Saturday, May 26, 2007

Learn to Prepare Meals on Cooking Shows



Some people seem to be natural cooks when you watch them toss ingredients into pots and pans that eventually turn into delicious food. Other people seem to be the exact opposite as they follow explicit directions explicitly and come up with awful, inedible concoctions. Another group of people seem to be right in the middle of the last two descriptions. Some dishes they know well, and they make these easily without any type of assistance. Other dishes they produce with the help of some directions. Cooking shows can help everyone cook better. Cooking shows have expert cooks showing people how to produce delicious meals.

Expert cooks tune into the cooking shows on television because they usually want to improve their cooking skills. The cooks on the shows usually have tips for the experts. An expert cook can learn tips for cooking quicker and better than ever before. These accomplished cooks can always find different recipes to add to their collections. The ideas that experts learn on the cooking shows provide new dishes to surprise their families and friends. The experienced cooks can also learn new ideas for presenting the dishes that they prepare. The cooks on the shows have great ideas for decorating a table. Sometimes they have great ideas for serving dishes in unique ways.

Cooking Shows Will Help Beginners

Aspiring cooks without experience can learn a great deal from the cooking shows on television. Sometimes people want to cook, but they do not have the experience to combine ingredients, cook these combinations and serve them to family and friends. They open a cookbook only to find a confusing vocabulary including words such as saut, chicken stock and baste. Discouraged, these people give up and call for pizza from the nearest shop. Some people are determined to learn but give up when they destroy expensive ingredients.

The cooking shows are a great aid for inexperienced cooks because they provide directions accompanied by visual aids. When the host of a cooking show demonstrates a recipe that calls for sauted vegetables, this cook shows this process to the viewers. The host of a cooking show demonstrates all of the preparations of each process. The inexperienced cook might even tape the show so they can stop the tape at appropriate places to catch up with the host. There are many cooking shows on television and all cooks should be able to get help in cooking a wide variety of delicious meals.

Friday, May 25, 2007

French Cooking: Is It for You?



French cooking is known as one of the best kind of cooking worldwide. Unlike other cuisines, French cooking is popular for creating cooked meals with delicate, exotic flavors. It is popular among food lovers because it includes exceptional dishes, which can make you come back for more.

French cooking is interesting because it is audacious in a sense that chefs and the common French people explore and discover new ways of making meals richer, more attractive and becoming world-renowned. This is why scrumptious meals like bisques and souffls are being enjoyed today by millions of people worldwide.

In addition, this curiosity of inventing new and exciting meals gave way to cooking frog legs or snails. Although this may sound exotic to some people, these ingredients are one of the most sought-after delicacies in France.

French cooking is regarded as the cuisine that delivers a unique style of cooking, using a wide variety of cheeses, rich ingredients, fine wines and health, delicious oils. This is why restaurants that offer French cooking, wherever location you place them, end up becoming a popular dining spot for all ages.

French cooking for beginners

French cooking can be a very exciting thing to explore. However, as a beginner, there are certain things you should know, follow and avoid to arrive at an almost authentic French meal.

As a beginner, you should remember that mistakes are perfectly normal. Even popular French chefs who have their own TV shows make mistakes every now and then. Remember that when you made a wrong step, don't alter the recipe to try to make up for that mistake. Instead, learn from this mistake and next time, you can make the meal just as instructed.

Another thing to know about French cooking is that tasting is an important part and should always be performed. This is important to know exactly if the meal is cooked or not, or if you put too little or too much of a certain ingredient.

Once you master all your preferred French cooking recipes, don't stay with these recipes for the rest of your life. Instead, explore, discover and change ingredients on your own. This way, you'll be able to learn which ingredients can fit with the others. You'll never know it, you can discover the next best meal that will last for decades.

