THE NIBBLE BLOG: Products, Recipes & Trends In Specialty Foods


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TIP OF THE DAY: Prevent Meat From Sticking In The Pan/On The Grill


Staub grill pan available at Williams-Sonoma.

 

Here are three very simple and handy tricks to prevent meat from sticking to your pan or grill.

  • Room Temperature. First, bring the meat to room temperature. Cold protein and hot surfaces create sticky situations.
  • Oil. Lightly oil your protein after seasoning; an oil sprayer makes it easy. This adds another layer of protection against sticking. Because the pan gets hotter than the smoke point of olive oil, use a high smoke point oil such as canola oil or grapeseed oil.
  • Heat. Lastly, make sure the pan is hot. When the pan is cold, and meat is placed on it, the proteins stick to the pan more easily.
  •  
    These prevent burning and make cleanup much easier. Go forth and grill.

     

    WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE MEAT?

    How many different cuts have you had of:

  • Beef
  • Chicken
  • Lamb
  • Pork
  •   

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    TIP OF THE DAY: Thickeners For Soups, Stews & Sauces

    Today is National Homemade Soup Day.

    Homemade soup is not only superior to prepared varieties; it enables you to add the freshest flavor with herbs and to minimize the often enormous sodium content of processed soups.

    If you want a thicker soup, there are different ways to thicken (that also are used for sauces and stews).

    In today’s tip, chef Johnny Gnall shares what every culinary student is taught—how to thicken with:

  • Roux
  • Slurry
  • Ragu
  • Bread
  • Rice and more
  •  
    Head to the article.

     
    Tomato soup thickened with a slurry. Photo courtesy Bull and Bear restaurant | Chicago.
     
    Check out the many different types of soups in our Soup Glossary.
    Discover some new garnishes for 20 popular soups.

      

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    COOKING VIDEO: Giada’s Stuffed Portabello Mushrooms Recipe

     

    Tomorrow, February 4th, is National Stuffed Mushroom Day, so plan ahead to enjoy a plateful.

    While stuffed mushrooms have long been a popular hors d’oeuvre, typically stuffed with seasoned breadcrumbs, the availability of large portobello* mushrooms have turned stuffed mushrooms into a main course or an ample first course.

    Portobello mushrooms can be stuffed with breadcrumbs, rice or other grains and vegetables, dried fruits, nuts and herbs for a vegetarian meal.

    Or, as Giada di Laurentiis does in this video, a stuffing of turkey sausage and cheese makes for a hearty meal.

    What’s your favorite mushroom stuffing?
    *Variously spelled portabello, portobella and portabella.

    How Many Types Of Mushrooms Have You Had?

    Check out the different fabulous fungi in our Mushroom Glossary.

       

       

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    RECIPE: Cocoa Habanero Wings ~ The Best Hot Wing Recipe?

    Here’s the wing recipe that THE NIBBLE’s chef Johnny Gnall will be enjoying during the Super Bowl:

    “Wings are one of those things that people just get excited about,” says Chef Johnny. They seem synonymous with sharing, partying and enjoying with friends. Any time I can remember eating wings, it was with others, digging in and getting messy.

    “Best of all, wings can be very, very delicious. Everyone has his preference: teriyaki or buffalo, spicy or mild, from the spot down the block or the one across town. When wings are good, they’re really good, and even when they’re bad… they’re still really not that bad.

    “More often than not, when people want to get down on some wings, they grab their phone to order them. But wings are way easy to make at home; and making them yourself allows you ultimate control. Even with a standard recipe, you can adjust sweetness and heat so that it’s just right for you.

     
    Even if your team loses, these wings are a winner. Photo by Lauri Patterson | IST.
     
    “This recipe, however, is not a ‘standard’ one. It has a wonderful earthiness to it and a good amount of heat, and it’s not like any wing you’ve ever tasted. They can be made in advance and they will blow some minds.”

    COCOA-HABANERO CHICKEN WINGS

    Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup canola oil
  • 1 tablespoon chili oil
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1-1/2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons jalapeño jam (any jam can be used; a spicy jam is best if you want more
    kick)
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 2 teaspoons soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons habanero chile (finely minced habanero with seeds works, as does jarred
    habanero paste)
  • 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • Pinch of salt, or to taste
  • 12 chicken wings
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter
  •  
    Preparation

    1. Combine all ingredients except wings and butter; then add wings and toss in the sauce to thoroughly coat. This is best done with your hands so you can really work the sauce into the wings.

    2. Place everything, including as much of the sauce as you can, into a sealable bag and refrigerate overnight (a few hours is fine, but longer marinating is better).

    3. Lay the marinated wings on a greased cookie sheet, but reserve the excess sauce in the bag. Combine it with 2 tablespoons of melted butter by whisking the two together over low heat.

    4. Bake the wings at 350°F for one hour, basting with the butter sauce every 15 minutes.
    Once you taste these wings and see the reactions from others who do, they may very well become a regular request at future gatherings. Given the ease of the recipe and the deliciousness of its results, feel free to volunteer for “wing duty” when you’re invited to parties.

    Even if your team disappoints, your wings will not.
      

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    TIP OF THE DAY: Valentine Decorations For Gingerbread Men


    Make Valentine gingerbread a family
    tradition. Photo courtesy Sur La Table.

      Valentine’s Day isn’t all about chocolate.

    Today’s tip was inspired by an email we received from Sur La Table, which has a bounty of Valentine-inspired cookware and utensils: red or pink rolling pins, spatulas, measuring cups, heart-shaped cake pans and more.

    The tip: Use your gingerbread man cookie cutter to make Valentine gingerbread.

    Gingerbread is for far more than Christmas. In fact, a nifty recipe book, Dress Your Gingerbread, shows how to turn that gingerbread man into a bunny for Easter; a pumpkin and ghost for Halloween; Santa, elves and reindeer, and a bride and groom; as well as anytime favorites such as a bee, ladybug, pirate and favorite animals.

    The biggest decision you need to make is what size gingerbread man/woman/child you want to make:

  • Five-inch gingerbread man or a 7.5 inch version
  • Miniature gingerbread boys, just 1.5 inches tall
  • Gingerbread family
  • There’s even a gingerbread cake pan!
  •  

    NEXT STEPS
    1. Pick a gingerbread recipe (here’s one from Paula Deen, which includes a royal icing recipe to make faces).

    2. Get some candy hearts or other Valentine-themed candy to decorate.

    3. Invite friends or family to share the baking and decorating fun.

    4. Make enough to share with friends and colleagues!
     
     
    Find more of our favorite cookie recipes.

      

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