Make A Gratin: Potatoes Au Gratin & Other Vegetables

Americans love melted cheese: on burgers, nachos, pizza, sandwiches, in fondue and queso dips. On the elegant end of the melted cheese menu is a gratin (grah-TAH, although Americans say GRAH-tin), a casserole that is topped with seasoned breadcrumbs and cheese, which is browned. Potatoes au gratin is a popular rendition, but your favorite vegetables…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Plate Decorating With Sauce

[1] These “flowers” are simply polka dots pulled together with a toothpick (see the video below; photo courtesy Gardenia | NYC). [2] Any food that isn’t made in a sauce can be decorated (photo courtesy Shalit Foods). [3] Keep your favorite sauces in the fridge, ready to squeeze (photo courtesy Pure Joy Concepts). [4] You…
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FOOD FUN: Blooming Marshmallows For Your Hot Chocolate

First there was blooming tea: a specially tied bundle of tea leaves and flower petals that opens into a flower when placed in hot water. Now, there’s the blooming marshmallow, from innovative pastry chef Dominique Ansel. Blossoming Hot Chocolate—more accurately, blossoming marshmallow—is a thin marshmallow, cut like a flower, and bunched up to resemble a…
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TIP OF THE DAY & VIDEO: How To Make Good Espresso

  It’s National Espresso Day, so trade your regular cup of java* for an espresso. Some people are intimidated by an espresso machine. This video shows how easy it is to use one. Espresso can only be made in an espresso machine, which exerts a specific amount of pressure on the ground coffee beans. The…
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