If you are simply starting to cook, or are moving in on your own, opportunities are, you don’t have much in terms of cooking devices. Here is what we recommend for you to get, as you are beginning. As times goes by, you will, obviously, get more kitchen gadgets. Here are 5 that we recommend beginning out with:
Cutting Board
This is something extremely fundamental, but there are quite a few options when it comes to cutting boards. It’s a basic utensil as you can’t slice anything without having one, but you need to make sure you have the kind you will want to use.
A good cutting board is extremely versatile, as you can chop practically anything on it. Almost every recipe calls for something to be cut, sliced, trimmed or chopped and you don’t want to do this on a counter top.
Some people prefer to get separate slicing boards to meat, dairy products, vegetables or fruits. This is a good idea as some cutting boards are softer than others. You don’t want meat juices getting deep into a board, they can be very difficult to clean. Many experienced cooks will get differently sized boards. They may like to use them depending on the volume of things they need to chop. Start out with a basic wooden cutting board, they are the most versatile. As you become more experienced you can look at plastic and stone.
This may seem silly but you will not be able to slice or chop anything on your cutting board unless you have a good quality knife. A good quality knife goes a long way to help you prepare food and will last you for years. This is one place you probably don’t want to be cutting costs in.
Get A Big Pot
You will need a big pot often. While it may sound basic, it is one thing you will constantly be reaching for. Starting with basics like boiling pastas to making soups and stews, you will always be using some type of pot for cooking. Some pots include straining inserts, that makes it much easier to prepare pasta. Others have steamer attachments for corn or lobsters.
Along with a good big pot, you will need a sturdy frying pan. We like saute pans, and use them all the time. They are smaller than a typical frying pan and are really versatile. Look for pans with a non-stick coating and without wooden handles. Often you will put the frying pan in the oven to finish off a dish, make sure it is ovenproof.
You will find that you use one frying pan more than others. It may be a saute pan, it may be a big multi purpose frying pan.
– Roasting Pan. These are ideal for preparing things in the oven. From roast to roasted chicken to roasted veggies, a roasted pan can assist you prepare your preferred dishes in the oven.
Do not be frightened – cooking is enjoyable. Start getting a couple of things that we recommended, and contribute to your collection of kitchen area devices as time goes.
If your kids keep asking to help in the kitchen, it may be the right time to get them started cooking.We have some simple and easy suggestions for teaching these new cooks the fundamentals of cooking. If you teach them well you will be providing skills that will last them their lifetime!
Firstly, think about the safety and security of the child cook. A good rule to follow is that a child that has to use a stool or chair in order to reach the stove is too young (or small) to be using it. Start small, it will help to keep from overwhelming the youngster. Let younger children assist with setting and clearing the table. collecting ingredients, and stirring, blending or including components.
You need to be very clear about working with knives and other sharp instruments. Knives are a key part of cooking and it’s very important that you stress the seriousness of knives. Same with hot pans and boiling liquids. Both of these are almost always present in some form and this is not the time to learn by making a mistake.
Occasionally parents start teaching their kids to cook by having them make things that don’t need cooking first. Sandwiches are a great example of this. You can gradually add more to their learning schedule by letting them use the microwave. Your goal is to create an enjoyable yet safe environment that will allow your kids to create and learn how to cook.
Make Sure They Know How To Clean Up!
Learning to cook ought to be fun, not something to be feared. Like all things in life there are specific duties that go along with cooking and baking. Set a good example by cleaning up as you go along, and leaving the kitchen as clean at the end as it was at the start. Show your kids what the different utensils are used for, and the best way to utilize them. Cooking together is a great method to learn measurements and chemistry, such as how ingredients work when exposed to high heat. You are being sneaky, the children might not even understand they’re learning while they’re having fun creating meals!
Start with basic recipes. There are some great cookbooks designed just for kids. The good ones are those that include detailed guidelines and images so kids can see what their dish is expected to look like as they follow the recipe. Give your kids an opportunity to shine. When you child is ready to prepare more complicated dishes, let them be accountable for preparing the entire meal. Letting your kids plan an entire meal, and even buying the active ingredients, will assist them to understand and appreciate the effort that enters into cooking. As your kids end up being more proficient, begin including foods from various cultures.
