I've always been a little scared when my pressure cooker starts whistling. when it comes to full pressure, this little yellow button pops up and there's a high-pitched noise that makes me think the top is going to explode. Apparently, this used to be a real concern, but these … [Read more...] about Making Soup and Living Dangerously: Pressure-Caramelized Carrot Soup
modernist cuisine
Vacuum-Infused Maple-Brandy Peaches and Champagne-Tarragon Chanterelles
Here's an article I wrote for for Fine Dining Lovers on vacuum-infusing quick pickles. Kosher dills these ain't. I tell the story of a farmers market in Seattle and write about not spilling vinegar all over a giant chamber infuser. Boy, that would have been embarrassing. … [Read more...] about Vacuum-Infused Maple-Brandy Peaches and Champagne-Tarragon Chanterelles
Modernist Tacos: Pressure-Cooker Carnitas with Black Bean Foam, Caramelized Sweet Potatoes and Handmade Tortillas
I'll be the first to admit that I wussed out a little. A friend asked me to make something fancy from Modernist Cuisine. He owns the five-book $500 set. I own the significantly cheaper Modernist Cuisine at Home. Think of it as Modernist Cuisine for dummies, which is all … [Read more...] about Modernist Tacos: Pressure-Cooker Carnitas with Black Bean Foam, Caramelized Sweet Potatoes and Handmade Tortillas
On the Wonders of Pressure Cookers, Baking Soda, and Modernist Cuisine’s Caramelized Carrot Soup
Me: "When you add baking soda it speeds up the Maillard reaction! So you get this browned, caramelized, super rich carrot flavour!" My chef friend: "Uhuh." Me: "But don't you see how cool that is? You know when you brown duck confit or sear fish and it gets that great texture … [Read more...] about On the Wonders of Pressure Cookers, Baking Soda, and Modernist Cuisine’s Caramelized Carrot Soup
Successful Strawberry Jam Canning Class
Thanks to the participants in my canning class who'd learned to make strawberry jam yesterday. It was a relaxing few hours of learning about safe canning techniques, stirring, tasting, adjusting and not dropping hot bottles of jam on the floor. Instead of doing a traditional … [Read more...] about Successful Strawberry Jam Canning Class
Fig Juice in a Centrifuge for Fine Dining Lovers
Here's my latest article on Modernist Cuisine for Fine Dining Lovers: Fig Juice in a Centrifuge Highlights: 1. I didn't blow anything, including myself, up. Hurray. 2. Fig juice is really fig syrup, and is even better than it sounds. Eat with your eyes if you don't have a … [Read more...] about Fig Juice in a Centrifuge for Fine Dining Lovers
Two Articles on Fine Dining Lovers: 82 Degree Sous Vide Salted Caramel and Centrifuged Fig Juice
Two of my articles on cooking up a storm at the Modernist Cuisine Lab in Bellevue, Washington came out recently on Fine Dining Lovers. 82 Degree Sous Vide Salted Caramel Centrifuged Fig Juice Hate double boilers? Love caramel? Think immersion circulators are the bees knees? Me … [Read more...] about Two Articles on Fine Dining Lovers: 82 Degree Sous Vide Salted Caramel and Centrifuged Fig Juice
Pacojetized Vanilla Bean Ice Cream in Fine Dining Lovers
My first of a series of articles on Modernist Cuisine came out in Fine Dining Lovers yesterday. Please check it out, like it, share it, pin it, etc. then invite me over (when you invest in a pacojet) and I will make you heaps and heaps of gelato. Heaps. Sold? Here's a video of … [Read more...] about Pacojetized Vanilla Bean Ice Cream in Fine Dining Lovers
Thumbprint Cookies and Slow-cooker Sugar-free Raspberry Jam
What I learned from a rotary evaporator was that reducing liquids at very low temperatures saves their flavour. Not that the rotary evaporator stood in front of a classroom of able-minded cooks and told me that. Instead, I tasted it in the spherified orange juice that looked like … [Read more...] about Thumbprint Cookies and Slow-cooker Sugar-free Raspberry Jam
Brined Roast Turkey, Day 2
There is a 12 lb turkey sitting in my canning pot. This is both a good thing and a bad thing. It's good because the brine I made of salt, sugar, water, vegetables and spices is slowly seeping into the flesh. It's bad because I didn't inject the brine directly into the turkey as … [Read more...] about Brined Roast Turkey, Day 2