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Even top chefs once had to learn the basics of cookery. Good Food brings you the must-know skills that will take you from nervous novice to confident cook... We've put together a top five list of key skills that every beginner cook should know in order to gain confidence in the kitchen... 1. How to chop an onion The cornerstone of so many dishes, learning to chop an onion efficiently can speed up dinner preparations no end.  2. How to master basic knife skills Once you’ve mastered chopping onions, it’s time to broaden your knife skills and get to grips with scoring, shearing, fine slicing and more.  3. How to boil an egg Sounds simple but a perfect, runny yolk can be lost in a moment, so timing is key. The duration of a boil depends on how firm you want the eggs to be, but it’s always best to start with them at room temperature to avoid undercooking. For a soft-boiled egg, bring a pan of water to the boil, gently lower the egg into it with a spoon and cook for

Chocolate and mint were meant to be together. It’s Chocolate Mint Day! Most people agree that mint and chocolat e were made for each other. A burst of refreshing  peppermint ,  spearmint , or crème de menthe combined with the smooth, rich taste of chocolate is a truly unique pairing. Some of the most famous chocolate mint inventions include: mint chocolate cake, Thin Mint  Girl Scout  cookies, grasshopper  martinis , mint chocolate soap and lip balm, Andes after-dinner mints, and mint chocolate chip ice cream. Chocolate mint is also a type of  herb . It is part of the spearmint family and has edible leaves that taste like chocolate and mint! To celebrate Chocolate Mint Day, snack on a piece of your favorite chocolate mint candy, enjoy a scoop of mint chocolate chip  ice cream  or drop a  candy cane  in a steaming cup of  hot cocoa. personal chefs and event catering Miami + Miami Beach + Fort Lauderdale + Palm Beach www.yadachef.com

John F. Kennedy  |  Bay Scallop Chowder   "Soup was a dish close to the heart of President Kennedy, since it gave him an opportunity to be served the fish for which his New England background had given him a special appreciation." Author Notes:   My family celebrates Christmas eve by sitting down to a big dinner. Back when my siblings and I were in our 20s, these meals were long, epic affairs that last  ( …more )  — Amanda Hesser Serves 12 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 ounces thickly sliced smoked bacon, finely chopped 1 large onion, finely chopped 1 large garlic clove, minced 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper 6 cups bottled clam broth 6 cups chicken stock or canned low-sodium broth Bouquet garni made with 2 bay leaves, 5 fresh parsley sprigs, 3 fresh thyme sprigs and 8 black peppercorns, wrapped in cheesecloth 1 1/2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch dice 2 1/4 cups heavy cream 2 tablespoons cornstarch 2 large leeks, white and tender green, halved

Presidents’ Day , officially  Washington’s Birthday , in the  United States ,  holiday  (third Monday in February) popularly recognized as honouring  George Washington  and  Abraham Lincoln . The day is sometimes understood as a celebration of the birthdays and lives of all U.S. presidents. The origin of Presidents’ Day lies in the 1880s, when the birthday of Washington—commander of the Continental Army during the  American Revolution  and the first  president of the United States —was first celebrated as a federal holiday. In 1968 Congress passed the  Uniform Monday Holiday Bill, which moved a number of federal holidays to Mondays. The change was designed to schedule certain holidays so that workers had a number of long weekends throughout the year, but it has been opposed by those who believe that those holidays should be celebrated on the dates they actually  commemorate . During debate on the bill, it was proposed that Washington’s Birthday be renamed Presidents’ Day to honour

Chili peppers nutrition facts Chili peppers, despite their fiery “hotness” are one of very popular spices known for medicinal and health benefiting properties.  The chili is actually a fruit pod from the plant belonging to the nightshade family of Solanaceae, within the genus; capsicum. Scientific name: Capsicum annum. Some common members of nightshade family are tomato, aubergine, potato, etc. Several cultivars of peppers are grown all around the world. The chili plant is native to Central American region where it was used as the chief spice ingredients in Mexican cuisine for centuries. It was introduced to the rest of the world by Spanish and Portuguese explorers during 16th and 17th centuries and now grown widely in many parts of the world as an important commercial crop. Chili plant is a perennial small shrub with woody stem growing up to a meter height and bears white colored flowers. The pods are very variable in size, shape, color, and pungency. Depending on the cultiv