Start With Simple Recipes
Many recipes such as French crepes or Italian lasagna are easy to make, and your kids will develop an appreciation for many different kinds of food. Especially for younger kids, having tools that are their own size not just make cooking more fun, however make it easier for them to participate. Kid-sized cooking area utensils can be found at many department or specialized stores. Make sure you take a lot of pictures at each step of the cooking process. You might not understand it now, however you’re making memories that at some point will be as tasty as that batch of chocolate chip cookies you’re baking now!
Cooking can either be simply a means of feeding yourself or it can be a fantastic and fun creative process that will provide you with fabulous meals! Read on to discover some great ideas on how to make cooking an easier and more pleasurable experience for you before your next meal!
Prep Your Meals!
All of the prep work can be done ahead of time. Before you start making your food, it is a good thing to have everything prepared. Having a deadline for an important meal or event can become quite stressful when you are starting from scratch. Do the prep work as early as you can to avoid stress later.
If you want to cook delicious steaks, use your oven broiler. When you properly heat your oven, the broiler will quickly sear the meat and keep it juicier. You should avoid using any utensil that will puncture the meat when you turn it. That will cause vital fluid loss. Use a spatula instead.
Rather than using water or milk in a specific recipe, try a different liquid to add a new flavor. When you cook vegetables you can use chicken broth or add beef instead of water. As an alternative to milk, try using thinned sour cream, yogurt, soy milk or buttermilk. A simple switch like changing a liquid in a recipe can improve the nutritional quality while giving the dish a whole new spin in taste.
Place fruit that is not quite ripe in a plastic bag with a few small holes to allow it to ripen. The plastic helps retain the gases used by ripening fruit while the holes allow fresh air to circulate across the fruit. This also helps you keep your fruit fresh longer!
Don’t use any wine in your meals that you wouldn’t drink. Because wine will have a big impact on the flavor of your food, a bad wine can result in a bad meal. Cooking wines are available.
Have Fun And Cook With Someone
If you and your significant other love cooking, then consider taking a cooking class for couples! Couples cooking classes can help you explore new cuisines, enjoy each other’s company and also learn more about working together in the kitchen. A well-kept secret is that the guys enjoy these classes as much as the ladies ” and it often leads to the fellows taking a greater role in cooking at home.
Stop guessing on the taste of your meatballs and loafs. Take your mixture of meat and seasonings and fry up a small hamburger so you can get a taste of how your meatloaf or meatballs will turn out. This way you can add more seasonings or tone them down by adding more meat.
We all need to eat so we might as well make the process of preparing food something we love. Hopefully you have found some fresh ideas in this article on improving your life in the kitchen! It can be a great way to enjoy a major part of our lives so take what you have learned here and apply it to your next meal and bon appetit!
Are you interested in learning more about coffee? Do you want to create fabulous drinks, but lack the knowledge and skill? If so, there is great news for you. There are several tips that can help you. Making a great pot of coffee at home isn’t difficult, you just need to follow a few basic rules.
To make a good coffee, always start with fresh beans. They should look kind of oily, and they should be potent. Try to avoid very dry beans, any grocery store beans, and any beans that have been exposed to air for a long time. Your best bet is to either roast beans yourself or buy them from a local roaster.
Get Yourself A Good Quality Coffee Maker
If you tend to drink a lot of coffee, you should invest in a quality coffee machine and make your own coffee at home. Go to a coffee shop only occasionally, for instance on weekends or when you go out with some friends. This should help you save a lot.
Does your coffee get stale because you cannot drink it fast enough? You should store it in an airtight container. Put your weekly dose of coffee into a smaller container and keep it in your freezer so it stays fresh. Store the rest of your coffee in a larger airtight container and open it only when you need to refill your smaller container.
To save money by buying bulk coffee without sacrificing flavor, measure out what you plan to use immediately and store it at room temperature. Coffee tastes best when it is brewed from room temperature grounds. Coffee you plan to use within the next week can go in the refrigerator, and the remaining beans or grounds should go in the freezer.
To get the best possible coffee, look for the ones that are made of 100% Arabica beans. These beans are of top quality and will give you the best taste after you are finished brewing. Furthermore, these beans preserve their freshness longer so that you can have great coffee for a very long time.
If you are living alone, or are the only one in your family who drinks coffee, consider purchasing a single-serve coffee maker. Companies such as Keurig have created coffee makers that use a coffee pod, a single serving of coffee grounds in a small container that fits inside the machine. This type of coffee maker is also useful if you like to drink a different flavor of coffee each day.
