What Is Acidulated Water?
Acidulated water is used to avoid oxidisation in some fruit and vegetables after they have been cut or peeled. It is usually water with lemon juice added.
Tips and Techniques
Simple cooking skills
Yoghurt: How to drain
Drained yoghurt is used in many sweet and savoury recipes. The longer the yoghurt is drained the ‘drier’ it becomes. A basic cheese called labna is made from drained yoghurt that is rolled into balls and stored in olive oil.
Microplane
Microplane is the brand name of super sharp zesters and graters now available in Australia from all good kitchen shops.
How To Bake Blind
Making your own tart base does take some work, and is something I usually reserve for special occasions. But it is one of those cooking activities which is so rewarding, I wish I took more time to make them more often. The best bit is, once you have the base, you can fill it with whatever you feel like at the time. Here, the specialists at Careme Pastry show us how to perfect blind baking.
How To Roast Coconut
I just love coconut - Macaroons are one of my favourite sweets. Roasted coconut makes a great garnish to cakes and muffins, especially fruit-based ones like banana and carrot. I’m told that roasted coconut will keep in an airtight container for a couple of months.
How To Make Sugar Syrup
I like to have sugar syrup on hand, especially during summer when I’m making sorbets. You can also add it to cakes, make cocktails, or poach fruits for a simple dessert.
How To Poach
Poaching is a delicious and healthy way to cook. It’s quick and easy once you’ve got the hand of it. Imagine yummy chicken sandwiches, fragrant steamed fish, and delicious poached pears with chocolate sauce. Here, I follow Kylie Kwong’s guide to poached chicken with great results.
