Category Archives: Cooking

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

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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Make your own mushroom powder.

Posted on December 19, 2021 by Burnt My Fingers

We got a gift of mushroom powder. It’s good stuff. You can shake it onto vegetables or meats in the pan for an extra dose of umami. You don’t actually taste the mushroom per se; rather it’s a bit salty … Continue reading →

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Memories of Thanksgiving past

Posted on November 21, 2021 by Burnt My Fingers

We didn’t buy a turkey for Thanksgiving this year. Seeing as how prices are up and supplies are allegedly short (though there are plenty of birds, both generic and fancy, in our stores in upstate New York) we decided to … Continue reading →

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Taste test: Galbi vs Bulgogi

Posted on November 18, 2021 by Burnt My Fingers

In a previous post we described the parameters for our Galbi vs Bulgogi taste test. We’d use beef flanken ribs for the Galbi, and there was a nice prime top sirloin on sale at the same butcher so we picked … Continue reading →

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