Hopefully you now understand some of the ways that professionals brew great cups and pots of coffee. Use these tips so that you can begin toto make your own coffee better. Your family and friends will thank you. They will also be amazed at your new skill.
Is it your goal to become a better cook? Many people think that they “can’t” cook. They believe that trying to make anything more complex than a sandwich or macaroni and cheese will end in failure. There are lots of simple methods to make healthy and tasty meals. Cooking can be fun, there is no need to stress about what happens in the kitchen. You will be surprised at how easy it will become to turn out great meals.
Read The Recipe First!
Check the ingredients needed prior to starting a recipe. There is nothing worse than getting midway through a dish, just to realize that you are missing out on an important ingredient. You will save time and money by having all of the ingredients on hand and fresh. Smart cooks prepare certain parts of a recipe in advance. In this manner, you won’t all of a sudden find yourself needing to slice an onion or grate cheese when you are best in the middle of your recipe. Sometimes it is handy to mix all of the dry ingredients together ahead of time and put them aside until you are ready to cook.
If you cook utilizing just recipes from your preferred cookbook, attempt something brand new. Getting a few brand-new cookbooks with different cuisines is the initial step towards diversifying the meals you prepare. Experimenting and playing around with your existing dishes is another step you can take to shake up your cooking experience.
Some parents are desperate to get their children to eat healthier. A sneaky way to do that is to add vegetables and fruits to a dish by hiding them. They won’t know it but you are adding nutrients to their foods. A vegetable juice can be poured in with other juices or it can be added to soups. You can also turn fruit juice into homemade pop cycles which will be difficult for kids to resist. Just make sure there is not too much sugar in the fruit juice.
Among the primary steps in ending up being a much better cook is to better understand cooking in general. The best way to do this is to simply consider your meals every time you eat in a dining establishment. When you consume something you find yummy in a dining establishment, think of why it tastes so great. Try to remember details of what was on the plate and then try to recreate that dish at home.
Take chances when you desire to become a better cook. Make sure you check out the entire dish when prior to you start.
Pay Attention To Size
It is very important to know that the smaller the item, the longer it takes to prepare. Many individuals believe that smaller sized items do not take long to prepare, therefore the product does not cook thoroughly. Normally, bigger products do not take as long to prepare and due to the fact that individuals believe they do, these products get scorched.
If you take the time to learn how to prepare, making great meals can be simple. You may wind up finding that you’re ready to cook things you never ever believed you would be able to handle.
If you prepare using just recipes from your preferred cookbook, try something new. Playing and exploring around with your existing dishes is the second step towards not just making new meals, but ending up being a better cook.
Cooking can either be simply a means of feeding yourself or it can be a fantastic and fun creative process that will provide you with fabulous meals! Read on to discover some great ideas on how to make cooking an easier and more pleasurable experience for you before your next meal!
Prep Your Meals!
All of the prep work can be done ahead of time. Before you start making your food, it is a good thing to have everything prepared. Having a deadline for an important meal or event can become quite stressful when you are starting from scratch. Do the prep work as early as you can to avoid stress later.
If you want to cook delicious steaks, use your oven broiler. When you properly heat your oven, the broiler will quickly sear the meat and keep it juicier. You should avoid using any utensil that will puncture the meat when you turn it. That will cause vital fluid loss. Use a spatula instead.
Rather than using water or milk in a specific recipe, try a different liquid to add a new flavor. When you cook vegetables you can use chicken broth or add beef instead of water. As an alternative to milk, try using thinned sour cream, yogurt, soy milk or buttermilk. A simple switch like changing a liquid in a recipe can improve the nutritional quality while giving the dish a whole new spin in taste.
Place fruit that is not quite ripe in a plastic bag with a few small holes to allow it to ripen. The plastic helps retain the gases used by ripening fruit while the holes allow fresh air to circulate across the fruit. This also helps you keep your fruit fresh longer!
Don’t use any wine in your meals that you wouldn’t drink. Because wine will have a big impact on the flavor of your food, a bad wine can result in a bad meal. Cooking wines are available.