As a guide, you can start with tradition French cooking dishes, then explore the modern cooking and lastly, when you know you're ready, then buy all you need from the market and explore on new and tasty recipes on your own.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Guide to Korean Cooking



Korean cooking like most other Asian cuisine is spicy and extremely tasty for those who can adventure in the world of aromas extreme tastes. Korean food is not as popular as Chinese or Japanese and therefore you may not find as many restaurants as you do of their competitors. Many different types of side dishes that usually need the most work accompany most Korean main dishes. Here are some of the most common ingredients that make Korean dishes as exciting and tasty: bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, cucumber, garlic, Napa cabbage, red peppers, rice vinegar, soy sauce, bean curd, beef, chicken or any other types of mean you like, ginger, mushrooms, sesame oil, scallions, noodles and rice as the main side dish.

If you are looking to learn or practice Korean cooking at home the best place to look for some of the most famous and easy recipes would be online, where you will also find basic guidance to the easiest way to Korean cooking from professional chefs. There are also cooking books available on Korean cooking if you are interested to learn in depth about traditional dishes.

Some Famous Korean Dishes

If you are visiting a Korean restaurant or trying to impress your friends with some Korean cooking here are some traditional, common dishes for which you can find the recipes online with ease: Korean Bulgogi, Kimchi, which is can be done in a few ways and most Koreans must have it at least once a day, Bellflower Root Salad or Toraji Namul, Rice Cake Soup With Wontons or Duk Kook and Persimmon Punch also known as Soo Jeung Ga. Korean cooking is time consuming and definitely requires all the ingredients as per the recipe in order to achieve the traditional taste and flavor. You may want to try some of the dishes before cooking them in order to know exactly what they look like and how they should taste.

Korean cooking is not hard but does require patience on the part of the cook as some of the dishes need quiet a bit pf preparation of cooking procedures but in the end it will be all worth the effort when your family and friends would enjoy a traditional Korean dish made by your from scratch. Enjoy cooking Korean dishes today with the help of online sites on Korean cooking and/or cooking books; both choices will walk you through the cooking process step by step ad the chances of doing anything wrong are minimal.

Sunday, May 20, 2007

Cooking Healthy With Southern Cooking Recipes



Many people believe that southern cooking recipes must involve deep frying or strange foods that nobody who lives anywhere north of the Mason Dixon has ever heard of. Nothing could be further from the truth; southern cooking recipes are comfort recipes that bring a feeling of home to anyone no matter what side of the Mason Dixon line you come from. When someone thinks of southern cooking recipes things such as grits, cornbread, deep fried chicken and collard greens come to mind and while there are without a doubt a staple in any southern cooking recipe book they are not all that one will find when it comes to good food if you take the time to look.

Southern cooking recipes have changed over the years, not everything is cooked in lard these days in fact southern cooks look to cook with healthy ingredients as much as anyone else does. Fried chicken while it can be cooked in lard is now often cooked in healthier oils or even baked in the oven and it still comes out crispy and delicious. When thinking about southern cooking recipes one can never forget the wonder baked treats that can only come from a southern cooking recipe book. Many of these baked treats have taken turns over the years and become healthier but there is still nothing like rich pecan pies with vanilla ice cream for a bit of comfort from the worlds a trouble.

All Southern Cooking Recipes Are Not the Same

Southern cooking is known by many names and has many origins and you are sure to find a few southern cooking recipes to suit your taste. When looking for healthier recipes seek out Cajun food such as blackened chicken or steak, neither involves breading and many of the spices can be found on any herbalist list of good things for the heart, blood pressure and over all well being of your health.

Vegetables are a large part of most southern cooking recipes and depending on how these vegetables are prepared they can make almost any dish a bit healthier without compromising good taste. If you spend a little time researching southern cooking recipes you are sure to find one that suits not only your taste buds but also your desire for good health. When following a southern cooking recipe consider what healthier alternatives you can use for recipes that call for cooking in lard or fat and discover that you can make that recipe just as good tasting without having to add all the extra fat and calories.

Who Does Not Love Outdoor Cooking?



