The 'How to Cook' Blog

It’s Spring in Canada and the sun is shining, but don’t let that fool you… …It’s only about 10 degrees above freezing today, which means it’s chilly! On my break from working online today, I decided I wanted a cup of homemade hot chocolate, but not just ANY hot chocolate. I want to kick it up and make it much more interesting by adding some kind of interesting flavor. I  [ Read More ]

So, as I keep eating watermelon, I keep on thinking about stories my mom has of my grandparents making watermelon rind pickles. Although I’ve never made them myself, nor eaten them, I want to try them. I asked my mother how she liked them when her parents made them and she said she never really liked them because they were too vinegar-y and that’s why she has never made them  [ Read More ]

My snacking habits have been a little lax as of late… I have been extremely busy and tend to grab things to snack on only because they are easy and readily available. In other words, if it’s not sitting in front of me at home, I’ll grab something on the go that’s probably not so healthy like chips, a chocolate bar, whatever is available. So, I’ve decided to try and  [ Read More ]

Today, I went into the kitchen to see that ripened banana staring back at me on my counter-top. What did I think of immediately? Banana bread, of course! I’m letting you in on how my brain works to creatively make up recipes in your kitchen, as I tell you how I like to substitute ingredients, how to, and why I do what I do. This recipe was winged on camera  [ Read More ]

If you haven’t already had the chance to do so, be sure to check out the Cooking with Kimberly Channel on YouTube. Well, if you haven’t, you will find a lot of interesting, how-to-cook videos, as well as videos from different culinary establishments where web chef, Kimberly Edwards, shares my amazing meals. Have fun watching these instructional cooking videos from the comfort of your own home or kitchen! LOL Here’s  [ Read More ]

This is one of our favorite Kasper family recipes…In fact, it’s the first recipe I learned to make on my own when I moved away from home. We don’t really eat the small, fluffy pancakes most families eat. We called these big, thin delights “pancakes”…our style of pancakes. Golden and delicious, these beautiful crepes can be eaten for breakfast, brunch or dinner, if desired. Try them…you’ll be so glad you  [ Read More ]

Yes, we all know we should be drinking more water than we probably do in a day…8 glasses to be exact! How many of us really get that much water in…WATER, not other types of fluids? Water is the most essential nutrient we need to ingest in our body, as our bodies are made up of up to 60% water, and nearly every single reaction in our bodies requires a  [ Read More ]

I’m not a crazy fan of breakfast for the most part…So, when I endeavor to eat or make breaky, it has to be an awesome dish to spark my mind & taste buds in the morning. This recipe is adapted from one I saw Gordon Ramsay do in his own home for his wife’s brunch in bed. You don’t know what you’re missing, if you haven’t had this “grown-up”, gourmet  [ Read More ]

If you’re looking for a quick meal recipe that’s not only delicious and easy to prepare, but is also fun to eat, then you’ve found the right place. Kebabs look beautiful and they are easy to eat for everyone. Shrimp cook very quickly, so you can have your meal on the table very quickly. In fact, the side dishes may take longer for you to prepare than the main dish  [ Read More ]

There may be times where you see a recipe that calls for toasted seeds or seeds to be toasted, as an ingredient or topping. Seeds are a very healthy part of your diet, even if you’re not a vegetarian or vegan…Seeds can accentuate not only the flavor profile of a dish, but increase the nutrients, and make your dish more aesthetically pleasing. All kinds of seeds can be used such  [ Read More ]

One of my favorite dishes my mother makes is her Honey Garlic Pork Ribs she does not on the BBQ, but she boils them and finishes them in the oven for that perfectly done, fall-off-the-bone meat that you are craving. If you so desire, you may finish the ribs on the BBQ just the same on a medium flame, just to get those great grill marks, and char-grilled flavor. I’m  [ Read More ]

After much consideration of suggestions from family, friends and fans, I will be going ahead with weekly cooking classes on the internet via Skype. If you have never used Skype before, it is a way to use the internet for live video calling. This way, the entire cooking class can ask questions and watch live online while I create meals and teach different techniques of cooking. In fact, you could  [ Read More ]

It is likely, when you eat watermelon, you don’t eat all the way down to the white rind. It’s not as sweet, and doesn’t taste as good as the pink, juicy flesh you just otherwise consumed. Well, there are a few things you can do with it, so as not to waste it, and to stretch out your family budget, so to speak. Try making watermelon rind pickles, like my  [ Read More ]

As much as I love gumbo, it seems I typically only make it once or twice a year. The main gumbo I create is my special Louisiana-Style New Year’s Seafood Gumbo served with dirty rice. * Note: If you’re looking for a quick fix to making a gumbo, this is NOT it. This is definitely one of those dishes that’s a labor of love, if you want to do it  [ Read More ]

Do you love Cajun, Creole or simply Southern cooking? Well, check out web chef, Kimberly Edwards, in the kitchen with executive chef of Toronto’s Big Daddy’s Bourbon Street Bistro & Oyster Bar, Lyndon O’Hearn, creating New Orleans style deliciousness for you all to learn in the comfort of your own home… …or maybe it will just whet your taste buds and spark you to come on out and be gastronomically  [ Read More ]

Many recipes, especially Island or tropical recipes, and dessert recipes call for toasted coconut. You can’t buy toasted coconut…it’s something you must do at home, but it is a very simple process that only takes a few minutes, with quick & easy clean-up. Toasting your coconut really enhances the flavors and gives the coconut some lovely crunchy texture when you eat it. It’s well worth the small effort to make  [ Read More ]

I would venture to say that most people love baked potatoes, especially with a bit of a BBQ taste. Am I right? I thought so…So, here’s a way to make them without having to slave in your kitchen with a hot stove for at least an hour. You can literally have baked potatoes, even with that BBQ flavor, done in 15 minutes. Here’s how… Type: Side Dish Recipe Serve With:  [ Read More ]

It’s summer time in North America, and that means we are barbecuing out butts off! Well, at least I am, every chance I get. In fact, I feel guilty when I don’t get out there and grill knowing the Canadian winter is so long. Everyone’s favorite has to be the perfect steak. I’ll bet you can smell that steak on the grill when your neighbors are using their BBQs, don’t  [ Read More ]

If you have never had arepas before, you totally don’t know what you’re missing. They are a South American recipe often made in Venezuela, Columbia, Mexico, etc. and they are most similar to “hot water cornbread” in the Southern United States, except made with pre-cooked cornmeal, which turns out to be a bit more soft and smooth, instead of a bit more gritty with normal cornmeal. They are so delicious  [ Read More ]

USA (COOKING WITH KIMBERLY NEWS) – When was the last time you had great fried chicken? It seems that it’s getting hard to find, unless you make your own from scratch at home on this National Fried Chicken Day! Now, if you’re counting calories, then you can do the “shake & bake” thing with your chicken to achieve a crispy crust. However, there is just nothing like the fried, crispy  [ Read More ]