cooking Archives - Serendipity Mommy

Ways of Helping Your Food Taste Its Best

April 30, 2021 by Mandy

Since the beginning of human kind, the giving and sharing of food has always brought people together. The sharing of food can grow friendships and relationships, show appreciation for life, settle disputes, and celebrate the greatest achievements of life. In order to have the envisioned end result of the perfectly prepared meal, there are ways of helping food tasting its best.

Wash Hands for Better Tasting Food

One way to help food taste its best is to wash your hands with water that comes from the filtered and clean water. Water that comes from these systems is purer than regular tap water. This is because the tap water goes through the filtering process and then onto your hands. Cleaning your hands with purer water will result in food tasting its best because your hands are being cleaned with filtered water and not tap water that has potential minerals, sediments, chemicals, and waste in it.

Filtered Water is the Best Water

One way to help is to put your water through water treatment systems. Tap water alone can include lead, chlorine, chloramines, mercury, volatile organic compounds, pharmaceutics, herbicides, pesticides, cysts, methyl tertiary butyl ether. Lead is a toxic metal that can cause bad health even with a small exposure. This long list of contaminants consists of toxic metals, strong oxidants, disinfectants that when paired with chlorine can cause cancer in lab testing, liquid metals, gases, synthetic chemicals, substances that are toxic to plants which can affect hormonal levels and reproductive organs, substance used to kill insects or other living things harmful to plants or animals, microbial parasites, and a component of gasoline. All of these contaminants could potentially be present in our tap water. In order for our water to be filtered, clean, and tasting fresh, one should purchase or install on of these systems. These systems could be as simple as attaching a small on to your kitchen sink or a water pitcher. Additionally, the system could be as extensive as installing a much larger one underneath your sink or wherever your major water lines are.

Better Knife Better Food

A third way to help food taste its best is to have a good-quality knife to ensure food is prepared properly. A chef’s or French knife is one of the most versatile and essential knives to have in your kitchen. The lengths of the blade fluctuate in size but the most common is eight inches long. The blade itself varies in terms on being thin closer to the point of it and a wider in the back. The multipurpose knife can be used to dice, chop, and slice pretty much anything. Having this kind of knife will ensure that the food you eat will be better prepared and trimmed properly. The second most popular know is a paring knife. A paring knife is mainly used for pairing and trimming fruits and vegetables. The blade of the knife is between two to four inches long.

A Little Spice Goes a Long Way

A fourth way to help food taste its best is to add spices and or flavoring. Food that grows in the ground can have a very earthy or dirt-like taste to it. In some cases, the food will have a faint earthy taste even after it is washed properly. In order for the food, mainly vegetables in this example, spices should be added in order for it to taste its best. Spices such as garlic, parsley, ginger, cumin, oregano, basil, thyme, chervil, rosemary, tarragon, dill, lemongrass, curry and coriander go very well with vegetables. Also, cloves, cinnamon, and and nutmeg enhance the flavor of vegetables. The addition of mushrooms and chopped nuts not only bring extra flavor to vegetables but nutrition as well. Herb flavored vinegars, oils, and marinades can be purchased at any grocery store. These vinegars, oils, and marinades can be used when grilling meat, fish, or vegetables as well as salads. If this long list seems daunting, you can start off simple with salt, pepper, garlic and onion powder, and fruit juices are a great place to start and can transform any meat or vegetable to help the food taste its best.

Wrapping It All Up

Washing your hands will eliminate any dirt or germs on your hand that will not spread to your food. Someone who has filters in your home will dramatically increase the quality and taste of your now filtered water. Having a good quality knife allows food to be prepared properly. The addition of spices to meat and vegetables can really transform the taste of your food. Washing your hands, purchasing filter systems, having a good-quality knife or two, and adding spices and or flavoring are all excellent examples of ways to help food taste its best.

Top 2 Best Recipes to Make Instant Pot Chum Salmon Chicken Recipes

March 29, 2020 by Mandy

Do you want to know how you can easily make chicken instant pot pie? Well, this chicken instant pot pie has been one of the most top favorites and loved recipes when it comes to the instant pot. Although for the instant pot, you can look for different types of recipes. But right here, we are about to discuss how you can chicken chum salmon instant pot pie.

So let’s get started!