Whenever you think of a camp or picnic, you will think of outdoor cooking with great longing. There is a certain unbeatable charm in the smell of the charcoal smoke imbibed in the roasted meat, eaten under the open sky. However, not everyone who loves outdoor cooking can afford to go camping or go for a picnic when they want to enjoy outdoor cooking. So, what is the alternative? Barbeque, the very word makes your mouth water. Barbeque is convenient, easy and a great way to relax and enjoy some backyard fun. Whenever you want to taste outdoor cooking, the barbeque should be your first choice ever. For those who do this as often as it is possible, the tricks of the trade might not be a secret. The tricks that will make your meat as tender as you will want it to be.

When you want restaurant-quality barbequed meat, you will need the help of a barbeque smoker. Once you combine your barbeque cooking with the smoker, you will notice that the meat becomes very tender and savory. Besides making the meat tender and tasty, the barbeque smoker has another major role and it makes cooking easy with professional results, which will put you on the high-demand list with all your friends. Besides, you can always buy the cheaper type of ribs without worrying about anyone finding out since your outdoor cooking will be done with the help of the barbeque smoker. The smell of smoke as well as the method of cooking will tenderize the meat to melting consistency, which will be extremely enjoyable.

Barbecue Smoker Can Enhance Outdoor Cooking

The barbeque smokers are not popular only because they help cooking the meat to the right consistency. It is also popular for being able to imbibe smoke into the meats, which makes it mouth-watering. The smoking of the meat is also useful if you would like to preserve the meat for a longer time than a few days. Besides, salt, vinegar and maybe turmeric, smoking is one of the best way to preserve meat or fish.

Once preserved this way, it can last for a long time, from 1 month to 6 months without needing refrigeration. Though this outdoor cooking is not exactly something that would attract too many friends, it is still an important fact that could be filed away for further use. Overall, most people think of outdoor cooking as fun and associate it with picnics, camping trips and backyard camping. After all, outdoor cooking is almost synonymous with good times.

Friday, May 18, 2007

The Importance of Low Fat Cooking



Cooking is an art that some master from a very young age while other learn it late in life; however, cooking your own meals and those of your family can help greatly to control their health and physical condition. Food is our fuel and the way we administer it everyday is going to reflect on your body, energy and overall health. We have all heard at least once to eat healthy and exercise, balanced diet and proper nutrition however, what makes some dishes healthy and others not, let us find out. It has been found out through research the average amount of calories required by our bodies everyday in order to function normally and while the numbers may differ from person to person an average active man should consume 2200 - 2500 calories and a woman 2000 calories a day.

Out of these calories you should have an intake of carbohydrates, fats but never trans or saturated fats, fiber, calcium and many other vitamins, which your doctor can list for you according to your present health state. All the above-mentioned facts are calculated differently for each person depending on their present health state. A healthy diet consists of having all the ingredients your body requires in the quantities it requires everyday without having too many calories in the process as that will increase your weight and that is where low fat cooking is important.

How Does Low Fat Cooking Keep You Healthy

Our body requires fat in order to function properly however excessive amounts will block our arteries causing serious diseases such as heart attacks and will considerably increase our overall weight. Once the body has taken the amount of calories it needs to execute the daily activities, the extra calories or fat will add on to your body forming extra weight, which is dangerous for your health. Low fat cooking can help you and your entire family control your weight as well as your health; the easiest way to ensure low fat cooking is to read ever label and educate yourself on the amount of fat and calories your food provides.

Most restaurants and even fast food places will provide today a calorie chart from where you can choose low fat items in order to ensure your diet is right. Low fat cooking is practiced all over the world in the desire to control your body weight and keep in good health.

Monday, May 14, 2007

Semi Homemade Cooking Makes Meals Faster



With some dicing here and spicing there you can turn store-bought meals into what is being termed as semi homemade cooking for quick and tasty meals for the family. As people's lifestyles change and family members are splitting their time running around with different schedules, the prospect of a home-cooked meal is fading. By using semi homemade cooking an extra treat can be served to the family.

