The 'How to Cook' Blog

How To Brew Perfect Iced Tea You’ve planned the perfect Sunday brunch and invited all your friends. Everything tastes wonderful except the iced tea. It looks pretty in the glass, but for all the flavor it has you could have saved yourself the trouble and served your guests water. The solution? Learn how to brew the perfect pitcher, and start with a high-quality tea. Forget about those tea bags you  [ Read More ]

Happy Cinco de Mayo, firstly! You have found the BEST Cinco de Mayo recipe out there this year, hands down… These are probably my favorite cookies ever. They give you a spicy cinnamon flavor that rivals the best hot cinnamon hearts with the crunch of a cookie. They are easy to make, have exciting ingredients in them, they are ridiculously tasty, they are a great conversation piece, and are a  [ Read More ]

So, I was making Chipotle, Smoked Paprika & Pistachio Crusted Pork Tenderloin and was in much need of a great side dish to go alongside it…Do it justice, so to speak. I decided to make a “special” rice with the most expensive spice in the world…Saffron. The reason saffron is so expensive is that only one flower produces 2 threads of what we call “saffron”…and it’s labor intensive. They have  [ Read More ]

We are on an adventure today on April’s “Cooking Adventures with Kimberly“ for Tonka Live Magazine. I am venturing out into the patchy Winter/Spring weather here…super cold & wet, but we’re going to BBQ on the grill! We are beasts!!! So, we are going to get that smokey, charred flavor from the grill on some chicken & veggies with some amazing flavor to boot! Not only that, we are using  [ Read More ]

You Got Boosh? Want Boosh? Where’s the Boosh? According to AuntCarlasBoosh.com, “Boosh” is a spicy/rice/meat/onion dish of “Portuguese Origin”. Sounds yummy to me! If you have had the opportunity to try out Aunt Carla’s Boosh, do let us know how you loved it! Even mom’s been thinking about the Boosh! Very soon, the Boosh will be in the building! Stay tuned… *** I hope you enjoy this Food Fun on  [ Read More ]

Potatoes are one of the most versatile vegetables, and that’s why it’s featured on so many tables each night for dinner. One of the easiest way to prepare them is to make homemade fries. Now, steak fries just refers to the cut of the fries…they are not wedges, but they are mostly flat, long and of a good size. This is a much healthier version of fries, as these are  [ Read More ]

I have a great cooking product for you today that will knock your socks off with flavor. These are Royal Command Fire Roasted Piquillo Peppers, and not only are they tasty, but you get a huge can of them. This allows you to get some really substantial recipes created out of them, not just use them for a garnish here and there. The reason I say this is because I  [ Read More ]

I am really excited to share this food product with you today, called PX Vinegar, which stands for Pedro Ximenez Vinegar. Pedro Ximenez is a variety of grape, and comes from Spain. This vinegar is reminiscent of a balsamic vinegar in many ways, as it is dark in color. It is bitter, sour and sweet with finishing hints of fig, to my palate. This particular vinegar is made in the  [ Read More ]

If you haven’t had the opportunity to try out smoked paprika powder, they are not all created alike. Some paprika has relatively no flavor, that you purchase from your grocer. Some is so spicy, you can hardly take it. If you’re looking for the perfect alternative for paprika, I suggest La Chinata Smoked Sweet Paprika Powder. Now, La Chinata paprika comes from Spain and there are 3 varieties: sweet, bitter  [ Read More ]

I seem to bake a lot of banana bread in our house. It’s tasty, it’s easy, it’s easy to switch up with different flavors, perfect for a snack, dessert or a breakfast item. I get a ton of requests for different banana breads through my Neighbourhood Chef menu, and this is one of them… Enjoy this bread with seasonal berries, or use frozen berries, if desired or necessary. Type: Bread  [ Read More ]

Looking for a new way to cook plain, boring fish? Well, here’s a bright new way to spruce up your mid-week repertoire and infuse some flavor into your life! Type: Sandwich Recipe Serve With: French fries or another great side. Prep Time: 8 mins Cook Time: 10 – 15 mins, depending on thickness of patties Yield: 2 burgers The ingredients & instructions are listed below the video for measurements &  [ Read More ]

I’m going to show you how to create your own, quick, tasty flavored mayonnaise, initially inspired because I made fish burgers. This Spicy Cilantro Lime Mayonnaise will be sure to please as a sandwich spread, and not just for fish (it was belligerent on steak subs too), as well as a chip dip, or a marinade…anything you would use your “regular” mayonnaise for. Type: Condiment Recipe Prep Time: 5 mins  [ Read More ]

Don’t think beans sound exciting?! Well, let me tell you… Beans are a staple in many cuisines from around the world. They are inexpensive and easy to use, if you know how to prepare them and cook them. Instead of buying canned beans, you can make your own at a fraction of the cost and without the preservatives and chemicals they add to keep them “fresh”. Beans are full of  [ Read More ]

Is it cold outside? Is your household a bit “under the weather”? Do you hear sniffles around the home? Then, a good, homemade chicken or turkey broth are in order. A broth is easy to make with basic ingredients and a bit of time on your hands. What you will end up with is something hearty, healthy, and comforting for everyone in your family, soothing their throats and helping them  [ Read More ]

I want to share with you one of the coolest ingredients I’ve seen in a very longtime. In fact, I’d venture to say it’s the most exciting thing in my kitchen now! This salt is just as the name suggests…it’s black salt. This salt comes from Cyprus, and is created when it dries in the sun, making crystal pyramids. Then, the salt is enhanced with activated charcoal. Activated charcoal has  [ Read More ]

What’s better than amazing kitchen products? Kitchen products with a discount code! That’s right… Since Shawn over at ProChefGearPlus.com is so cool… …He has allowed me to give you all a great discount code to save 15% off your order of $50 or more. At checkout, just use Discount Code: kimberly He must think you all are pretty special foodies in the blogosphere. Save your $ on: Knives Cookbooks Hot  [ Read More ]

Become a part of culinary history… “How?” you ask…Well, by taking part in this food contest, helping name a new spice line that’s coming straight out of USA from ProChefGearPlus.com! Don’t you want to be a permanent fixture in people’s homes? Well, the brilliant name you come up with for the Spice Line anyway… Check out the video below to find out more: Will you think of something spicy, silly,  [ Read More ]

This stellar recipe is from the February 2013 Edition of “Cooking Adventures with Kimberly” for Tonka Live Magazine. Need something quick to grab in the morning on the way out the door to have some great fun out on the lake in winter? (You know, or something similar to that…LOL) Are you just snooping around your kitchen for a snack? Well, this is a killer recipe that will get you  [ Read More ]

Pork tenderloin it is for dinner, but how to kick it up to levels unknown? Here ya go…Here’s my recipe for How to Cook Chipotle, Smoked Paprika & Pistachio Crusted Pork Tenderloin. (Say that 10 times super fast…) This is dish is beyond delicious, was inexpensive to create, provided you’re set up with the spices, and it was quick. The dinner took me about 30 minutes to prepare from start to  [ Read More ]

Today, I wanted to create a new iced tea flavor we haven’t had in a while. I love Rose Water, and if you’ve never tried it, and like the smell of roses, you may just like the flavor too. Rose Water does a marvelous job flavoring desserts, as well as beauty products alike. A fabulous pink coloration can color other foods, as well as impart an aroma that’s out of  [ Read More ]