Grate Your Garlic

Grate Your Garlic by Food Network Magazine in Food Network Magazine, June 18th, 2013

grated garlic Hot Tips From Food Network Kitchens’ Katherine Alford:

If you’re using raw garlic in a dish, grate the cloves on a fine grater. It’s much faster than mincing, and you’ll end up with a mix of garlic juice and tiny bits of the clove that distribute evenly in salsas, dressings and other uncooked dishes. Best of all, you won’t have to worry about biting into a big chunk.

(Photograph by Julia Cawley/Studio D)

Fire Up the Broiler by Food Network Magazine in Food Network Magazine, June 11th, 2013

Broiled Salmon With Tomato Cream Sauce Hot Tips From Food Network Kitchens’ Katherine Alford:

Broiling is a great hands-off way to cook fish: You’ll get a nice caramelized crust on top, and you won’t need to flip the fillets. (Check out Food Network Magazine‘s Broiled Salmon With Tomato Cream Sauce, pictured above.) Be sure to preheat the broiler first, then cook the fish for six to eight minutes per inch of thickness. If you line the pan with foil, cleanup is super easy.

Buy Frozen Brown Rice by Food Network Magazine in Food Network Magazine, June 4th, 2013

frozen brown rice Hot Tips From Food Network Kitchens’ Katherine Alford:

One of our favorite new supermarket finds is frozen brown rice. It’s fully cooked and ready to use: You can add it straight from the freezer to soups, stews and stir-fries and saving about 45 minutes of cooking time.

(Photograph by Julia Cawley/Studio D)

Use Up Those Buns by Food Network Magazine in Food Network Magazine, May 28th, 2013

pesto chicken burgers Hot Tips From Food Network Kitchens’ Katherine Alford:

Don’t let extra burger buns go to waste: Use them as a binder for chicken or veggie burgers, meatloaf or meatballs. For Food Network Magazine‘s Pesto Chicken Burgers (pictured above), we tore up a bun and mixed it with water to make a panade, a mixture of liquid and starch that holds ingredients together. Use this trick for any recipe that calls for breadcrumbs as a binder.

Improve Your Meatballs by Food Network Magazine in Food Network Magazine, May 14th, 2013

Greek Meatball Stew

Hot Tips From Food Network Kitchens’ Katherine Alford:

Meatballs are like burgers: The more you mess with the meat, the tougher they’ll be. Mix the ingredients with your hands until just combined — don’t overwork. And skip the browning; try poaching the meatballs in a broth or sauce, like we did in Food Network Magazine‘s Greek Meatball Stew. They’ll absorb the liquid and turn out extra tender.

Make Juicier Pork by Food Network Magazine in Food Network Magazine, May 7th, 2013

Pork Chops Hot Tips From Food Network Kitchens’ Katherine Alford:

Thin cuts of pork can dry out quickly, so try giving them a quick brine first. Pierce chops, cutlets or other thin cuts with a fork, then soak in heavily salted cold water for 15 to 30 minutes; drain and pat dry before cooking. You can add vinegar, sugar, herbs or other flavors to the brine, too. Just remember to go easy on the salt when you cook the meat.

Give it a try with this recipe: Pork Chops With Bean Salad (pictured above)

Know When to Salt by Food Network Magazine in Food Network Magazine, May 3rd, 2013

Skillet Chicken and Ravioli Hot Tips From Food Network Kitchens’ Katherine Alford:

Timing is everything when you are salting vegetables. To get crisp, browned veggies like the mushrooms in Food Network Magazine‘s Skillet Chicken and Ravioli (pictured above), salt them at the end of cooking — after they’ve browned. To get soft, saucy vegetables like caramelized onions, add salt early on: It draws out moisture, which helps break them down.

Try a New Tomato by Food Network Magazine in Food Network Magazine, April 24th, 2013

Greek Meatball Stew Hot Tips From Food Network Kitchens’ Katherine Alford:

There are so many good choices in the canned tomato aisle now. We used fire-roasted tomatoes with green chiles to spice up the Greek Meatball Stew in the May issue of Food Network Magazine. Fire-roasted tomatoes also add a great smoky flavor to marinara sauce. Or buy canned cherry tomatoes and crush them in a saucepan for a slightly sweet, chunky pasta sauce.

Wrap Like a Pro by Food Network Magazine in Food Network Magazine, April 17th, 2013

How to Wrap a Burrito, Step 1 How to Wrap a Burrito, Step 2 How to Wrap a Burrito, Step 3 How to Wrap a Burrito, Step 4

Hot Tips From Food Network Kitchens’ Katherine Alford:

Next time you make burritos, try these construction tips.

1. Layer the fillings horizontally across the lower half of your tortilla (not the middle), starting with absorbent ingredients like rice. Put the cheese against something hot like meat or beans so it will melt.

2. Fold up the bottom of the tortilla and tuck it under the filling.

3. Fold in the two sides.

4. Tightly roll up the burrito.

(Photographs by Christopher Testani)

Design a Spread by Food Network Magazine in Food Network Magazine, April 10th, 2013

Ham and Goat Cheese Sandwiches Hot Tips From Food Network Kitchens’ Katherine Alford:

Combine a soft cheese, like goat cheese or ricotta, with chopped nuts, seeds, dried fruit, grated garlic or a favorite condiment to make a quick sandwich spread. (Food Network Magazine mixed goat cheese with hot sauce and pepitas for the Ham and Goat Cheese Sandwich pictured above.) You can also use the spread on crostini, or dollop it onto hot pasta for a fun, fast dinner.