What are ramps and how do you cook them?
This week I got an e-mail from Cindy saying she had seen ramps in her local farmers’ market and she wondered what they were and how they are used. Ramps (Allium tricoccum), aka “wild leeks,” belong to the onion family. Their flavor is somewhere between that of onions and very…
Sauces: How do you use cornstarch and arrowroot to make clear thickened sauces?
Michael e-mailed the Kitchen Shrink with this question. He said that he wanted to make clear dessert sauces and had heard that cornstarch or arrowroot was the answer but he had never used either. Cornstarch and arrowroot are similar ingredients to work with. Both have almost twice the thickening power…
Pie crust: When I am baking a single pie crust for filling, how can I keep it from shrinking?
Helen asked the Kitchen Shrink how she can keep a single pie crust from shrinking when it is baked without a filling. The first step in preventing pastry shrinkage is to make your pastry with very cold fat, very little water, and a gentle touch. You will find a lot…
"Good Morning America" Breads
Hope you had a chance to see me make bread on Good Morning America. Bread baking is one of America’s original do-it-yourself projects and you’ll be surprised to find out how easy it is with my no-fuss recipes. The rewards are double; you will save money and have a delicious loaf…
“Good Morning America” Breads
Hope you had a chance to see me make bread on Good Morning America. Bread baking is one of America’s original do-it-yourself projects and you’ll be surprised to find out how easy it is with my no-fuss recipes. The rewards are double; you will save money and have a delicious loaf…
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…
A Seasonal Tip
Last week I learned from a new friend how to make a deliciously different eggnog. He has two secret ingredients. To commercial alcohol-free eggnog, he adds Maker’s Mark bourbon in place of rum and pumpkin pie spice instead of nutmeg. I can’t wait to serve it during the holidays.
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…