Have Fun And Cook With Someone
If you and your significant other love cooking, then consider taking a cooking class for couples! Couples cooking classes can help you explore new cuisines, enjoy each other’s company and also learn more about working together in the kitchen. A well-kept secret is that the guys enjoy these classes as much as the ladies ” and it often leads to the fellows taking a greater role in cooking at home.
Stop guessing on the taste of your meatballs and loafs. Take your mixture of meat and seasonings and fry up a small hamburger so you can get a taste of how your meatloaf or meatballs will turn out. This way you can add more seasonings or tone them down by adding more meat.
We all need to eat so we might as well make the process of preparing food something we love. Hopefully you have found some fresh ideas in this article on improving your life in the kitchen! It can be a great way to enjoy a major part of our lives so take what you have learned here and apply it to your next meal and bon appetit!
Have you ever used a cast iron frying pan? Do you remember cast iron frying pans? Once, everyone had them and used them for all types of everyday cooking. Then aluminum and lightweight steel arrived, plus Teflon, and cast iron was tossed, well, on the scrap heap. However, in the last few years there has been a renaissance of thinking and cast iron frying pans are considered a must for a modern kitchen.
What Is Cast Iron?
Cast iron has been around for centuries and has been used for cooking just about that long. The process for making cast iron hasn’t really changed, it’s only more mechanized. Cast iron is made by blending steel and iron. The material is melted and certain chemicals are added to increase the carbon level. The molten material is poured into a mold and cooled. Once the metal has cooled, the mold is broken and the pan is smoothed to make it ready for cooking.
Just think about how durable this material is. Iron and steel, two of the strongest materials on earth. Part of the resurgence in interest is because cast iron will last a long, long time. It used to be common to have pans passed down from generation to generation. Except for an occasional outbreak of rust (which can be treated) the pans never failed.
Recently there have been some health concerns about different types of materials being used in modern cookware. Teflon and other non-stick treatments are being studied for any long term affects for ingesting the product (yes, you may have actually eaten Teflon). Anodized aluminum is known to give off emissions at high heat and copper cookware has been linked, unofficially, with certain heavy metal issues.
Seasoning A Cast Iron Pan
You have probably heard the phrase “seasoning the pan” when you have looked at cast iron. Seasoning is quite simple but quite necessary for the successful use of cast iron. Even if you have purchased an already seasoned pan, it never hurts to give it any treatment.
First, wipe the pan clean and make sure the inside is perfectly dry. Next, soak some paper towel with vegetable oil and wipe every inch of surface inside the pan. Don’t miss any spots, you will end up with areas that are constantly having food stick to it.
Last, place the pan upside down on a baking sheet and place on the highest rack in your oven. Set the oven at 500 degrees and leave the pan in for one hour. After it has cooled, wipe down the inside again with a very light coat of oil. You have just seasoned your pan an it is ready to be used or stored.
The Top Cast Iron Frying Pans For 2019
#1 The Lodge Pre-seasoned Skillet.
This made in the USA skillet is sturdy, durable and has the addition of an assist handle that we really like. At 10.25″ it is the perfect size for cooking meats such as burgers or steak. It’s also a good size for breakfast cooking, you have room for eggs and bacon in the same pan. It’s pre-seasoned and ready to use.
One thing to check when buying a pre-seasoned skillet is to find out what is used for the seasoning. Some manufacturers take a short cut and use a chemical spray. Lodge uses vegetable oil and avoids any artificial sprays.
Product Features
Not only is this skillet a full 10 1/4″ in diameter, it is a full 2″ deep. That’s a good depth for frying foods in oil, you can get the food into the skillet and the oil is deep enough to cook all around the food.
We really like the assist handle. An assist handle is the small grip across from the regular handle. You will be surprised at how often you use this. It’s great for lifting the skillet from the stove to the table or when taking the skillet out of the oven.
Advantages
-Made in the USA. Lodge is a family run business.
-Pre seasoned with vegetable oil. You might want to season it again before using but it is ready to go out of the box.
-A well designed handle. It’s long enough to keep your hand away from the flame but not so long that the balance is bad.
-The assist handle is a great feature.
Disadvantages
-No lid. A lid is available but has to be purchased separately.
-Pre seasoning may be erratic. Again, it’s always a good idea to season any pan.
#2 Amazon Basics 15″ Cast Iron Skillet
This large, pre seasoned cast iron skillet is part of the Amazon Basics collection. It’s extremely well made, has both an assist handle and pour lips and is over 2″ deep.