A few years ago, there were meals being touted as starters, containing virtually everything needed to make a home-cooked meal by just adding water and possibly a meat stock, boiling for a short time and serving. This reduced preparation time and made semi homemade cooking more agreeable to many.

Today cooks are taking the process a few steps further by simply adding spices or other items to meals that are made to be ready to eat with a few simple adjustments. For instance, macaroni and cheese dishes, typically made by adding water, or milk and butter depending on the brand, cooking the noodles and adding the cheese powder prepares a semi homemade cooking meal in about 10 minutes.

Adding Spices Adds Interest

The next time you are making macaroni and cheese, even if as a side dish, try adding a half-teaspoon of chili seasoning in with the cheese mix to give it the distinct flavor of semi homemade cooking. On the other hand, if you are not in the chili mood, add some cubed ham into the meal for a new taste twist to the old standby.

It is amazing the different tastes you can add to a boxed meal, or even a prepared, canned meal or by adding some spices or other meats, you can turn a side dish into a main course. For example, cooking rice in chicken brother and adding chunks of cooked chicken takes about 20 minutes and gives you semi homemade cooking turning the side of rice into the main meal of chicken and rice. Add a little broccoli and cheese and you have a meal for another night as well.

As peoples' busy lives show little or no sign of slowing down being able to offer semi homemade cooking to the family can reduce the preparation and cooking times on many meals to make having what seems like a home-cooked meal more the norm instead of the exception. Additionally, being quick and easy, clean up will not keep you in the kitchen most of the evening.

Mediterranean Cooking Is Spicy and Delicious



Mediterranean cooking comes from the fascinating countries that lie on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. These countries include Morocco, Turkey, Lebanon, Israel, Greece and Tunisia to name a few. The cuisine from these countries include similar dishes and ingredients, but each country has specialties of its own. Many of the cooks from these countries are experts who present some of the most delicious dishes available. The dishes they prepare as Mediterranean cooking have exotic names that include moussaka, falafel, and hummus. The spellings in English cookbooks are spelled phonetically to represent the sounds of the foreign language so sometimes when looking for Mediterranean cooking the spelling of some dishes will differ. Do not let this deter you from preparing these dishes because they are tasty.

Mediterranean cooking is so delicious and many restaurants have appeared to offer cuisine from this area. Some of these dishes are available at fine restaurants, but fast food outlets have appeared that offer specialties such as Greek sandwiches. Cooks from other parts of the world have learned to cook some of the dishes from the area because these dishes are spicy and delicious. Mediterranean specialties are constantly gaining popularity in North American markets.


Mediterranean Cooking Produces a Healthy Diet

Research by medical experts has found evidence that Mediterranean cooking produces a most healthy diet. The ingredients used by cooks from the region seem to have nutrients that benefit those who eat this type of cooking regularly. The people who eat Mediterranean cooking seem to have fewer diseases than those living in other areas. Mediterranean cooking is not fat free, but the cooks use oils that are less harmful than others. Olive oil is a staple of Mediterranean cooking and this oil does not have substances that raise cholesterol levels. Olive oil also has antioxidants which provide benefits for better health.

Fish is used often in Mediterranean cooking and fish has substances that provide great nutrition. Red meat is not often used in this cooking so the harmful substances in this type of meat are usually avoided in Mediterranean cooking. The people from the countries along the Mediterranean Sea love fruits and vegetable and the cooks from the area include these in many meals. The benefits of eating lots of fruits and vegetables have been shown in medical studies. The cooks from the area also use other nutritious ingredients including grains, legumes and nuts.

Friday, May 11, 2007

Why Is Pressure Cooking Considered The Greatest Way To Cook?



