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My love affair with trifle is a new one. Until recently, I thought the classic British dessert was old-fashioned—even stuffy. That is, until my British partner described trifle as a dreamy, creamy, and unabashedly boozy treat, admitting to feeling tipsy after a hearty helping on more than one occasion. Intrigued, I opted to give trifle another shot (perhaps literally). “I honestly think trifle might be one of the most perfect desserts out there,” says Martha de Lacey, host of the hit London-based supper club Muff Dining. “It boasts everything you could possibly want from a pudding: so many surprises, endless variations, never the same trifle twice.” At its most basic, a trifle is comprised of layers of cake or ladyfingers soaked in something t...

All About Canned Tomatoes We cook with a lot of canned tomatoes in our house. So much so that I'm learning about different brands and different styles and finding out, there are many differences in quality when it comes to canned tomatoes. This post will look at all these factors and more so you know how to find and purchase the best-canned tomatoes for your cooking needs. What Are Canned Tomatoes and Are They Any Good? Canned tomatoes are whole or diced tomatoes peeled and packed in a can with juice or tomato sauce. They are a convenient and shelf-stable option for adding flavor and nutrition to various dishes, from soups and stews to pasta sauces and salsas. Canned tomatoes are often harvested at the peak of ripeness and then processed and canned soon after, which helps ...

All About Prosciutto I don't eat prosciutto often, but I'm never disappointed when I do. Prosciutto is an Italian dry-cured ham famous worldwide for its delicate texture, rich flavor, and complex aroma.  Not to be confused with pancetta or guanciale, prosciutto is a dry-cured pig product that can be expensive but so great on pizza, in pasta, or served as an appetizer. Making prosciutto involves carefully salting and air-drying the hind leg of a pig over several months or even years. During this time, the meat loses water and gains flavor as it is exposed to the air and cured with salt and other seasonings. What's In a Name? The word "prosciutto" comes from the Italian word "prosciugare," which means "to dry." This is fitting, as the key to prosciutto's distinctiv...

All About Garlic Garlic is one of the most important ingredients in my cooking. I love what garlic does to my meals. Of course, too much may ruin a dish for some, but I haven't had that experience yet.  Garlic is a widely used culinary herb enjoyed by people worldwide for centuries. It belongs to the Allium family, including onions, leeks, and chives. It has a uniquely pungent and spicy flavor and aroma, which adds a distinctive taste to various dishes. In addition to its culinary uses, garlic has been used for medicinal purposes since ancient times. Where Does Garlic Come From? Garlic is native to Central Asia and has been cultivated for over 5,000 years. It was widely used in ancient Egypt, where it was given to workers to improve their strength and endurance. In an...

Wine earns all the editorial think pieces, and coffee gets the five-year leases, but these days I find myself increasingly drawn to camellia sinensis, the drink popularly known as tea. Those blue-green oolongs, licorice pu’ers, rock candy yanchas, and amaro-like Sichuan greens have something to say—and they are no longer content to do it with whispers or play second fiddle behind other, more flashy craft consumption trends. Tea is unbelievably delicious and flavorfully diverse; it’s compelling and historic and urgent and nootropically potent—it is a multiverse, a vast ocean, a deep and abiding rabbit hole. It’s every tea, everywhere, all at once.  I was pulled into loving tea a decade ago, thanks to the ongoing café beat I work as one of the cof...

All About Rice We cook with a lot of rice in our house. It goes well with many dishes and makes a beautiful meal conduit. In this post, I'd like to look at rice from several points of view, so you can better understand how important rice is in so many cultures. What Is Rice and How Is It Used In Cooking? Rice is a cereal grain and one of the most important staple foods for many of the world's human population, especially in Asia. It is the seed of the grass species Oryza sativa (Asian rice) or Oryza glaberrima (African rice). Moreover, it is the agricultural commodity with the third-highest worldwide production, after sugarcane and maize. Popularity Rice is one of the world's most widely consumed staple foods, particularly popular in Asian countries. According to th...

All About Tartar Sauce Who hasn't tried tartar sauce at some point in their life? Unfortunately, most versions I've eaten were commercial brands served with fried seafood. I will go out on a limb by suggesting that any homemade version will be better than a store-bought. The ingredients may be the same, but all those chemicals won't be added to preserve it. What Is Tartar Sauce? It is a creamy and tangy condiment commonly used as a dipping sauce for fried seafood, such as fish and chips, shrimp, and calamari. It is typically made with mayonnaise, chopped pickles or relish, capers, lemon juice, and spices. The ingredients of tartar sauce can vary slightly depending on the recipe, but the base is always mayonnaise. The mayonnaise is typically mixed with chopped pickles ...