Monday, May 13, 2013

Do you Wanna be a Good Chef?

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By Ahmed Sy


Some of us are born with a fascination with the art of preparing food, or at least playing with it. There's something magical about mixing up some seemingly incongruous ingredients that looks like a mysterious mess, popping it in the oven and then removing a dish that looks, smells and tastes absolutely wonderful. When you go to a fancy dinner house, it's the chef who is ultimately responsible for the fine looking plate that's set before you. There's a certain mystique about the chef which makes him or her a romantic figure to the aspiring gourmet. If you dream of becoming a chef, let's take a look at what it takes. The professional chef has earned his status through years of dedication and training.

Most chefs do begin the road to professional status at an early age. The four-star chefs you read of in foodie articles have a love of food and ingredients that's difficult for most of us to match. This fascination bordering on obsession is perhaps the most important characteristic. To become a chef of distinction, this is an absolute must.

I tried cooking with other locally available barbecue sauce recipes, but it was just not the same. People who had praised my cooking in the past were much less lavish with their praise. I just could not get the same results. I looked everywhere for a barbecue sauce recipe that would duplicate the flavor of Memphis Minnie's, but it was all in vain.

Finally, I figured out that I would have to invent my own barbecue sauce recipe. I had no idea how to go about doing this, and had to learn all kinds of new things.

Buffalo meat contains 30% more protein than beef, with only 3-4% of fat! There is a guilt free way to enjoy a big roast!

In the end, becoming a chef requires a great passion and respect for food as well as a lot of hard work. However, then you'll be that romantic figure behind the veil, serving your guests the meal they'll be talking about for months to come. Not a bad reward.

They say that variety is the spice of life and this holds true in the kitchen most of all. Many people are looking for original meal ideas that can turn a regular Tuesday evening into a special occasion. Unfortunately, few people have time to pour hours and hours into creating unique meal ideas.

There are some approaches cooks can take to create wonderful dishes that are truly original without committing an entire day to the effort. Some great meal ideas start with taking cooking shortcuts that will help you along in your endeavor to create a variety of tasty dishes in record time.

Today, barbecue sauces come in many textures ranging from a runny liquid to sumptuously thick. Some barbecue purist gourmets look down on the addition of any external flavorings, but a glance at the grocery aisle offerings of available barbecue sauces attests that there are many people who disagree. There are barbecue sauce recipes flavored with fruit, ginger, cayenne, habaneros, chipotle peppers, teriyaki and a host of others.

A barbecue sauce should be complementary to what you're cooking and how you're cooking it. Most commonly used on beef, pork and chicken, barbecue sauce can also be used to brush fruit kabobs, dip fries, and even as a marinade. The cooking method also plays a role in the barbecue sauce recipe that you choose. Baking a meat in the oven only requires a thin coating of sauce, so that it will caramelize without burning. Some grilling enthusiasts swear by a thick sauce for grilling. Application time is critical in achieving the perfectly flavored barbecue dish. When baking, the condiment should be applied mid-way through the cooking time. With grilling, it should be brushed on, but lightly, throughout cooking for a thick, caramelized coating. Now that you've got a grip on your brush and know how and when to apply the garnish, let's move on to your barbecue sauce recipe.

Marinating your buffalo meat for 24 hours in a sealable plastic bag will only improve on the tenderness. Marinades also allow added flavor and a more complex taste in the finished dish.

Keep a stock of handy side dishes that can be whipped up in no time at all. Some of these side dishes have meal ideas and recipes right on the package. These can be some of the most useful resources that you can use in the kitchen.

Dont forget soups, too. There is a plethora of great meal ideas that stem from a regular can of soup. Cream-based soups are ideal for casserole recipes that are certain to be a hit each and every day of the week. The wonderful thing about these meal ideas is that they take very little time to prepare. There are plenty of other meal ideas available in a number of different places. Investing in some of these concepts will save you time and money in the long run.




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