One of the basic needs of the civilized human being is definitely cooking. While an occasional sushi or oyster salad is great, humans still need a hot, tasty and great looking cooked meal. In fact, today cooking involves a multi-billion industry where constant research is probing at ways for faster and tastier ways to cook food.

Pressure Cooking Is Faster and Healthier Than Any Other Method of Cooking Today

Is this a valid statement or can it be challenged by the non-believers? Let us see what the benefits of pressure cooking are before we decide on who is correct.

1. Nutrition - Since the pressure cooking involves shorter cooking time, less water and hermetically closed container, the nutrition value of the food is maintained better than any other usual methods of cooking.

2. Time - The pressure cooking uses the power of steam to cook the food. Steam can produce much higher heat inside the cooker, since it is closed airtight. In the process the food is cooked very fast; when measured, it was found that the pressure cooking can be almost 70 percent faster than ordinary cooking methods

3. Fuel/ energy - In today's world where the paradigm is shifting towards saving the world from total destruction through depletion of natural resource for profit; the pressure-cooking is the need of the day. The pressure cooker is used today to save energy and fuel. It is an excellent tool to save cooking fuel.

4. Great atmosphere - the fact pressure cooking does not allow any steam outside the cooker until it is totally filled with the vapors. When the pressure cooker is filled to the brim, it releases the excess steam through the vent situated in the middle top of the pressure cooker. In this way, the kitchen will be cooler and greater looking because there is less steam and smell of food invading the atmosphere.

5. Easy to cook - since the pressure cooker uses higher temperature to cook, the meat or any tough matter (even an old one) will be cooked with ease. Hence, it is easier to cook with the pressure cooker.

In other words, pressure cooking is great because it delivers the most important features necessary while cooking a meal : nutrition, time-saving, energy-saving, ambiance-saving - besides the fact that it is extremely convenient whereby you can saut, deep fry, make soups and other exotic dishes. It feels like I stumbled upon a god mine.

Tuesday, May 8, 2007

Cooking For One without Wasting Food



Recipes are generally designed for families and food is usually packaged for families as well, these things can make it difficult when cooking for one but don't lose heart, you can still make these things work for you without wasting food or having to eat the same thing for a week. Always remember that variety is the key to enjoying good food and making meals you will want to make time and time again. When you are foods shopping instead of looking for the smallest package of meat seek out meats that can be used in a variety of dishes, making your shopping list smaller while making your menu options larger.

Cooking for one can be a challenge but it is certainly not impossible and does not have to be limited to frozen dinners or take out food. Create menus from the larger packages of meat and divide them into individual size portions or if you are making something that requires cooking a meal that is intended for a larger group package it up into smaller portions that can be frozen and heated when you are ready to eat them.

Make Plans for Left Over's

Cooking too much without a plan for the leftovers will ensure that you either end up wasting the food when you are actually only cooking for one or that you will end up eating much more than you really want to take in. Portioning your food and meals can make for a quick and easy yet nutritious meal when you are in a hurry or if you have gotten home too late to defrost anything for dinner.

Just pull one of your portioned meals out of the freezer and warm it up in the over or microwave and you have dinner that requires little preparation and limited clean up. Cooking for one does not have to be bland or taste like cardboard, in fact if you are a good cook it can taste just like your mother's recipes everyday of the week.

When cooking for one you still have to consider taste as well as convenience and the cost in the end is much less if you are cooking for one instead of buying frozen dinners for one. For the price of a week's supply of frozen dinners you can buy fresh ingredients and cook for one for more than two weeks without skimping on quality if you take your time and compare prices while shopping. Cooking for one does not have to be a dreaded chore but instead it can be something nice that you do for yourself everyday.

