this is maybe more of a tool vs trick thing, but we invested in a great food processor, so H uses it for almost all big-meal preps.
we also have a sous vide, which we LOVE for mashed potatoes. peel and slice potatoes, vacuum seal with butter, salt, garlic powder, and white pepper. cook in the sous vide and leave them in until ready to mash. add a little more butter and some cream, mash away. (my family likes the lumps!)
vacuum sealer for buying meat in bulk and freezing. we buy ground beef in 5-6 pound packages at costco. H divides up into one or two pound batches, shoves them in a vacuum bag and pushes it flat, like a big patty. even freezing, even thawing. we use a two pound batch for burgers - he takes the rectangular brick out, scores it with a spatula, and walla (lol) - flat, square patties!!
The sous vide ideas is a great idea! Can you tell me what temp/how long you do this?
Temp is 194 (no idea why so random!). Cool for at least an hour, but they can really sit in there for 2-3 if you need the time and space.
CORRECTION: H says 1.5 hour min, so 194 for 90 minutes.
For recipes I really like that I tweak (because I tweak almost all recipes), I actually add the recipe to a Word doc template I found, add the changes, and print out the recipe. I slide it into a plastic sheet protector and put the recipes into a 3-ring binder that lives in a drawer in my kitchen. I have dividers in the binder for salads / soups / vegetarian / meat / etc. That way I always make the recipes with the tweaks I like, plus if our nanny does good prep or cooks for us, or I ask her to make a grocery list off my weekly meal plan, she has all the stuff she needs to get it done. The Recipe includes ingredients and I billed out prep that can be done ahead of time.
Whenever I find a good recipe, I email a copy to myself with a link to the original recipe and the recipe itself in the text of the email with any modifications I may have made. I file them into their own folder in gmail for easy retrieval. Even better - when someone asks "Oh, can I have that recipe??", I just forward them the email. Done in 5 seconds
Post by InBetweenDays on Nov 27, 2020 11:30:48 GMT -5
One easy hack I came across is to grate butter if the recipe calls for cutting butter in to small pieces to incorporate it in to dough, flour sugar mixture, etc. Works way better than a knife or pastry cutter.
I had to Google "mise en place" so I should see myself out but I actually do this for some recipes as well.
Me too. But I never do this. I hate using extra dishes and will do the math to use as few measuring cups as possible when making things. For example with Nestle tollhouse cookies you can use only the 3/4 c and 1 tsp and have fewer dishes after. I hate dishes.
LOL!! I hate doing math. I have multiple sets of measuring cups and spoons so that I don’t have to wash in between. Give everything a quick rinse and throw it in the dishwasher when I’m done.
I also use the garbage bowl method and use many bowls and plates to prep everything ahead of cooking.
I always cook a double batch of a meal and we have it for two nights in a row, so I only cook every other day (or you can freeze it).
I also occasionally spend a day or two making several freezer meals that will be incorporated in the menu. Last Saturday and today I made a month's worth of meals.
Post by rockpaperscissors on Nov 28, 2020 19:13:00 GMT -5
Whenever I bake cookies, mine always melted in the middle and were sad looking. I realized the cookie sheet was too hot when I put the batter on it. So I started putting the one I just took out of the oven in the freezer before putting next batch of batter on it. My cookies are flawless now 😊
I always buy the pre minced and chopped garlic in a jar. It saves me hours of peeling and chopping.
I have a spice drawer and keep the most used on the top shelf’s, closet to the stove for easy access while cooking. I also keep the evoo near the stove vs in the pantry.
I let bread rise in the oven set on “warm” in the mixing bowl.
Same - except I take the easy factor a step further and buy it in the squeeze container!