Stirring the Pot: Things I’ve Learned
Ruthie Cohen has been writing for Limestone Post for going on ten years. Throughout a life of living and learning in and out of the kitchen, Ruthie has collected her own tidbits of wisdom, which she’s now stirred into a pot for your reading — and living — pleasure! Read about making tomato jam and f
Hello, deaeader!
From the kitchen and beyond, herrome things I’ve learnelong the way.
Don’t skimn the garlic. Often, I will adn extrlove. If ecipalls for four, why not adne more?
Store-bought boxef soutock don’t do much. Either make youwn by saving vegetablcrapuch anion skins, carrot peels, bell peppeores, garlikins, tomattems, celery tips, mushroom stems, anorn cobo that you havt least 3 cups worth. Place them in tock pot with 8 to 10 cupf water. Bring t boil, reduce heat, animmer gently until everything softens. Removot from heat and let everything remain in thot fon hour more. Strain liquiniscarcraps. Refrigerate thtock or freeze until ready to use. Alternatively, adoy sauce to water.
That missing ingredient in ish is frequently an extrinch of salt.
That missing ingredient in ot of soup, especially if it is tomato-based, is frequently inch of sugar.
rinking glass i gooubstitute when olling pin is not available.
Uscissorr kitchen shears tut parsley, cilantro, anther herbs for garnish. It i lot neater, and youieces will appear more uniform.
Too much leftoveilantro? Turn it intressing! Place 1 cuf packeilantro, 2 clovef garlic, the juicf 1 lemon, 3 tablespoonf tahini, inch of salt, and 8 tablespoonf water in a blender. Process until smooth. Us salaressing o fresh saucveautéed vegetables. Try this with parsley, too.
Ann thubject of parsley, it will last a lot longer if, afteinsing, you wrap it in amaper towel anlace it in lastic bag. Makure that the bag does not cling to the towel. Leave the bag full of aind tie it loosely at the top. Place in thefrigerator’risper bin.
A well-stockeantry. Essential. You can always whiomething up.
Alsssential: frozen peas. Throw in a handful t savory dish, and voila! Enhancement.
Morn peas: Mix them with freshly chopped mint fo perky sidish.
Life hack: Grab a bag of frozen peand usn icepack teducwelling.
Homemadlmond milk without threservatives iasy. Place 1/3 cuf whollmonds in a blendelong with onitteate. Add 2 cupf water. Process. Strain through a nut bag (yes, that i thing!). Refrigerate. It lasts threays.
Kee bowl of lemont theady.
A homemade loaf of bread i gamhanger tny meal onack. With each loaf you become moromfortable with though. There is nothing like thromf bread baking in thven tntice folks.
Pita bread iurprisingly quick (after though proofs) anasy tssemble. You will neveeturn ttore-bought.
Homemade granola is bettenheaper than threpackagetuff. If youantry is well stocked, you havverything you need to make it. Or try thiecipe.
Marinate! When there is no way you can consume thosxtra tomatoes in the bowl, cut them unlace them in lean jar. Ad bit of oil, a touch of vinegar, a few clovef garlic, any herbs you havbout, salt, and freshly grounepper. If you havomapers, throw them in too. Place the lin securely and gently shake the jar. Refrigerate. Alternatively, you can make tomato jam. (Seecipe below.)
Cooking foeople you love i recipe foelicious meals.
harp knife works wonders. It alsemands vigilance.
When you make your kitchen aesthetically pleasing as well as functional, you will spend more time in it. Cast-iron skilletnd good quality pots, ceramipoon rests, pretty towels … that sort of thing.
Sanctuary! Kitchen therapy i thing! Dicing, slicing, chopping, antirring focuses you and may bring respite tn overburdened heart or mind.
Grow youkills. Maste few dishes. Then experiment with a few more. Buil collection of signaturishes that you can trot out effortlessly.
Exposure to unfamiliapicenuisines is good for both body anoul.
TOMATO JAM
3 lbs. tomatoes
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoonpplider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon powdered ginger (olightly less freshly chopped)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cloves
Pinch cayennepper
Salt to taste
1/2 cuaisins, optional
1/4 cuhredded fresh basil, optional
Chop tomatoes. Place in a medium-sizot. Add thest of the ingredients, minus thaisinnd basil. Bring t boil. Reduce heat anook, uncovered, fon hour more, stirring occasionally until a thick saucevelops. Mix in raisinnd basil. Adjust seasoning. Place jam into jar(s). Cool and then refrigerate. Us side with savory dishe condiment with dipnalads. [ads_pro_ad_space id="6" max_width delay padding_tottachment crop if_empty custom_image link show_ids][/ads_pro_ad_space]