Sunday, May 6, 2007

Cooking Kids - Chefs in the Making



The idea of having their kids cooking in the kitchen may prove to be a scary thought for some parents that might be imagining scenarios involving a lot of blood and wailing. However, for kids, cooking is an activity that many of them find interesting and fun. Having a young chef or two in the family can even work out to a harried parent's advantage when vacation time rolls around. Let's say that you're a Disney fan (or that your kids are at least) and have decided to take a trip to Orlando. Consider staying at one of the Disneyworld resorts. They have a number of programs for adults and children, so that everyone in the family can pursue his or her interests, such as sports or dancing and so on. If you need time to yourselves, and you have budding chefs in the family, then the ideal solution is to enroll your kids in a cooking class! Expressly for younger children, Disney chefs will teach them to make simple cakes and other items, which they can later have fun decorating. That would leave you free to lounge by the pool or play golf, or anything else that doesn't involve long lines and thrill rides.

Going Gourmet

If you're a gourmet food fanatic and your kids are old enough to be fans too, consider planning a gourmet food-related vacation as one Food & Wine author did. You can pick your favorite country and cuisine, foods, or restaurants. If you're lucky, you may be able to find cooking classes for kids in the area with a bit of research.

Cooking with the TV

Although many parents no doubt want their kids watching less TV instead of more, they might want to make an exception for Chef Emeril Lagasse on The Food Network. A perennial favorite of children, Chef Emeril is very animated and entertaining in the kitchen with his trademark "Bam!" His shows are very family-friendly, and he has written cook books for children as well. Also, teaching your kids about cooking at home can be a learning experience for the both of you. Find a recipe that you're both interested in and have a go. A simple pizza would probably be a good start. Who knows, one day your kids might be cooking for you instead of the other way around. Either way, cooking with kids can be very fun.

Saturday, May 5, 2007

Fun with Food on Cooking Shows



Planning meals and cooking food doesn't have to be boring, especially if you learn by watching one of the many entertaining cooking shows airing on TV. From cooking gourmet food to more average, but still tasty, fare you can have fun while getting educated. This article takes a look at two of the more interesting and fun cooking food shows on the air.

Who Is The Sexiest Chef Ever?

One of TLC's (The Learning Channel) most popular shows is Take Home Chef starring Chef Curtis Stone, a cookbook author with years of experience cooking food in fine restaurants. He is also, quite possibly, the sexiest male chef ever. Tall, blonde, and blue-eyed, this Australian import is charming, funny, and handsome. Any woman who lays eyes on Chef Curtis will no doubt agree that he is probably one of the sexiest chefs on TV. The concept of the show is simple: Chef Curtis hits a local supermarket and picks someone at random to ask if they want him to come home with them to cook a gourmet meal for the individual and whomever the lucky person intended to cook for that day.

Chef Curtis then finds out what they both like and plans a gourmet meal for them. He even pays for all the groceries! Once they're back at the person's home, he shows the general tips and tricks for cooking, and they later surprise the guests when they arrive. All the recipes from the show are available online as well (just check out the TLC website at tlc.discovery.com).

Who Is The Brainiest Chef Ever?

As for the brainiest chef ever, the title should probably go to Alton Brown of Good Eats on The Food Network. Having formerly worked in the cinematography field, Alton Brown has a degree in drama and also is a graduate from the New England Culinary Institute. On Good Eats, Alton combines his to create a show in which cooking food is part science-class, part pop culture fun. On the show, Alton explains the processes behind cooking food right down to what happens on a molecular level! Using props and fun skits, it's sort of like watching a hip mad scientist. For example, Alton once used a giant mock-up of a human tongue to illustrate the effect of capsaicin on taste buds (capsaicin being the chemical that makes chili peppers hot). He also did a parody of Misery in which he gets kidnapped by his biggest fan and is forced to cook various potato dishes for one episode. Shows like these that make cooking food fun for even the neophyte home chef who doesn't know how to use their knife, so check them out and be entertained as you learn.

Friday, May 4, 2007

Health Benefits of Vegetarian Cooking



Many people are becoming concerned that meat, egg and dairy products are making people sick due to its cholesterol and fat content. Long-term results of eating meat could cause different health conditions such as cancer, high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease and other problems. For this reason, many people are switching to vegetarian cooking.

