Taste. Taste is critical to make sure you have the proper balance and flavor in your dish. But you need to cook with all five senses.

Sight. You also cook with your eyes. If you’re browning multiple pieces of beef of the grill, for example, some will naturally brown faster than others. Look for the pieces with nice color and turn them over; leave the other pieces until you are satisfied with their appearance.

Hearing. Listen to the pan. If you’re browning meat and you don’t hear a sizzle, the pan is not hot enough, and you should remove the meat. On the other hand, if you’re sweating onions and you hear an aggressive hissing, your pan is too hot and you should lower the heat.

Smell. If something smells like it’s starting to burn, it probably is. Adjust the flame accordingly.

Here’s the test for meat. It’s how professional chefs test for doneness. Work on your finger-test skills and you’ll have a valuable new kitchen technique—and a way to impress friends and family.

Photo by Martin Walls | SXC.

To remove the skin more quickly, simply remove the cloves from the bulb and soak them in water for a few minutes.

Then, cut off the root end, or smash it with the flat of your knife. The skin should slide off much more easily.

Now, you’re ready to crush the cloves. Just use the flat part of a large knife.

If loud smashing is more your style, lay your soaked garlic cloves on a cutting board. Place another cutting board on top and crush away.

Feel free to use a hammer on plastic cutting boards. Like hitting a golf ball, it’s very cathartic.

Try Garlic Valley Farms’ garlic juice spray. It’s amazing: You can spray fresh garlic flavor onto anything (burgers, eggs, salads, vegetables—you name it).

The flavor is in the juice, not the clove. Each bottle contains the juice of 150 cloves (1000 sprays). It‘s gluten-free and kosher. Get some.

One of the most memorable caramels we’ve ever had (our first bite was back in 2007), they sizzle without taking out your taste buds.

A wonderful combination of chewy, buttery caramel and habanero heat, the reusable gift tin is $19.00.
 
Send them to someone special!

What is caramel and the history of caramel candy.
 
 

Crab balls are delicious with beer, wine and
sparkling wine. Photo courtesy Jakes Crab
Shack.

The demand for crab cakes resulted in a casual restaurant, Jakes Crab Shack,* with crab cake sandwiches, Kobe beef burgers and lobster rolls. Keeping with food trends, there’s also a traveling food truck dishing up crab cake sandwiches.

*No write-ins from the editing police are needed: There’s no
apostrophe in Jakes.

Now, Jakes Crab Shack has gone retail.

Folks who can’t get to Belmar, New Jersey (south of Asbury Park) can get the delicious crab cakes and crab balls online, in packages of 24 one-ounce crab balls or six four-ounce crab cakes (both $42.00).

We love the crab balls for entertaining: they fit in with both casual or elegant fare, and are light enough to be enjoyed as an appetizer without filling up your guests. Serve them with sparkling wine (or beer, or any wine or sparkling water).

Treat your guests to some! Learn more at BrandlRestaurant.com.

Do You Know The Different Types Of Crab?

Here’s all you need to know about crab, including which type of crab meat to use for what recipes, and the different species.

Make your own crab cakes with this recipe. Also try the crab cheesecake—a great hors d’oeuvre or first course.

Peppermint lovers can add a hint of mint to their libations.

The mint flavor works with many cocktails, soft drinks, tea, coffee and hot chocolate.

We hang them on a Vodka Martini, Chocolate Martini, Espresso Martini, Cosmopolitan, Irish Coffee, Mojito and other favorites.

Or, you can crack the candy canes into chips (in a plastic bag, using a rolling pin or hammer) and sprinkle the garnish atop the Chocolate and Coffee Martinis or Irish Coffee.

Deck the drinks!
 
 
Find more of our favorite holiday drink recipes
in our Cocktails Section.

Hang a candy cane on a holiday drink. Photo by Elvira Kalviste | THE NIBBLE.