HAGERSTOWN, Md. – LocalNews1 has partnered with The Hagerstown Town and Country Almanack to bring you a story every Monday taken from current or past editions of the Almanack. First published in 1797, it’s the second oldest almanac in the United States and has been in continuous publication for 230 years and is the only almanac in the United States still published by the founders’ direct descendants.
Whether you are a professional cook or a culinary novice the Almanack has kitchen tips and recipes that will impress all your friends and family. Here are some of the great cooking ideas you will find in the section entitled “Cooking & Recipes.”
– Use instant mashed potatoes to thicken soups instead of using cream or making a roux.
– When baking, grease your pans, but instead of using flour to coat it, use granulated sugar. It makes the edges sweet and crunchy.
– For crispy roasted potatoes, add an ample amount of baking soda to the water when boiling potatoes with their skins off. The alkaline solution this creates breaks down the surface of the potato and makes the exterior rough. Then, broiling on high after tossing with some oil, garlic, and herbs, will further “agitate” the surface of the potatoes, making them ultra-crispy.
– Add beer, champagne, or soda to your cake mix instead of water. It makes it moist and intensifies the flavors of the batter. It also makes the cake taste light and airy.
– Whether you’re blending a superfruit smoothie or prepping a blended soup, always add all of the liquid ingredients first. This will help your blender to pull ingredients in the blades easier, puts less stress on the motor, and will result in a more consistent mixture.
– Always use the correct oil. Different types of oil have varying flavor profiles and smoke points. Use oils like canola or peanut oil for high-temperature frying, butter and lard for stir-frying and sautéing, and the more fragrant oils like sesame, or olive oil for finishers like salad dressing.
– Always use containers that match the portion size of the food being stored. Excess air exposure can lead to freezer burn which alters the texture and flavors of food. If you choose to store food in a bag, eliminate as much air as possible before you seal and put it away.
These are some of the amazing kitchen ideas featured in The Hagerstown Town and Country Almanack. LocalNews1 is honored to partner with Gruber’s Hagerstown Town & Country Almanack to bring you the most relevant, timely and informative content about and around Washington and Franklin counties.
