Appetizing Adventures

“Cooking is not difficult. Everyone has taste, even if they don't realize it. Even if you're not a great chef, there's nothing to stop you [from] understanding the difference between what tastes good and what doesn't.”   Gerard Depardieu believes that everyone can be a chef.   I have compiled a list of 5 cooking skills that every young adult should know.   After working our way through the list, my hope is that we all feel a bit less like a kitchen newcomer and more like a great chef. 1. General Food Safety Before we begin any food endeavor, it is important to know and understand general food safety .   By understanding some general guidelines set by the FDA, you will keep your kitchen, and all food in it, safe for consumption. 2. Stay Sharp: Properly Using a Knife Believe it or not, a dull knife is much more dangerous than a sharp one.   Since you are now aware of how to keep your food safe, let’s make sure the hands preparing it a...

You’ve invited some friends over for a BBQ get-together on Friday night.  You get home from work Friday afternoon and begin to prep the burgers, pull the potato salad out of the refrigerator, and make sure all the chips and condiments are on the table.  You are mixing the lemonade when it hits you. You’ve forgotten about dessert. I personally experienced this dilemma last Friday.  I remembered a previous recipe that I had saved on Facebook for miniature lemon tarts.  There are very few ingredients involved and it took less than an hour to make. The original recipe used refrigerated cookie dough, lemon custard, and fruit for garnishes.  I changed the recipe slightly, which added a few ingredients.  Nonetheless, they were incredibly easy to make, tasted amazing, and will be going into my recipe box for future use. If you would like to make them yourself, the recipe is below.  Ingredients: 1 package Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie ...

You’ve just furnished your first kitchen, washed the dishes, put everything in its place, and are starving.   You only have a few ingredients in your refrigerator and pantry as you haven’t gone shopping yet.   What to make? I’ve got an incredibly simple dinner recipe that is sure to satisfy.   It uses just a few simple ingredients and takes less than an hour to make.   Below you will find the recipe for my favorite version of red beans and rice. Ingredients: 1 box Zatarain’s Dirty Rice Mix 1 lb. package Johnsonville Smoked Sausage 2-3 cans Kroger Red Beans 2 tsp Cooking Oil 4 cups water Directions: Cut sausage into bite-sized slices.   Pour oil in 3-5 quart pan (3 qt. with two cans of beans, 5 qt. for 3 cans) and begin to heat on stove.   Place sausage in pan and cook until meat is browned. Pour rice into the pan once the sausage is completely browned.   Add two cups of water to the pan.   Let simmer for ab...

We live in a world of firsts. This includes our first steps, our first day of school, that first date, and our first time behind the wheel.   Most of us have experienced our first day of college, and now the time has come for our first apartment with our first REAL kitchen.   How does it work? Before you panic, take a deep breath.   This post is all about getting organized and building your kitchen on a budget.   Let’s get started. Caren Karns is a mother of three who will tell you that she is far too old for any of her advice to still be considered timely.   I kindly disagree.   Caren loves being in the kitchen.   She once was a Girl Scout Leader and, with her mother being a Home Economics teacher, there was no escaping the knowledge of cooking.   She has laid out three necessary steps to building a budget-friendly kitchen and cooking experience.   Step One: Don’t Get Pan-Handled by Pricey Cookware You wi...

Ingredients: 1 Whole College Student 18 Years of Cooking Experience ¾ Days Watching Food Network 1 University A Dash of Passion Directions: Mix slowly until a culinary artist emerges.     "My name is Hillary Harris and I am attending Johnson and Wales University in Denver Colorado, pursuing a degree in Culinary Nutrition.   I have been cooking ever since I was a little girl, always watching the Food Network channel . Now that I am in culinary school, I have gained even more skills." Hillary’s top three cooking tips are the ingredients to a kitchen experience that will make you feel like a professional. 1. C ook with dry herbs and garnish with fresh herbs.   Fresh herbs are more delicate and tend to brown/blacken easily.   It is also important to note that herbs and spices only last about 6-12 months before losing flavor.   This is especially true when cooking with dry herbs .   Make sure to purchase sm...

Picture this.   A college student standing in front of the refrigerator.   The shelves are dimly lit and hold only mayonnaise, orange juice, bread ends, apples, and a container of unrecognizable goop.   There might be some peanut butter and Lay’s chips in the pantry.   Maybe.   “Who wants to order pizza?” Appetizing Adventures is meant to supply the college-aged crowd with simple, delectable meals that won’t break the bank.   As the author, I hope to approach this subject with a fun, conversational vibe.   I want readers to feel like they are in the kitchen with me as I release posts three times each week.   With the input of local chefs, intriguing blogs, and personal experience, we will cover anything from finding the best kitchen supplies to putting together the perfect barbecue.      The purpose of my blog is food, but also to learn how to blog and practice journalistic writing.   I am a 13-year memb...