The cooking experts on TV cooking shows make cooking those tasty, gorgeous meals seem so easy, but the truth is that cooking can be quite intimidating for an absolute beginner. Actually, cooking is about more than just knowing the recipe, the vast majority of cooking is about developing certain cooking techniques through which amazing meals can be prepared. For instance, a recipe that requires pasta is absolutely useless if the person does not know how to properly prepare pasta.
Boiling Pasta
The reason that we are starting with pasta is because it is one of the simplest and easiest meals to prepare. For the perfect pasta, fill a boiling pan approximately two-thirds of the way to the top. It is worth noting that the more water that is in the pot, the less likely it will be that the pasta will stick to the pot. Turn the burner on high and allow the water to come to a boil. Once the water comes to a boil, add the pasta. Stir and check the pasta frequently. Eight minutes into the boil, remove one piece for a taste test. When you taste it, the pasta should be firm on the outside while being softer on the inside.
Chopping Vegetables, the Proper Way
There is actually a technique to chopping vegetables. There are two essential elements that will make it easy and safe to chop vegetables — a sharp knife and a walnut cutting board. The wood cutting board is less likely to dull the knife than a plastic cutting board, and it is more resistant to the buildup of bacteria. Wood cutting boards carries a large array of wood cutting boards, including walnut cutting boards, in a variety of sizes.
Wash and dry the vegetables and lay them out on the cutting board. Position your fingers where they are curved in so that your fingernails are actually touching the vegetables — holding them steady as you cut. You can chop the vegetables to be more course of fine, depending on the recipe and your preference.
The key is to be willing to experiment and vary the recipes slightly — depending on your specific preferences.