Recipe No 1: Steps by Step Guide to Make Instant Pot Chum Salmon Chicken Pot Pie

First of all, you have to add some minced onion and chicken broth in it along with some diced potatoes. You can take a small number of petite baby carrots over the Instant Pot liner.
Add it with the seasoning of some pepper and salt.
Now lay down almost 6 fresh and uncooked forms of chicken tenders, which will be positioned on top of broth and veggies.
In case if you do not have chicken tenders, then you need to cut around 2 chicken breasts in the form of strips. These strips should be 1/2-1 inch thick.
Now you have to cook them all at a pressure cooker manual temperature. HIGH for around 3 minutes and NPR for almost 6 minutes!
As you are all done with it, you have to remove off the chicken from the instant pot and shred it completely. For shredding the chicken, you can use an electric mixer because it is so much convenient. It will make the whole processing fast and easy for you.
After shredding the chicken, keep it aside.
Now you have to add some frozen peas in instant pot and start stirring it. Adding some peas frozen is so much important.
As you have included the frozen peas in it, it will initially be cooling down the sauce.
In the next step, you have to pour the milk and stir it thoroughly. You have to transform your instant pot into saute.
As everything is at the heating temperature on the instant pot, you have to make some paste at room temperature by using the ingredients of flour and butter.
Once you feel that now instant pot has started to boil, you have to stir the flour and butter paste so it can turn into a thick paste of sauce.
Now add your shredded chicken in it. You are free to serve it now!

Now right here, we have another exciting instant pot pie recipe for you, which you can cook with potatoes. Let’s check out how you can cook it for your family:

Recipe No 2: Complete Guide About chicken Chum Salmon Potpie with Potatoes

Ingredients:

2 – 3 boneless of chicken breasts frozen (no need to thaw)
1 Can Cream of the Chicken Soup
1 cup of the Milk
1 cup of the chicken broth
1/2 onion as chopped (optional)
3-4 potatoes, as peeled and diced
1 16 oz bag of the Frozen mixed vegetables
1/2 cup of the chopped celery
Salt or the Pepper to taste
1 tsp of Garlic salt
1/4 tsp of Poultry Seasoning
canned biscuits or either Homemade biscuits

Steps:

You have to place all the ingredients which we mentioned above in the instant pot except the biscuits.
Now you have to place the lid on its top and be sure that it is completely set to “sealing.”
Click on the manual button and choose pressure time that has to be around 25 minutes.
Now let it come on the pressure, after which you can start cooking.
In that duration, you can prepare some homemade biscuits or can even cook some store-bought biscuits.
As you are done with it, you have to remove the pressure.
Remove off the shred and chicken now.
Please put it back at your instant pot and start stirring it all together.
It’s time to serve it to your kids with the topping of biscuits fun.

Kitchen Talk: A Guide to the Different Types of Knives and Their Uses

February 24, 2020 by Mandy

Do you know the purpose of a cleaver, or why you’d pick a serrated knife over a chef’s knife? Do you tend to grab the same knife no matter what you’re doing?

With the influx of high-tech innovations, more people grow up not knowing about the different types of knives and their uses than ever before.

The problem with this is that using knives outside of their intended purpose leads to blunt edges and warped blades. You’ll end up needing replacement knives more often than you and your budget might like.

Want to learn the differences between all the knives? Listed down below are all of the knives you’ll ever need, so keep reading to find out more!

Chef’s Knife

Although there are many types of knives out there, there are only a few that are essential to any kitchen. The chef’s knife is one of the most important and most versatile.

The blade is a wedged shape, coming to a point at the end, allowing you to anchor the knife on the cutting board as you chop your food. The long blade makes it intimidating to novice chefs, but it’s far safer to use a sharp and large blade than a blunt one.

Although a chef’s knife has a variety of uses, you shouldn’t use it for butchering purposes or opening any kind of packaging.

A chef’s knife is perfect for slicing, chopping, and dicing anything from vegetables and fruits to meat and fish.

Steak Knife

Of all the knives in this list, this is perhaps the most common and easiest to understand. We often use these knives as cutlery, though the knife has other uses besides cutting through cooked steaks. It’s also great for cutting up the more delicate varieties of vegetables.

Modern steak knives often come with a serrated edge to aid in the slicing of meats, which is where this thin blade excels.

A steak knife is perfect for slicing and cutting cooked meats, or slicing up delicate vegetables and salads.

