Eggplants get a bad rap for being bitter, bland, or just gross. But often it’s just the result of bad cooking, and not necessarily the eggplant’s fault. The best way to get eggplant’s true flavor is to roast it. But when it comes to cooking eggplants in general, should you peel it ? Is the …
Making the perfect mashed potatoes comes with some challenges, especially when you’ve got the potato flake box just looking at you. Tempting you to use them instead of starting from scratch. But there’s just something so good about fresh, home-made mashed potatoes that gives them an extra layer of deliciousness. So today we’re going to …
Mashed potatoes are a wonderful side dish. They’re easy to make, reliable, a crowd pleaser, and very filling. Sometimes though, you stop to wonder just what else you can make. A change is probably welcome every once in a while. The good news is that mashed potatoes are easy to substitute, and easy to enhance …
Many recipes call for mushrooms, but mushrooms are not for everyone. Sometimes it’s their texture, sometimes it’s the flavor, how they darken the broth, or you just can’t stand the sight of them. Or, maybe, you love mushrooms but simply don’t have them or can’t find them. So what do you do ? You look …
Mushrooms may be a bit confusing if you’ve never dealt with them before. They’re not like other vegetables, and they’re a great substitute for meat. They also cook in their own, specific way. We’ve all seen a pot full of chopped mushrooms shrink before our eyes, as they cook. So we come to how to …
Mushrooms are delicious little things and they give most meals an extra depth of flavor, especially when paired with meat. Most of the time you can’t pick put just a few mushrooms, like you’d need for one recipe. They come in pre-made packs, and it’s rare that you use up an entire pack in one …
As beautiful and delicious as garlic may be in a recipe, it’s a real pain to peel and crush. Partly because it’s so small and tedious, but it’s also sticky. Once you cut the garlic, or worse you crush it, you’re in a world of sticky, messy pain. Crushed garlic will stick to you, the …
Garlic is delicious and a boon to every meal there is. You cannot convince us otherwise. The world needs more garlic, there’s never enough. And you’ve probably noticed how spicy and bright the garlic flavor can be when you eat it raw. A crushed garlic sauce can really kick. But why ? Why is garlic …
Purple cabbage, or red cabbage, is a very pretty version of the everyday green cabbage. It’s got less sulfur flavor, and as such can be considered to be milder by some people. It’s also really impressive to look at, both raw and cooked. But why is cabbage purple ? What makes it change color ? …
Cabbage is a great addition to any dish, be it a stew, a salad, sauteed on its own, or stuffed with delicious meats. So what do you do when you have no cabbage at all? Or you simply don’t like cabbage in particular, but are open to other ideas. Well, you need a cabbage substitute, …
Cabbage may not be everyone’s favorite, but there are some recipes you just can’t make without cabbage. Partly because it’s the wrong texture, and partly because they rely on the cabbage’s strong flavor. Still, you can’t deny how flatulent cabbage can make you, especially when it’s raw cabbage. But why does cabbage cause gas ? …
Zucchini is a super-versatile veggie that’s bound to end up on most folks; plate at one point or another. Unless you’re allergic to all things squash, you’ve probably had zucchini before. And as you know, it’s usually delicious and very easy to get along with. Except when you get a random bitter zucchini. Then you …
Onions rings are delicious, crispy, and probably one of the best fast food snacks out there. In fact they’re so great you often wish you got more with your burger and fries, right ? Well, what happens when you get a serving so large you can’t eat all of it in one sitting ? You …
Ah, spinach. You either love it or hate it, there’s no real in-between. For those who love their spinach they’re likely to have it often, and in ample portions. And as you know, spinach cooks down significantly, so you always have to buy more than you’d think. But what happens when you end up with …
Jalapenos are a wonder in pretty much any dish you can think to use them. They bring color, taste, and most importantly heat to dishes that may be bland. But why are jalapenos sold green ? As peppers, they are perfectly ripe when they are red. So why sell them underripe ? Here’s what we’ve …
So you’re in the mood for a delicious batch of stuffed peppers and can’t wait to get your taste buds on them. In an effort to get a really nice presentation going on (and variety), you get that beautiful 3 or 4 colored bell pepper pack and get cooking. Except some of them are a …
Eggplants. Despite the name, they’re not really eggs nor do they look like an egg. More interesting, they’re almost always a beautiful, glossy shade of deep, dark purple. So why are eggplants called eggplants then ? And why are eggplants purple ? Why are some eggplants white ? Is there any difference between them, or …
Bell pepper is a mainstay in Western cuisine, especially when it comes to very hearty, filling dishes. It’s also commonly found alongside its brothers, the hot peppers. But like hot peppers, bell peppers are part of the nightshade family, along with tomatoes and eggplants. Some folks are allergic to all nightshades, so a bell pepper …
When you go to make your favorite bell pepper recipe, you always end up carving out the seeds and the whitish membrane. It’s something you’ve seen your parents and grandparents and chefs all over the world doing. It may not even be something you’ve actively thought about before. But can you eat pepper seeds ? …
Stuffed bell peppers are a delicious family meal that just screams fall, chilly weather, and a warm home. So how do you make sure you get the best stuffed peppers out there ? You cook them perfectly ! But, as you know, getting the perfect stuffed bell isn’t as easy as it sounds. The biggest …