I’m continuing my list of basic cooking things you should know. These are just things I’ve learned over the years and am sharing with you! Please comment below with any tips you have for me as well!
How to cook bacon in the oven. This is seriously one of the best cooking tips ever, in my opinion. I started cooking bacon this way several years ago and I will never fry it in a skillet again. Cleanup is so much easier this way, and you get evenly cooked bacon every time. You can control how crispy or not you want it to be and you don’t end up with grease all over your kitchen. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Lightly spray a baking sheet and place the bacon on it. The slices can touch, but not overlap. Bake for 15-20 minutes, depending on how crispy you like your bacon to be.
How to make pancakes without a mix. I have nothing against pancake mixes, but also, it’s super easy to make your own. All you need are some very basic ingredients, with the exception of buttermilk. Buttermilk does a few things for pancakes. The acid in the buttermilk reacts with the baking powder, making them extra fluffy. It also helps break down the gluten, making them tender. Lastly, it adds a little “tang” that is just perfect and delicious. My recipe is: 2 c all-purpose flour, 2 t baking powder, 1 t baking soda, 1/2 t salt, 2T sugar, 2 c buttermilk, 2 eggs, lightly beaten, and 1 t vanilla. Sometimes I also add a little cinnamon just because. All you do is whisk the dry ingredients together in one bowl, the buttermilk, eggs and vanilla in another, then combine the two. A few small lumps is fine. If you overmix, they get tough. Cook on a griddle or a skillet, flipping them when bubbles appear and until they are golden brown.
How to chop an onion. I can’t tell you how many people ask me how to properly chop an onion. I don’t know that there’s one proper way, but here’s what I do after lots of trial and error. To me, this is the easiest way. First, cut the root end off the onion. Then cut off the stem. Place the onion top side down on your cutting board and cut the onion in half. Starting at the top edge, peel off the skin and papery layers off. Place one half of the onion cut side down on the cutting board. Make cuts from the rounded outside edges of the onion to the bottom center. Follow the curve of the onion all the way around. Spin the onion a quarter turn, then make even vertical cuts. Beautifully chopped!
How to caramelize onions. Caramelized onions are delicious on so many things. The main things I tend to use them for is burgers, sliders (check out my favorite slider recipe here) or pizza. It’s a very simple process to make them, but it is not a quick process. On medium heat, add 2 T of butter to a large pan. Next add two large onions, thinly sliced. Cook the onions for 2-3 minutes or until they are starting to look translucent, then turn heat to medium low. Cook the onions, stirring occasionally for about 30-40 minutes or until they are the color and texture that you want them to be. These can store in the fridge for at least a week.
Use a paper towel to make fresh vegetables and herbs last longer. Prolong the life of fresh veggies by loosely wrapping them in a paper towel and putting them in a ziploc. Get as much air out of the bag as you can, then store in your produce drawer. This simple trick will give you way more time to use up those fresh herbs and veggies!
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