At 15″ this is a very large skillet. If you are just looking to make a couple of eggs you may find this to be too large and heavy. However, if you are making 4-5 burgers or a couple of steaks, this is a great sized skillet.
Product Features
Another sturdy, durable cast iron pan. With a 2″ depth you can deep fry most foods quite easily. The pour lips are useful for those times that you need to pour out a liquid and the assist handle is solid.
Advantages
-15″ diameter allows for cooking of most any type of food.
-An assist handle as well as pour lips on both sides of the skillet.
-Pre seasoned at the factory.
Disadvantages
-No lid. 15″ lids can be found but it requires a separate purchase.
-Some buyers have complained that the seasoning is uneven. It’s always recommended that you season the pan before using.
-It’s heavy. It is a 15″ skillet so it is large. It will weight close to 9 pounds.
#3 The Victoria 12″ Cast Iron Frying Pan
A different sized pan, this heavy duty 12″ frying pan is rated safe to 500 degrees. Most people will never cook anything for any length of time at that temperature but this pan is tough enough to handle high heats.
One of the unique features of this cast iron frying pan is that it is seasoned with 100% non-GMO flaxseed oil. No artificial sprays or treatments, the company uses a safe, natural oil that is a good seasoning ingredient for cast iron.
At 12″ this pan is between a skillet and a frying pan (descriptions always vary when discussing diameters of pans). It’s a perfectly sized pan for most cooking and the handle design is outstanding. The balance is perfect and this pan is easy to handle, even when filled with food.
Advantages
-Seasoning is done with non-GMO flaxseed oil.
-This pan has an assist handle as well as 2 pour lips for convenience.
-An extremely well designed handle. Even though this pan weights 6 pounds it is very easy to handle.
Disadvantages
-Again, no lid. Glass lids are supposed to be available within the next year.
-While seasoned with flaxseed oil, some customers report that the coverage is erratic.
-Not quite as deep (under 2″) as some other frying pans.
Best Cast Iron Frying Pans Buying Guide
Should you buy a cast iron pan? The short answer is yes. They are inexpensive, easy to use and last forever. The longer answer is still yes but there is a bit more work involved with cast iron as opposed to other cookware made with different materials.
Kitchen Utensils
No matter what you hear, never use metal utensils with a cast iron pan. There are some who claim that they have been using a metal turner or pancake flipper with no problems. Ignore them. You can gouge the pan easily using metal tools.
For best results with cast iron cooking you should always use wooden or silicone rubber kitchen utensils. They may take a bit more work when it comes to scraping your pan but in the long run your pan will be much better for the effort.
Cleaning
No dishwasher for you cast iron pan. Ever. Never, ever, ever. Warm water and an occasional drop of dish washing soap will take care of your pan.
The best way to clean cast iron is to wipe it clean. We have become so germophobic that some people shudder at the thought of not putting a cooking tool into a 300 degree dishwasher and using a pound of disinfectant. Your pan will be clean and safe to use with a thorough wiping and a quick rinse with warm water.
Rust
It’s cast iron, it might rust. Don’t panic, a bit of rust doesn’t mean the pan is worthless. If it is just a flake or two, wipe the rust off and season the pan again. If there is a lot of rust, get some steel wool and rub the rust off. Season the pan and you are ready to cook.
We really like cooking with cast iron and, even though it takes a bit more work, the results are fantastic. Just make sure to take good care of your new (or old) cast iron pan and it will take care of you for years.
If you are faced with having to cook while you (or a family member) are trying to lose weight, don’t despair. Here are some simple yet effective ways to alter a bit how you prepare food. You will be surprised at how easy you can cut down on fat in your diet by just making a few changes.
Don’t use cooking oil! Or a minimum of, understand which cooking oils are the better options. Some oil includes high cholesterol levels, this consist of using jarred oils such as olive oil and corn oil. Additionally, find out alternative cooking methods that do not utilize oil. One of which is steaming. Steaming is applied on vegetables and even fish, this is a healthy method to prepare and it makes the food more delicious compared to other types of cooking. Another alternative way is pouching. Pouching decreases the added fat in our diet. Foods that can be pouched are eggs and salmon, these foods can be prepared without frying. Moreover, clay pot cooking is stated to be an art.
