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 ]

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 ]

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 ]

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 ]

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 ]

Well, the past few weeks have been hectic, to say the least. I am finding myself with less and less time to make breakfast and organize in the morning, not to mention that winter can knock it out of you, physically speaking. So, I am planning ahead and baking muffins that are quick to heat up with butter, and easy to pack or grab on the run. Perfect for helping  [ 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 ]

This is a lovely recipe perfect for the Holidays as an iced tea, but can be heated up as a hot tea as well to enjoy fire-side. Now, the recipe calls a cranberry syrup, also called cordial. I have included the link to the recipe and the cooking video tutorial for How to Make Cranberry Cordial. Only the peels or “shells” of the lemons are used in this recipe, and not  [ 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 ]

What could remind you of the Holidays more than cranberries do? Cranberry Cordial can be used to flavor beverages like your Homemade Lemonade or tea, sweeten desserts or add that “je ne sais quoi” to other dishes, or maybe even a fabulous homemade vinaigrette for a salad. This is such a simple recipe, and you’ll be able to double up and make Sugared Cranberries & Cranberry Sugar, in addition to  [ Read More ]

We all know I’m a tea lover, and I’m constantly switching up flavors at my house. Today, I’m going to show you a simple, yet ever-so-tasty recipe for How to Brew Lemon Oil Iced Tea. All you need are a few simple ingredients for something plainly delicious. Type: Tea Recipe Prep Time: 5 mins Brew Time: 5 mins Yield: 1 gallon The ingredients & instructions are listed below the video  [ Read More ]

This may very well be my favorite cranberry recipe ever! If you’ve never had these, and even if you’ve never really cared for cranberries before, do try these… What’s more Holiday-like than sugared fruits looking all heavenly on a tray or platter with cookies. It’s reminiscent of a Victorian Christmas. So beautiful, so addicting. Once these cranberries dry, when you pop them in your mouth, the sugar shell crunches, then  [ Read More ]

Confused as to what the heck Superfine Sugar is, and why it’s necessary at all? Well, superfine sugar is known to be used when making candies, canning, brining and other specialty applications. Basically, it’s just a finer grain of sugar than the caster sugar, and this is due to further processing, which you can accomplish in your very own kitchen. This way, you’ll always have superfine sugar when you need  [ Read More ]

When I created this recipe, I just had to have something different with my pork chops…Anything different! Pork chops have been relatively inexpensive to purchase at the grocery store, so I know, if I’m buying them, you are too. You can get super tired of the same, old pork chops. Can’t you? I have been compiling a great collection of recipes for you all to try out with these handy,  [ Read More ]

Today, I’m making a soon-to-be favourite in our household… Sweet Jalapeno Mozzarella Cornbread Muffins from scratch, and they are going to a fellow gymnastics coach of mine, Sarah Morin at Gymnastics Energy, for doing me a great favour. Thanks, Sarah! When I make cornbread, I like it sweet, so today, I’m using the basic recipe for my Kickin’ Sweet Southern Cornbread and kicking that up with some “jalapeno popper” flavor.  [ Read More ]

Green beans are a staple side dish, in my humble opinion. They are super easy to prepare and cook, are tasty, healthy, and readily available most of the year in grocery stores. Green beans are also a great vegetable to grow in your home garden, cutting down on grocery costs, as they are pretty easy to grow. Enjoy these green beans alongside beef, chicken, pork and fish dishes alike, and  [ Read More ]