Ingredients

Watercress is believed to be native to Asia Minor and to the Mediterranean area. As with most ancient plants, various myths and beliefs became attached to it. The ancient Persians were advised to feed it to their children if they wished to improve their growth. …

Rich green and very fresh, Boston and Bibb lettuces are both deliciously mild in taste. These premium greens form a loosely folded head surrounded by a rosette of delicate soft leaves. Bibb is considered the most refined of all the butter head varieties and has …

At one time, cherrystones were the most popular clams on the half shell, but no longer. In the United States, the European taste for smaller clams has been catching on. In Venice, the razor clams are half the width of those sold here, sometimes no …

Blue mussels are native to the Pacific Northwest and they may be wild-gathered or farmed. You can tell them apart because wild mussels are rough, while farm raised mussels have a clean, smooth shell. Green mussels from New Zealand are larger. A relative newcomer is …

Kidneys are nutritious and, if properly prepared, delicious. It’s often hard to find them in markets, though, since many of them are ruined during the meat inspection process. Veal kidneys and lamb kidneys are prized for their tenderness and delicate flavor. They can be grilled …

How to Open an Oyster 1.   Place the tip of the oyster knife along the edge, about 1/3 of the distance from the point. 2.   Twist the knife back and forth until the shell is just penetrated. 3.   Slip the knife between the shell halves …

Glazing Vegetables Vegetable cookery Purpose of cooking vegetables – to soften the cellulose Acid reaction – toughens fibers and dulls colors Vegetables are said to be done when the fiber has reached the appropriate texture, this varies according to the vegetable, and they should be …

Once water is heated past the 212°F mark, it stops being water and turns into steam. Steaming has an advantage over methods such as boiling or even simmering in that there is no agitation involved, so it’s gentler on delicate items such as seafood. Steaming …

Roasting A technique that cooks foods by surrounding with dry air in a closed environment. The air captured in the oven is the cooking medium. Hot air circulates around the food, and as the outer layers become heated, the foods natural juices turn to steam …

Biryani A biryani is a layered casserole of rice, meat, vegetables and spices. It is cooked in the dum style, which seals in the steam and preserves the flavors and nutritional content of the dish. The dish is created by alternatively layering rice and meat …