Rice pilaf sounds like an exotic and complicated rice dish, but in truth it’s really not that hard to make. And in terms of ‘exotic’, it’s not that exotic either, since most countries have some sort of pilaf recipe in their traditional dishes. Even so, pilaf is still a wonderfully delicious rice dish that manages …
Nduja isn’t on every pizza out there, but once you do find it on a pizza you’ll notice it. It’s got that incredibly hot kick to is, and beautiful red color, and a nice meaty flavor. This is a somewhat rare ingredient you’ll only find in true Italian establishments, and it’s always amazing. It also …
Gianduja sounds like a very non-descript food item, until you get a taste of it and know exactly what it is. This hazelnut and chocolate cream is to die for, and it actually has a very interesting background story. Of all the things sweet, gianduja has ties to the Napoleonic wars, and has become a …
Donuts seem to be delicious for just about anyone, and this means just about anyone’s had a few donuts in their lifetime. And one thing you may have noticed about donuts, regardless of glaze or filling, is that they often have a gaping hole in the middle. Why do donuts have holes, and do they …
Bagels are the go-to breakfast bread for more and more people, and they’re spread all over the world in slightly different versions. What isn’t different is how much people love them, especially their chewy bite and how well they seem to go with just anything. So, maybe you’ve fallen in love with bagels so much …
Bread is an essential part of many people’s lives, and knowing how to make some bread can prove a very useful skill. Even fi you’re not making your own bread, knowing the ins and outs of bread-making can help you pick out the perfect bread for your tastes. And a key point with bread is …
Sugar is a kitchen staple, to the point where even if you’re trying to not eat very sweet meals, you still have some sugar around the house. And if you’re any sort of home baker, you’re definitely well acquainted with sugar. And given sugar’s popularity, there should be no surprise there are so many sugar …
Walnuts are a common ingredient during the cold season, but especially in the fall months. Once the cold kicks in a little, your walnut tree is dropping fruit left and right. So naturally, you’re going to pick up all of those beauties and use them. Once you start cracking them, you realize a few of …
All our lives we’ve heard of funfetti, and maybe even had it once or twice. We all know what it looks like, that whitish cake with sprinkles all over. But did we ever really stop to wonder just what is funfetti cake ? What’s it made of ? Can you make it from scratch ? …
Birthday cake has become something of a phenomenon. It’s sweeping across America and it’s had resounding success so far. What is birthday cake, you ask ? Is it a specific flavor ? Who decided this ? It turns out there is a specific birthday cake flavor, and it has a very interesting backstory. That being …
Sprinkles seem to be what dreams are made of, at least little kids’ dreams And adult dreams, because who here doesn’t get excited when they see anything with rainbow sprinkles on top, regardless of age ? These colorful confectionery additions seem to make everything better, from donuts to cake to ice cream to coffee toppings, …
Corn has always been viewed as sweet, or at least mildly sweet. And not many people know, but there are different kinds of corn, each with varying degrees of sweetness. The sweetest is sweet corn, with the least sweet being dent corn, meant for livestock feed. But what makes corn sweet, regardless of type ? …
Blackberries, like most berries, are a hit or miss. You either buy a carton that’s divine and worth the extra penny, or you find the saddest little things ever. There is no in-between. So what do you do when you find yourself with a carton of bitter blackberries ? Can you try and fix them …
Blackberries and mulberries are two similar-looking fruits that manage to confuse people all the time. And for good reason, since they look incredibly similar, taste fairly similar, and they both stain your hands and clothes like crazy. So what are the main differences between blackberries and mulberries ? This is what we’re going to find …
Pancakes and waffles area classic when it comes to breakfast, and even brunch. Both are delicious, sweet or savory treats that are also incredibly filling. You can find batter recipes for both waffles and pancakes, and you can find pre-made batters that are a happy medium between pancakes and waffles, meaning you can use it …
Potatoes are a kitchen staple and the building blocks of many recipes. They’re in every culture and they’re just swell to have around. Nearly everything good to eat has some sort of potato in it, no matter how it’s cooked. This is not only the most filling vegetable, it’s also possibly the most delicious. So …
Whenever you’re out and about and feeling hungry, you might immediately start thinking of something potato-based, or at least containing some form of potato. This root vegetable has been part of our lives for longer than it hasn’t, and it’s always been viewed as the most filling and delicious thing out there. But why are …
Jams, jellies, and preserves are all wonderful ways to use up leftover fruit. And who can refuse a scone with strawberry jam ? But why are there so many names for fruit cooked with sugar, and is there really a difference between them ? Why the different names ? Are they just different names for …
Everyone’s got some sort of jam tucked away in their pantry or fridge, and everyone has a strong preference for this fruit over that. So, naturally, everyone gets upset when they open their favorite jar to find that it’s…not right. It’s got fuzzy white patches and it doesn’t feel sorry at all. Why does jam …
Homemade jam is a beautiful thing, and a really good reason to be proud. Your family can enjoy it in any way they like, and you can make entire batches for the winter. Be careful though, once you catch the jam bug you’ll be overrun by jam jars with no place to put them (because …