Try Using A Clay Pot For Cooking
Ever attempted preparing in a clay pot? Try likewise the artful cooking utilizing clay pots. Lots of dishes nowadays are offered online for this cooking method. Clay pot cooking makes it possible for the dietary value of the food to stay. Some cooks consider clay pot cooking to be an art form. That is a bit snobbish, it really is just an alternative style of food preparation.
There are problems with frying food,even more than just the fat used. Every time we fry foods, the dietary worth is compromised. It does not help our diet plan if we eat numerous healthy foods, such as veggies and fruits, if we harm their nutritional value by frying. Cooking with a clay pot retains the moisture during the cooking process. When we utilize a clay pot for cooking we end up eating much healthier meals. Dig out your clay pot (if you have one) or else look into buying one. They usually are quite inexpensive.
Using more recent cooking utensils adds fat and oil to our foods. Instead of utilizing the newer cooking utensils that you have actually simply bought, replaced it with clay pot. Other cooking techniques include the use of Dutch ovens, cleaner, wok and open fire cooking.
As your mom and grandma knew, a cast iron pan can help turn out great meals. Utilizing a cast iron [an can be beneficial due to the fact that the food does not stick (if your pan is seasoned properly). Another advantage is that these pans are sturdy and durable. Taken care of, they can last for years. Equally important, is exploring, accept brand-new cultures, such as Asian culture, they use to cook with using minimal quantity of oil or in some cases with no oil at all.
Don’t Add Fat, Add Flavor
You can even attempt to use herbs to taste food. We can have excellent health by learning to pair food to match each other. Or you can add tasty food such as lemons and orange to include taste, and the advantage of included nutrients. Any experienced cook will tell you that the secret to becoming a better cook is to learn how to use herbs and spices.
Another good alternative cooking style is to use a steamer on vegetables and even fish. Steaming is a healthy method to prepare most foods and it helps to bring out the natural flavor of food. You can find many inexpensive steamers that can fix vegetables, fish and rice without too much fuss.
Cooking can either be simply a means of feeding yourself or it can be a fantastic and fun creative process that will provide you with fabulous meals! I have tried to list some great ideas on how to make cooking an easier and more pleasurable experience for you before your next meal!
Prep Work-Do It Right!
The most difficult and time consuming thing about cooking is doing all of the prep work. You can buy pre-prepped vegetables or prep your ingredients the day before to cut down on the time you are in the kitchen. This is very helpful if you need to get dinner out in a hurry.
Microwaving a lemon or a lime for a few seconds can release the juices. Sometimes the citrus at a grocery store is not as fresh as it could be, making it difficult to juice. If you microwave it for 10 seconds, and then roll it between your hand and the counter it will release more juice.
If you’ve forgotten to soak your beans over night, quick soak them instead. Just put the beans in a very large pot and cover with water. Bring this to a boil, then lower heat and simmer for about two hours. This method is just as effective as an over night soak and can save you time.
One of the things that you can do if you are cooking cauliflower is to add milk, which will help to brighten your vegetable. This will add to the aesthetic appeal of your food and will also maintain the freshness until you decide to serve it to your friends or family.
Shelling pecans can be really challenging. Make it easier by soaking them in a cup of water and put the cup into the microwave for 5-6 minutes. It is always possible to soak the pecans into boiling water to get the same effect. Hot water makes the shell softer and easier to crack.
How to achieve perfect scrambled eggs. Always cook your eggs in butter. Don’t be tempted to use oil. Allow two eggs per person, and beat with a little salt and freshly ground pepper. Scrambled eggs should be cooked slowly over a low heat, and stirred continuously. Scrape the bottom of the pan and constantly bring the outside edges into the middle. Serve on a warm plate. Enjoy!
We all need to eat so we might as well make the process of preparing food something we love. It can be interesting to find tips on improving your life in the kitchen! It can be a great way to enjoy a major part of our lives so take what you have learned here and apply it to your next meal and bon appetit!
Its fun to cook! I love to cook and want to share that love! I have had a lot of fun trying out different kitchen appliances as part of cooking class and I will pass on some of the things I have learned. My grandmothers were great inspirations to me, they could cook and bake anything and it always turned out great. Not sure how they did it, but I hope to be half as good as they were. Hope you like the recipes!
Chris' Cooking Blog 