** Note, you can stuff any white fish filet with crab meat.  Before  buying crab, note that there are four grades of meat. In order of expense, they are: Jumbo lump crab meat, the largest, snow-white lumps. Lump/backfin crab meat, the same color, flavor and texture of jumbo lump, but is in slightly smaller pieces. White crab meat, smaller white pieces ideal for recipes where the size and shape of the crab flake becomes indistinguishable, such as crab cakes. Claw crab meat, the reddish-brown claw and leg meat which is actually more flavorful and is preferred by many (who also and appreciate the lower price) and is the best to use in spicy dishes, where the flavor best holds up to the spices. personal chefs and event catering Miami + Miami Beach + Fort Lauderdale + Palm Beach www.yadachef.com

2-1/2 cups/479g sugar, divided 1-1/3 cups/330ml applesauce 2 packages (3 ounces/85g each) red or green gelatin 2 envelopes (3 ounces/85g each) unflavored gelatin 1 teaspoon/5ml lemon juice In a large saucepan, combine 2 cups/383.3g sugar, applesauce, red or green gelatin, unflavored gelatin and lemon juice; let stand for 1 minute. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil for 1 minute. Immediately pour into a cold 11 x 7 inch/28x18cm baking dish coated with cooking spray. Refrigerate for 3 hours or until firm. With a spatula, loosen gelatin from sides of pan. To remove, invert onto waxed paper. Using kitchen scissors or small sharp cookie cutters dipped in hot water, cut into 1 inch /2.5cm squares or shapes. Place on waxed paper. Dry at room temperature for about 8 hours or until slightly sticky. Roll in remaining sugar. Store in an airtight container. private chefs and event catering Palm Beach + Boca Raton + Fort Lauderdale + Miami

by  CAROLYN ROBBINS  Last Updated: Oct 03, 2017 The creamy, yellow flesh of orange sweet potatoes is a familiar comfort, while a lump of purple tuber might look a little out of place at your dinner table. Purple sweet potatoes, also known as Okinawan potatoes, share the same starchy sweetness of more familiar varieties. Like orange sweet potatoes, they are low in carbohydrates and fat and an excellent source of fiber and vitamins. Additionally, purple sweet potatoes are packed with anthocyanins, which may have anti-inflammatory properties. Calories, Fat and Carbohydrates A medium, 7-inch-long skinless Okinawan potato contains 251 calories and 61 grams of carbohydrates. The tuber offers 6 grams of heart-healthy dietary fiber and has no fat or cholesterol. Other Nutrients Purple sweet potatoes are an excellent source of vitamin A. A medium potato serving yields 1,643 retinol activity equivalents -- retinol being a form of vitamin A used in measuring vitamin amounts. The

This 'Two Fat Ladies' recipe is delicious. We did find before pushing the ricotta through the sieve to drain as much as the liquid out of it first. Made for a less runny consistency.  Ingredients 1 pound/450g strawberries 1 tablespoon/15ml lemon juice 1 tablespoon/15ml caster sugar (superfine) 1 1/4/510g pounds fresh ricotta 1/4 pint (1/2 cup/120ml/120g) double cream 3 tablespoons/45ml Campari 4 to 5 tablespoons/8g icing sugar (confectioners') Directions Set aside 16 of the smallest strawberries and cut the rest into small pieces. Put in a bowl with the lemon juice and caster sugar and leave to soak for 1 hour. Push the ricotta through the smallest sieve of a mouli, add cream and Campari, mix well. Sieve the icing sugar into the mixture to your own taste, put a third of the mixture aside and mix the strawberries into the remaining ricotta. Prepare pink dessert plates and divide the mixture into 16 breast-shaped molds, 2 for each plate. With a moistened