COOKING TIP: SAUCES AND SOUP 

PAN SAUCES: The base of a pan sauce is the “FOND”, the flavorful brown bits clinging to the bottom of a skillet after sautéing or searing meat. After discarding excess fat and removing the meat from the skillet, aromatics, such as minced shallot, onion, garlic, etc. can be sautéed. Then, in a process called DEGLAZING, liquid - homemade stock, canned broth, wine, water etc. - is added and the FOND is scraped up. The liquid is simmered to reduce the volume by 1/2 - 2/3, to concentrate the flavors. Any juices released from the meat that was cooked in the skillet are added back to the sauce. If desired, the reduction may be thickened further by whatever means you choose. Add herbs and/or spices and whisk in cold butter, small amounts at a time, while swirling the skillet until it is melted and incorporated into the sauce. The butter adds richness and body to the sauce.

To SEPARATE FAT from soup and other cooking liquids, remove chunky items. Place the slightly cooled remaining liquid in a sealable plastic bag and allow the fat to rise to the top of the liquid. Snip a small hole in the bottom  corner of the bag and drain the liquid into another container, pinching the bag closed before the fat flows out.  

CORNSTARCH can be used to thicken soups and sauces by dissolving them in a small amount of cold liquid, to prevent lumps, before being added. This is called a” slurry”. This method of thickening can be used substituting all-purpose flour, arrowroot, or potato starch, as well.

VEGETABLE or BEAN SOUPS can be thickened by pureeing some of the soup. and adding it back to the rest of the soup. Bread can be used to thicken watery soup, also. Soak several pieces of crusty bread in some of the broth, puree it in a food processor and add back to soup. The soup will thicken after itis brought to a boil.

PARMESAN CHEESE RINDS should be kept and frozen to be added to soups, stews, or chili to enhance flavor.

Keep GRAVY WARM by putting it into an insulated coffee carafe until needed.

FOOD HISTORY:  JUNETEENTH, "RED DRANK" AND AFRICAN/AMERICAN CULTURE  

Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan,1 1863, ordering all slaves to be  freed.but it wasn't until Dec.1865 that the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery in the whole United    States. Because the Union army of 1863 didn't have enough men to ensure that all slaves were free in all the southern states, many African Americans remained enslaved. It wasn't until two years later, in 1 865, that they army had strength enough to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation in all the Confederate states, including Texas, the most distant Confederate state,  This occurred, finally, for  the last of two hundred thousand enslaved persons still in Texas, when General Grainger arrived in  Galveston, on June 19th (JUNETEENTH)) and read "General Order #13", informing them of their freedom. Because Texas had been one of the last states to participate in the slave trade, many Africans who came through Galveston were from both Africa and via the Caribbean, which in the later years, were mainly the Yoruba peoples from Nigeria, Benin, and Togo and the Konga peoples from Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo and Gabon. When they came, they brought with them and maintained many of their traditional African heritage. They celebrated their freedom by buying land across Texas, established Emancipation parks in Houston and Austin and the Booker T. Washington park in Meria, TX. They celebrated further, by embracing the colors of Africa - black, green and red - the colors of the Pan -African flag. Further, they celebrated by drinking, Red Drank" a red colored drink, long enjoyed in social gatherings in many regions of West Africa and by peoples of African descent in America. The type of "Red Drank” varied, whether a red "tea" flavored with Hibiscus flowers or Kola nut, both indigenous to West Africa, a fruity red soda, made using watermelon or strawberries or, even later, red Kool-Aid. . The only constant for the drink was its red color - symbolizing the blood shed by their formerly enslaved ancestors. Because of this, any kind off "Red Drank" is associated with and drank, at Juneteenth festivities. Other red colored foods were added to the tradition later; Red Velvet cake  and red rice and, even later, red Kool-Aid..

 

Recipe for Watermelon "Red Drank"

6 C watermelon pieces

3/4 C granulated sugar

1/4 C water

3 C sparkling water, plain or lemon-flavored soda

Blend all ingredients, except sparkling water o lemon flavored soda and pour through a fine sieve to remove any seed particles.

Combine watermelon mixture with sparkling water or soda. 

Serve with ice. 

