Category Archives: Cooking

Here you’ll find everything about cooking that isn’t actually a recipe. Tips, techniques, gripes, whatever.

Allan Benton loves his ramps.

Posted on May 3, 2022 by Burnt My Fingers

We get to share 10 articles a month at no cost with our New York Times subscription, so please enjoy this one in which the “King of Appalachian Smoked Pork” takes a reporter into the back country where they forage … Continue reading →

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Chinese cooking in quarantine

Posted on April 29, 2022 by Burnt My Fingers

Wall Street Journal has an article on how Shanghainese are currently coping with a city-wide lockdown due to COVID. Among the tools is a website that helps cooks prepare flavorful Chinese food in quarantine with very few ingredients, i.e. what … Continue reading →

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Back to Ethiopia and injera

Posted on April 21, 2022 by Burnt My Fingers

We last made injera, the funky Ethiopian flatbread, about 2 years ago so it was time for a refresh. Our ersho (starter) was still functional thanks to a layer of non-chlorinated water on the top (teff flour doesn’t mix with … Continue reading →

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Food for thought: 2nd Easy Gourmet Cookbook

Posted on April 19, 2022 by Burnt My Fingers

“All these recipes are useful—which cannot be said for much of what appears in print. Cookbooks are useful mainly to spur the brain, by reminding a cook that she hasn’t served veal in a long time.” You and I might … Continue reading →

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Chuckeye Dave breaks down a Benton ham

Posted on April 12, 2022 by Burnt My Fingers

For value and flavor, Burnt My Fingers readers would agree Benton’s Country Ham can’t be beat. The only question is which ham to buy. Whole Hickory Smoked Country Ham Deboned and Trimmed (item HSCHDT) gives you one magnificent chunk of … Continue reading →

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I made fried chicken in an air fryer

Posted on March 29, 2022 by Burnt My Fingers

“I made fried chicken in an air fryer” would be a nonsensical statement to any serious cook, who of course knows the device cooks through convection and heat rather than frying. But the target audience for an air fryer probably … Continue reading →

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When your sourdough starter goes bad

Posted on March 25, 2022 by Burnt My Fingers

  My 60% Hamelman sourdough starter is no more. I had scooped up a wad (with the master’s permission) when I took the Wood Fired Oven class at King Arthur Flour back in 2012, nurtured it to a bubbly bloom, … Continue reading →

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Happy Cole Slaw Day!

Posted on March 15, 2022 by Burnt My Fingers

While some are celebrating March 17 with green beer and corned beef, we will be stocking up on cabbage! The crunchy green orbs are on traditionally sale at the lowest prices of the year, and a head will last at … Continue reading →

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Prep a perfect pickle plate

Posted on January 27, 2022 by Burnt My Fingers

  Comfort Kitchen, an upscale burger joint in our town, puts together an excellent pickle plate. Browse the pictures in their Yelp listing and you’ll see how it has evolved over time. There’s always a cucumber pickle, always pickled onions, … Continue reading →

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Sau-Sea Horseradish is our house brand.

Posted on December 30, 2021 by Burnt My Fingers

When I worked as a prime rib cook and carver, we’d make a sour cream sauce with a dab of Atomic Horseradish. A little went a long way. Sniffed straight out of the jar it would make your eyes tear … Continue reading →

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