Paring Knife

With a small blade and a sharp pointed tip, a paring knife is great for any activity that requires finesse.

It’s a good sidekick to the chef’s knife. Any time you feel your chef’s knife is too large for the job, grab a paring knife. Its similar shape and smaller size make it easy to use for delicate jobs or smaller-sized foods.

A paring knife is perfect for peeling vegetables and fruits, slicing small pieces of softer food, or mincing ginger and garlic.

Serrated Knife

Although it’s one of the more intimidating knives, a long serrated blade is a must-have for a balanced kitchen.

This knife’s most common purpose goes hand-in-hand with its other common name: bread knife. If you’ve ever tried to cut through a loaf of bread and ended up squashing it instead, then it’s time to find yourself a serrated knife. The long but thin blade and serrated edge make it a breeze to slice through any kind of bread product.

It’s also great for gripping and slicing through slippery surfaces, such as tomatoes or peppers. If the blade is thick enough, it’s even able to slice through melons with no problem.

This knife works best when used with a sawing motion so that the teeth of the blade have ample space to grip and cut through the material.

A serrated knife is perfect for slicing bread of all types, slicing slippery or waxy foods, or carving through melons.

Santoku Knife

Although a santoku knife looks similar to a chef’s knife at first glance, it has a straighter and shorter blade. Instead of anchoring the point and chopping at the food, a santoku knife requires a more precise touch. You’ll need to use up and down motions to get the best cuts from this knife.

The shape of the blade makes it easier to get very thin slices, which is why many Japanese chefs love it for making things like sushi. The holes along the flat of the blade make it so that food doesn’t stick to the side as much, allowing for quicker chopping sessions.

A santoku knife is perfect for getting thin and precise cuts of vegetables and fruits or slicing through sticky fruits and meats.

Boning Knife

This curved blade often comes with a bit of flexibility, which aids in its primary purpose of removing meat from bones. The extra bit of flexibility makes it easier to follow along the curves of the meat’s bones, while still retaining a sharp edge. A stiffer boning knife works well when the bones you’re working with don’t have any kind of curve to them.

Despite its name, it’s important to remember that a boning knife isn’t meant to cut through bone, only the meat going around the bone.

A boning knife is perfect for separating all types of meat and fish from its bones.

Cleaver

If you’re looking to hack your way through bones and thick cuts of meat, then this is the knife you need in your kitchen. It has a strong and thick blade paired with a hefty weight that lets you chop right through all sorts of foods.

It doesn’t work well to slice through anything since you need to use the weight of the blade to get the most out of the knife. A cleaver works best when you raise it above the food and give it a good and careful whack.

A cleaver is perfect for chopping through bones, joints, thick meat, pumpkins, and squashes.

Knowing the Different Types of Knives and Their Uses Makes You a More Confident Chef

With the help of this list, you’ll have no trouble knowing which knife is the right one for the job. Using the right knife at the right time not only makes cooking easier but also extends the life of your knives.

So, instead of grabbing any knife out of the drawer next time, use your newfound knowledge of the different types of knives and their uses. It’ll make a huge difference in your kitchen and your cooking.

If you’re looking for even more tips to improve your culinary skills, don’t forget to check out the rest of our cooking section!

Cook Italian: 4 Ingredients Truly Authentic Italian Recipes

February 19, 2020 by Daisey Bell

There’s a whole lot more than Pizza and spaghetti when it comes to Italian food. There are a plethora of ingredients that enhance the flavor of all Italian Cuisine. Not only is Although Italian food seems heavy or bold, in essentiality, it’s rich and textural at so many levels, and not at all heavy! Let’s not intellectualize Italian Cuisine, it truly comes from a place of evocatively emotional heart, making it one of the heartiest cuisines globally. Unlike most other cuisines that are governed by protein, Italian is an eminent celebration of produce and a huge selection of cured meats. Today, let us focus on the produce that Italy imbibes through and through, in all their major recipes.

Staying traditional to the authentic produce from Italy is what makes Italian Cuisine enjoyable. Trying to recreate the Italian recipes without authentically sourced Italian ingredients is a call for failure on the very first step in the process of trying to emulate this Cuisine.

