TIP OF THE DAY: Make Homemade Soda

A few years back, we began to notice a restaurant trend: creative mixologists making their sodas from scratch. Some of it was creative flavoring—fennel-lemongrass soda, for example. Others were the desire of mixologists to make the best-ever cola, root beer and ginger ale. All of it was all-natural. Spice Market New York, owned by chef…
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TIP OF THE DAY: 10 Ways To Use Nutmeg

There’s nothing like fresh-ground nutmeg. The pre-ground product is pallid in comparison. You may use nutmeg in baking—custards and pumpkin pie, spice cakes and cookies—and it’s de rigueur in egg nog. But what about savory uses? Following the demise of our decades-old nutmeg mill, we’ve been enjoying our new chrome nutmeg mill from William Bounds.…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Make Paneer At Home

Cubes of grilled paneer. See the recipe below. Photo courtesy Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board.   It’s not easy to make most cheeses at home. But it is surprisingly easy to make paneer, a fresh cheese popular in Indian and other South Asian cuisines that ports nicely into Western fare. Paneer does not melt when heat…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Uses For Tzatziki, A Multitasking Food

Tzatziki tops minced smoked salmon for a sophisticated appetizer. Photo by Grenouille Films | IST.   Certain condiments are multitaskers, such that they can be used at different times of the day to make basic foods more interesting. Salsa, from Mexico, is one example. Greek tzatziki (tsah-tsee-kee) is another. A chilled mixture of yogurt, cucumber,…
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How To Store Coffee To Keep It Fresher, Longer

Advice circulates that coffee beans should be kept in the freezer to maintain freshness. False! Freezing the coffee coagulates the natural oils contained in the beans. These oils need to emulsify to produce the body and mouthfeel of the coffee. Coffee is best right after it is freshly-roasted. Beans can be stored in the refrigerator…
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