People who practice vegetarian cooking reduce their chances of obesity and other related diseases such as hypertension, arthritis, osteoporosis, kidney disorders and heart disease.

Vegetarian cooking provides people with an advantage against cancer. This is because vegetarian cooking uses only fiber-rich, vitamin-packed ingredients that can strengthen the immune system and prevent cancers (of the uterine, breast, prostate and digestive organs).

Another benefit of vegetarian cooking is that it protects people against the dangers of heart disease. Fiber-rich foods, complex carbohydrates and plant-based protein can trim down cholesterol levels and reduce the risks of heart disease.

For health conscious people, vegetarian cooking could prevent harmful food-borne illnesses from entering your kitchen. While majority of food-borne illnesses are related to meat contaminant, they can also be caused by salmonella, listera or e coli.

With vegetarian cooking, it's very hard to become fat because grains, soy, legumes and vegetables are very filling even with little fat content. Not only do these foods serve as an energy giver, they also keep the stomach full for several hours.

What You Need to Know About Vegetarian Cooking

Regardless of the reason why you choose to follow vegetarian cooking, you need to follow a few things to provide a nutritious and delicious meal for your family or friends.

If you're looking for a vegetarian recipe, be aware that there are different categories of vegetarianism. While vegans do not eat meal through their life, other vegetarians simply choose to eat healthy, while cooking chicken or fish occasionally. Some vegetarians eat dairy products, but never meat itself.

When you're starting out and experimenting on vegetarian cooking, simply copy a meat-based recipe of your favorite dish and look for substitutes for the main ingredient or the meat. However, never alter the recipe too much for it may ruin the taste of your meal. For instance, if you like to cook meatball spaghetti, simply substitute the meat by using organic meat.

The key to vegetarian cooking is by using healthy variations of oil and sea salt to give the meal flavor. Not only can these ingredients increase metabolism, they also serve as extra quality and flavor to the meal.

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

Varied Cooking Measurement Confuses The Cook



Following a recipe would be so much easier if every person used the same cooking measurement when writing down the instructions. That is not to say that a cup is not a cup or a teaspoon is not a teaspoon. That is to say that a tablespoon equals one sixteenth of a cup. It would save a lot of time in trying to decipher a recipe if the cooking measurement called for one sixth of a cup instead of two tablespoons plus two teaspoons.

The basic cooking measurement used in recipes are generally standardized, with even a pinch having less than one eighth of a teaspoon dry and a dash being somewhere between three drops and one fourth of a teaspoon of liquid. Most just thought a pinch and a dash was something your mother made up to describe that they put just a little of whatever the ingredient is but now know it to be a bonafide cooking measurement.

If you do a lot of cooking from recipes, whether full meals or baking, it may be worth having a conversion table from the US Dairy Association, Nutrient Data Laboratory to insure you are using the correct amount of each ingredient. This source also offers US to metric conversions in case you are using a foreign cookbook in the U.S. and need to make more exact cooking measurements.

Even some cooking measurement systems seem to be foolproof; they can still cause some consternation among cooks, such as the number of eggs to add to a recipe. The size of an egg may compromise the integrity of a recipe, for example, if it calls for two eggs and all you have are really small eggs, they may only equal one extra large egg or one and a half large egg.

Perhaps you are making gravy and the recipe calls for cornstarch to thicken the liquid and all you have is flour. It will take two tablespoons of flour to replace one tablespoon of cornstarch for thickening but now knowing that can cause added time going by trial and error. Another helpful cooking measurement to know is that three tablespoons of cocoa and one tablespoon of butter is equal to one square of chocolate.

Recipes are typically tried and tweaked over the years with minor changes made to adjust for different tastes and then the ingredients and their cooking measurement are often handed down as family recipes. Usually, as long as the list of ingredients and their individual cooking measurement is followed, the finished product will at least be close to the original.