FOOD 101: Vanilla Vs. French Vanilla

A reader writes: What’s the difference between vanilla and French vanilla? Simply this: Vanilla is the flavoring made from the vanilla bean Vanilla beans themselves are identified in the trade by origin: Indonesian, Madagascar (Bourbon), Mexican, Tahitian, etc. (see the different types (origins) of vanilla beans). Vanilla ice cream without eggs is called Philadelphia-style ice…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Can You Substitute Kosher Salt Or Sea Salt For Table Salt?

While salt can be ground into fine, medium or coarse textures, table salt (top) is always a fine grain, kosher salt (center) a coarser, flat grain, and sea salt anything from finely ground to naturally extra-coarse (bottom photo shows medium-coarse). Photo courtesy Saltworks.us.   Certain recipes specify kosher salt or sea salt instead of table…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Don’t Crowd The Pan…& Use The Right Pan

Top Chef Sylvain Harribey of the Sofitel New York shares this tip: When you cook, don’t overcrowd the pan with the ingredients. In a packed pan, foods end up steaming rather than caramelizing. This adds cooking time and subtracts taste. All ingredients should fit comfortably in one layer. Either use a pan that’s big enough…
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