These are the verifiably sourced Italian produce that sets apart authentic Italian ingredients:

Cheese: Truly, any discussion of Italian Cuisine would not be complete without mentioning cheese sourced from the various regions of Italy. Cheese is not just a part of the Cuisine, but a dominant part of the Italian culture and daily life. Veneto, Lombardy, and Piedmont are some of the quality producers of fine cheese in Italy. Italian food wouldn’t be the same without the presence of its humble cheese production. Some have a delicate flavor, and others are very strong. Parmigiano Reggiano is among the most famously known Italian cheese worldwide. It also termed “The King of Italian Cheeses.” They are aged to perfection.
Olive Oil:In the year 2018, Italians consumed 557,000 tons of olive oil. In comparison, the US consumed 315,000 tons. That above-mentioned figure should be able to put things in perspective with regards to the importance of olive oil in Italian Cuisine. This oil has been a staple of the region for thousands of years. Just as all produce, olive oil is also graded on its quality. Apart from the Cuisine, Italians use olive oil in many different ways. It is common to assume that Italians use the best quality of their olive oils – “the extra virgin” one to cook their food – NOT TRUE! They use lesser quality, less flavorful versions of their extra virgin olive oils while cooking, whereas saving the quality oils from drizzling over portions of pasta, bread, salads, and everything else. Some of the best Italian olive oils are Partanna olive oil, Partanna Sicilian olive oil, and Partanna extra virgin olive oil.

Also Read This: Italian Olive Oil: The Benefits it Give and How to Find an Original Product

Tomatoes: Tomatoes are one of the most commonly used ingredients in Italian cooking. Tomatoes find their way into all kinds of recipes – from lasagna to spaghetti, salads to side dishes, stuffings to paella. All recipes celebrate tomatoes. Today some of the largest producers of tomatoes are Italy – from the regions of Puglia, Sardinia, Campania, and the coveted Sicily. San Marzano is the most popularly known and used tomato sauce. It is a long shaped tomato with very fleshy meat. It contains a minimal amount of seeds and thus deemed perfect for making sauces for pizza toppings, pasta, and other bases. They have just the mild sweetness and the perfect amount of acidity. Make sure to source these products from Italy, if you are trying to get the authentic flavors of Italy.
Mushrooms: Italy’s landscape is home to many forests and fields, and they hold many types of mushroom growth. The rainy and sunny climate is the perfect climatic condition for the growth of mushrooms. During summer and the autumn season, mushroom harvesting is a common household chore across Italy. They are a meaty vegan alternative to game and poultry. They are also eaten in many different ways and even used as stuffings for many recipes. Italians even go to the extent of preserving mushrooms in high-quality extra virgin olive oil and then plate them as starters at mealtimes. Porcini Boletus Mushrooms preserved in extra virgin olive oil is one of the best starter foods all over Italy.

These four ingredients are what makes Italian Cuisine impeccably and authentically Italian. Source these from the right places. Italian food online stores carry a variety of these ingredients and also ships them to your desired address. Begin your journey experiencing Italian Cuisine the right way.

Author Bio:-I am Daisy Bell a pro-level blogger with years of experience in writing for multiple industries. I have extensive knowledge of Food, Fitness, Healthcare, business, fashion, and many other popular niches. I have post graduated in arts and have a keen interest in traveling.

Essential Kitchen Supplies for a Fully Stocked Home

November 18, 2019 by Mandy

According to a survey by the Food Network, 28 percent of Americans say they can’t cook. Cooking is an intricate art, for sure, but it doesn’t need to be difficult.

If you own a handful of essential cooking supplies, you can whip up a range of delicious meals. Having the right kitchen tools means that you can try any recipe you like.

Do you know the difference between a chef’s knife and a paring knife? Do you know why you need to own measuring cups? If not, you’re in luck.

I’ve drawn together a list of the most important kitchen supplies you need in your home. Ready to learn to love cooking, and start impressing your family and friends? Then read on and start enjoying the culinary arts!

Kitchen Knives

A good set of knives are among the most important kitchen tools that you need. Sharp and well-balanced knives make cutting and chopping your ingredients easy. Learning how to chop your food into consistently-sized chunks will do wonders for the texture and taste of your meals.

