Neverending Vanilla Extract (Make Your Own!)
Here's how to make your own vanilla extract. All you need is a nice bottle, your favorite vodka, and a few vanilla beans. You just can't beat the flavor—and a bottle makes a great gift for anyone who likes to bake.
Basic Cooking: Perfect Mashed Potatoes
I could eat bowls of buttery mashed potatoes for dinner—which is probably why I don't make them too often. (Hello, carb coma!) There are a zillion recipes out there for making mashed potatoes. Here's...
Basic Homemade Chicken Stock
There are a lot of methods for making chicken stock. Some folks make it in the slow cooker. Some folks make it in the oven. This is one of the ways that I make...
Fresh Herb Compound Butter
Compound butter is a fabulous finishing touch. This is a quick and easy way to add a lot of extra flavor to steaks, chicken, fish, or even rice and pasta.
What is compound butter?
Compound butter...
Porcini Powder (a.k.a. The Secret Weapon on My Spice Rack)
Powdered porcini mushrooms are one of my favorite secret weapons in the kitchen. It's an almost instant way to add an incredible depth of earthy flavor to meats, veggies, and just about everything in...
Make Your Own Deli-Style Roast Beef
(Last updated: November 2021) Forget the deli. Make your own deli-style roast beef at home.
It's simple and typically way more economical than hitting the deli counter every week—plus, you can personalize your roast beast...
Homemade Irish Cream Liqueur
I learned to cook from my mom, who works a certain kind of magic in the kitchen. Of all the things I've learned from her, how to make homemade Irish cream liqueur may not...
Fiery Green Hot Sauce
What do you get when you combine mashed chilis, white vinegar, and a little salt? A homemade hot sauce with super-fresh, vibrant flavor that beats the pants off of anything store bought. At least...
Basic Cooking: How to Make Espresso on the Stove
Now, I know that I'm treading on hallowed ground for some, discussing how to make espresso.
Like beer and good wine, espresso is one of those things that folks are very particular about. (Espresso afficionados...
Basic Cooking: The Secret to Perfectly Cooked Hard-Boiled Eggs
Hard-boiled eggs? How about *hardly* boiled eggs? Now that's more accurate. (And that's also the secret to perfectly cooking them.)
I make hard-boiled eggs the way my mother does. And she uses the same basic...