how-to

Homemade Corned Beef

Ingredients: 6 lb beef brisket, about 1 1/2 to 2 inches thick brine: 4 quarts of water 1 1/2 cups kosher salt 1/2 cup dark brown sugar 10 bay leaves 8 cloves garlic 5 whole star anise 2 sticks cinnamon, broken up 1 tablespoon yellow mustard seeds 1 tablespoon brown […]

How to: Chicken Stock

Ingredients: the basics: cold water 1 chicken carcass, meat removed 6 carrots, cut up 3 onions, quartered 2 parsnips, cut up 1 bunch celery or just celery tops 2 heads garlic optional: 1 bunch green onions or scallions Directions: Place the chicken and the vegetables in a large (8-10 quart) […]

Jamaican-Style Jerk Seasoning

Ingredients: 1 tablespoon onion flakes 1 tablespoon onion powder 2 teaspoons dried thyme leaves 2 teaspoons dried chervil 2 teaspoons kosher salt 2 teaspoon sugar 1 teaspoon ground jalapeno 1 teaspoon ground allspice 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire black pepper 1/2 teaspoon smoked black pepper 1/4 teaspoon ground […]

How to Steam Blue Crabs

Ingredients: water apple cider vinegar Old Bay kosher or coarse salt live blue crabs Directions: In a large boiling pot with a 2 inch raised rack add water and vinegar in equal amounts until the level is just below the rack. Bring to a boil. Drop the crabs into the […]

How to Boil a Lobster

Ingredients:lobster (live, moving around, with clear looking eyes)watersalt Directions:Keep the lobster chilled (and alive) until you go to boil it. Fill your largest stockpot with water to the half way point and add salt. Cover and bring water to a boil. Use tongs to drop the lobster into the water. […]

How to: Holiday Meal Plan

I’m not claiming to be a holiday cooking expert but you wouldn’t believe the number of emails I’ve gotten asking for tips on making a complete holiday meal. With a little advance planning, the big day will be a snap. Many of the ingredients and flavors in this menu are […]

How to Have a Tasting Party

While most everyone has been to or at least heard of a wine tasting, few people host tasting parties of any other kind. This is a shame, as they can be some of the most fun and interesting parties to both attend and throw. There are a few easy steps […]

How to Poach Chicken

First, remove the chicken from your neighbor’s coop under the cover of darkness. Kill, pluck and chop into pieces. Then, add the following things to a large pot of water: 1 onion in quarters, a bay leaf, about 2 tablespoons salt, pepper, 1 bunch thyme, 1 bunch parsley. Bring to […]