The 'How to Cook' Blog

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 ]

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 ]

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 ]

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 ]

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 recipe for Apricot Honey Ham is really easy, really tasty and really inexpensive to create. Whether you are a starving college student, you’re looking for a new way to serve ham over the Holidays, or need a fast weeknight dinner, this is a great recipe to hold on to. Type: Main Dish Serve With: tasty side dishes Prep Time: 5 min Cook Time: 8-10 minutes per pound The ingredients  [ Read More ]

Trying to figure out a fabulous side dish for my Crusted Pork Tenderloin, and I remembered my amazing smoked paprika powder! This Thai scented rice was rocked by this spice, along with some gorgeous mushrooms to be a perfect accompaniment for this special loin. I served peas alongside this last night, but you may do what it is you like when it comes to mixing and matching… …I just want  [ Read More ]

Looking for a hearty, flavorful soup for this cold winter weather? Try this fiery blend of smoked paprika, piquillo peppers, chilies & tomatoes with the accent of a balsamic-style vinegar to top it all off. The video is an episode of “Qualifirst Cooking with Kimberly“. Be sure to Subscribe today! In this recipe, I am using some special ingredients that are kicking this soup to another level entirely. Firstly, the  [ Read More ]

Tonight, I wanted to cook something that was simple and classic, but that had serious flavor. I have this Sweet Smoked Paprika Powder from La Chinata I got from Qualifirst Foods online, and I wanted this to be the centerpiece of this dish tonight. This smoked paprika powder comes in 3 varieties: sweet, bitter-sweet, and hot. I am using the sweet variety today. The sweet, smokey aroma and flavor were  [ Read More ]

This is an “old school”, easy recipe I want to share for Episode #3 of my new cooking show, “Cooking Adventures with Kimberly” for January’s Edition of Tonka Live Magazine. What could be more fun and childlike than making snow-cones? But when was the last time you actually had a REAL snow-cone? I mean, the kind made with real snow, not crushed ice! Well, I’m here today to encourage you  [ Read More ]

Tonight, a simple idea turned into something deliciously complex. I had the idea of making a chicken stew…since it’s been a while, and a total soup recipe wasn’t turning me on… I had no idea what flavorings I would use until I started looking around my refrigerator for what I had available. I saw some baby bok choy I wanted to use up, some carrots, celery and ginger. I was  [ Read More ]

I was so very excited to roast a pork loin the other night… …I had accidentally found a bottle of this righteous Bar-B-Que Rub Seasoning I brought home with me from Dallas when I lived there from a BBQ Restaurant in Dallas.  It’s from Baker’s Ribs, a small franchise chain in the Southern United States.  Use the link for more blog posts from me on Baker’s Ribs on CookingWithKimberly.com. It’s  [ Read More ]

This is a recipe I developed especially for Episode #2 of my new cooking show, “Cooking Adventures with Kimberly” for December’s Edition of Tonka Live Magazine. If you’re anything like me, you are impressed when you see someone do a bang-up job grilling a whole fish. They look so tasty & delicious, and are actually easy to do. However, I’ll bet you don’t venture to try this out very often, do  [ Read More ]