You should own, at a minimum:

A chef’s knife. A well-made chef’s knife is the key to culinary success. Look for a knife that’s razor-sharp, well-balanced, and comfortable to hold.
A bread knife. While you can guess what this serrated knife’s main use is, it can also be useful for slicing pastry, cakes, and pizzas.
A paring knife. The paring knife is used for fine work, like peeling and coring. This knife should be exceptionally sharp and easy to hold.
A ceramic honing rod. This will keep your knives sharp. A blunt blade is more dangerous than a sharp one, so use it regularly!

A Large Chopping Board

Eschew the tiny chopping boards that you get in IKEA. Your chopping board will be among the most used kitchen supplies that you own.

Get one as big as your work area allows. Working in cramped conditions saps the fun out of cooking.

Essential Kitchen Utensils

Wooden spoons have been used in the kitchen for thousands of years. They don’t transfer heat or impact the food’s flavor, and they don’t scratch non-stick pans.
A spatula can be used for everything from turning meat and veg to stirring sauces. Buy one made from stainless steel.
A slotted spoon is perfect for removing vegetables from boiling water. One made from silicone is your best bet.
A ladle is a must for serving soups and stews.
If you often grill or roast meats, a good set of tongs helps you easily flip any food.

Pots and Pans

Good meals come from good pans. If you’re still using those non-stick pans that you bought for $10 back in the day, stop. Invest in these solid pans:

A ceramic grill pan. You can use grill pans on the stovetop and in the oven, making them extremely versatile kitchen utensils. The best ceramic grill pans can be used for everything from grilled cheese sandwiches to marinated veg.
A stainless steel sauté pan. These pans should be used for cooking meat, vegetables, and aromatics. The ingredients will stick lightly while cooking, creating fond on the pan’s base which will make delicious sauces.
Cast-iron skillet. For frying up meats, you can’t beat a cast-iron skillet. These pans will last forever and retain an incredible amount of heat.
A high-quality non-stick frying pan.
Small, medium, and large saucepans.
A stockpot. If you want to make Italian Sunday gravy, warming stews, or delicious stocks, you’ll need a tall stockpot.
A casserole dish.

Measuring Cups and a Measuring Jug

Eyeballing ingredients gets old fast and makes for unreliable success. Invest in a set of measuring cups for dry ingredients and a demarcated measuring jug for wet ones.

You’re going to be using these kitchen supplies a lot, so invest in good quality ones. For the cups, we’d recommend buying ones made of steel. For the jug, buy one made of Pyrex.

Mixing Bowls

Want to make a cake for the ones you love? How about a delicious marinade for meat or fish? You’ll need a set of mixing bowls.

Look for ones made of toughened glass, and avoid plastic. Glass doesn’t absorb flavor, so you can use these bowls over and over again without polluting your other dishes.

Meat Thermometer

Buying one of these changed the way I cook. Stick a meat thermometer into a roast, and you’ll instantly know when it’s done. No need to see if juices run clear, no need to cut a slice to see if it’s still pink in the middle.

Look for a thermometer that gives readings quickly. It should be able to tell you the meat’s temperature in under five seconds.

Blender

Most people forget a blender when buying kitchen stuff, but it’s extremely important. With a blender, you can make smoothies, sauces, and soups with ease. Invest in a good blender with large, strong blades.

Kitchen Scissors

A strong pair of kitchen scissors are essential. No matter whether you’re simply opening a packet, cutting through a crab’s shell, or slicing a pizza, scissors make your life a little easier.

Other Awesome Kitchen Supplies

These kitchen supplies aren’t as important as the ones we’ve already looked at, but they will make your life a lot easier.

A spice grinder. Store-bought spices lose flavor over time. If you buy a spice grinder, you’ll have fresh, delicious spices whenever you want them.
A sous-vide. This little gadget keeps water boiling at a consistent temperature. Seal up ingredients in vacuum bags, put them in the water, and cook them to perfection.
Oil infuser. Want to make your own version of that chili oil they have at Italian restaurants? Add your ingredients to an oil infuser for more flavorful, delicious oils.
A stand mixer. Stand mixers are expensive kitchen tools, but for making batter and kneading dough, they can’t be beaten. Look for a mixer with a variety of attachments, such as a dough hook.

Buying these key kitchen supplies will make your culinary life that little bit easier. If you are looking for more bread or kitchen appliances, then definitely visit make the bread. Ready to start making incredible meals? Then take a look at the cooking section of our blog and find a recipe that you want to try!