Category Archives: Cooking

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

Should I cook my “fully cooked” ham?

This Sunday is Easter. All across the land, families will sit down to dinners featuring hams which were sold as “fully cooked” yet have been heated in a 350 degree oven according to a recipe like this one: “If the … Continue reading

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“Secret” ingredient makes best bread ever

Yesterday I produced what I felt was the best tasting baguette I’ve ever baked, for a local food swap group. I was surprised because I’ve made this recipe (it has 20% white spelt flour and 80% all-purpose) several times and … Continue reading

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Baking with sprouted grains

Baking with sprouted grains seems to be a rising food trend. Chad Robertson’s new Tartine Book No. 3: Modern Ancient Classic Whole has a section of recipes using seeds and grains which are sprouted, then folded into the dough. At the … Continue reading

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Jones Dairy Farm Scrapple reigns supreme at CIA Blogger Cookoff

Last weekend I journeyed to the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY, at the invitation of the folks from Jones Dairy Farm. Jones has made a major commitment to the school, sponsoring a full Bachelor’s scholarship, funding a … Continue reading

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Trends from the 2014 Winter Fancy Food Show

Yesterday, a panel of experts  identified four trends from the Winter Fancy Food Show I just attended in San Francisco: Sriracha, chips, low-sugar beverages, mint and condiments. I’ll definitely agree with #3 and #5. There are many fizzy and non-carbonated beverages … Continue reading

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Two formidable e-cookbooks from Inkling

My promised post on best paid cooking apps will have to wait, because the folks at Inkling contacted me with a bunch of free content to promote two cookbook powerhouses that are available in electronic form through them, Modernist Cuisine … Continue reading

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Cooking with koji

On a recent trip to San Francisco I enjoyed a number of preparations involving koji at Bar Tartine. I also picked up some fresh koji and koji products from Mariko Grady at Aedan Fermented Foods, a wonderful resource which may … Continue reading

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Recipe: Dark Chocolate Biscotti with Chipotle Chili

First of my 3 holiday bakes. Dark Chocolate Biscotti is adapted from davidg618’s recipe which appeared on the wonderful baker blog, The Fresh Loaf. Ingredients: 1/2 c (one stick) unsalted butter, softened 2/3 c sugar 2 eggs, lightly beaten 1/4 … Continue reading

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My bread machine and me

A bread machine is an amazing thing. It combinse a computer (to manage the programs and timing), a motor (to knead the bread) and a heating unit (to heat up the dough so it will rise). All for around $300 in a … Continue reading

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(Don’t) pass (on) the stuffing, please

Thanksgiving stuffing (aka “dressing”) does not seem to be a popular dish these days. I volunteered to make a stuffing recipe in Mrs. Brooks’ third grade class and only two children signed to assist, one of them mine. Then last … Continue reading

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