Mascarpone et al

Mascarpone is a fresh temperature- and acid-treated Italian cheese made from cream with a butterfat content of 30-46%. Its texture is compact, but it is also supple and spreadable. Its flavor is unique–mildly sweet and refreshing. Usually distributed in small containers, mascarpone has a very short shelf life. Often mixed w cocoa, coffee, liqueurs, or…

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Lemons, Preserved

Slice off both ends of 6-8 lemons. Thickly slice lemons and dredge in ¼ c Kosher salt. Layer in sterilized wide-mouth jar. Add a little salt to jar and fill w lemon juice. Seal jar. Let sit at room temperature for up to a week, turning jar every day. Refrigerate, continuing to turn jar every…

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Jars, Sterilizing for Canning

Easy way to sterilize jars: Wash them well in hot soapy water. Dry them off. Put on a cookie sheet, right side up, at 225°F for 15 minutes. Turn off oven and leave them in there until you need them. Lemon Juice:Remove rust stains with a few drops. Sprinkle on salt and rubDe-stink hands

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Herbs–quick-dried

Place 6-8 fresh herb sprigs 1/2″ apart on a paper towel-lined microwavable plate. Microwave on HIGH in 20-second intervals until dry, about 2 minutes.

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Garlic, taking the bite out

Mince 4 cloves garlic. Place in small saucepan w 1/4c olive oil and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until garlic foams and is soft, fragrant, and golden, 5 min. Transfer oil and garlic to bowl w paste made of 1 minced garlic clove smooshed w 1/8 tsp kosher salt into a paste.

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Garlic, Roasted

Cut off the top of the head of garlic and pull away any papery skin. Trim ½” from top of most cloves. Pour 1/8” milk into a shallow plate or bowl, place garlic cut-side down in milk; cover garlic w inverted bowl, and microwave on low for 5-10 min, depending on number of heads. Roast…

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Flowers, Cooking with

Make sure they haven’t been treated w pesticides and are free from bugs. Bergamot (good w poultry, pork and curries), calendula (peppery), dianthus or pink (spicy and clovelike), hollyhock (mildly flavored), nasturtium (peppery flavor; the flower, leaf and seeds are all edible); carnation (clovelike), marigold (citrusy and pleasantly bitter), violet (slightly wintergreen) and dandelion (bitter);…

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