FOOD TRIVIA: Cake, Crackers, Biscuit and Cookies

The expressions, "Cake Walk", "A piece of cake" and "Takes the cake" probably derive from the 19th century African - American competitions where couples who strutted most gracefully and stylishly were awarded a cake as a prize.

Many cakes and sweet treats that are popular and frequently served are round or ball like, symbolizing the circle of life. Italians eat honey coated, powdered sugar sprinkled balls of pasta dough called chiacchiere, while doughnuts are eaten in Poland, Hungary, and The Netherlands. The Dutch eat doughnut type pastries filled with apples, currents and raisins, as well. Other cultures put a trinket or coin in their cake and the one who gets the trinket containing slice, has a year’s good luck. Mexico and Greece are examples of this tradition but in Sweden and Norway the trinket/ coin is replaced by an almond and the cake by rice pudding. 

In 1998, The Sacher Hotel in Vienna baked a version of their world-famous cake, The Sacher Torte, which measured  2.5 meters (8m feet, 2.4 inches); a Guinness world record.

 The tiered wedding cake was inspired by St. Bride's Church, in London, England, because of its tiered spire

Most crackers are full of holes, not for appearance but to release steam in the wet dough, which would create bubbles to break them, while they bake. The holes keep them flat, dry and crunchy.

In Australia, the Anzac Biscuit, an army biscuit, is sold each year when the country celebrates Anzac (Australia/New Zealand)  Day. During WW I, the recipe was used to make biscuits for the  Anzac  soldiers serving in Europe. It took two months for them to get there by sea. They arrived in Gallipoli on April 25, 1915.

Fortune cookies offered by most Chinese restaurants in America, are not found in China. They were invented in 1916 by George Jung, a noodle maker in Los Angeles.

Italian cookies are usually dry and not very sweet because they are meant to be dipped into coffee or wine to enhance the enjoyment of each drink. Also, their dry consistency prolonged their shelf life before refrigeration became available. 

In 1918, several baking companies formed the National Biscuit Company (NABISCO) on 15 - 16 St along 9th Ave, in NYC. The Oreo cookie was born there. Now, 15 -16 St along 9th Ave is officially known as  “Oreo Way”.                         

Many centuries ago, bakers in Scotland classified shortbread as bread to avoid the tax that was placed on biscuits (cookies), at that time.

 COOKING TIP: Debunking Food Myths

POTATO added to a TOO SALTY SOUP or STEW will NOT make the soup or stew less salty. This is a popular, but incorrect, piece of kitchen lore.

SEARING MEAT, despite popular thought, DOES NOT seal in thejuices. It does, however, caramelize juices on the outside of the meat, which makes it taste better and gives a delicious crust. If searing sealed the surface of the meat, the inside juices would reach the boiling point, boil and would “burst” through the sealed crust. This does not happen because the surface of meat is porous, allowing moisture to escape, whether the meat surface is seared or not.

WASHING MUSHROOMS: Contrary to popular belief, mushrooms CAN be washed to remove sand and dirt before they are used. A quick wash just before use will provide clean mushrooms for your recipe. 

NEVER PUT BANANAS IN THE REFRIGERATOR? NOT TRUE! If you have extra bananas that you are afraid that you can’t use before they get all brown and overripe, wrap each one tightly, in plastic wrap and refrigerate. While the skin may get some brown spotting, the flesh will darken a little but the flesh will, essentially, remain in the state it was when the fruit was put into the refrigerator for, at least, eight days (I have done this) and, perhaps, even two weeks.

ADDING BUTTER TO OIL improves flavor but it DOES NOT, as is commonly believed, increase the smoking point of the butter.

Contrary to what is claimed by many food writers, BAMBOO SKEWERS soaked in water before use burn just as quickly as those used dry.

DON'T SALT BEANS BEFORE COOKING. WRONG! Beans soaked in room temperature, salted water (3 Tbsp salt/ 4 quarts water) for 8-24 hours, when drained, rinsed and cooked by slow simmering will be creamy and have tender skins.

STRONG, SHARP FLAVORED LEAFY GREENS - collard, mustard, turnip and dandelion - should only be boiled quickly in NON - SALTED water since steaming or cooking with salt will increase the bitter flavor of these greens. Salt, to taste, after cooking.

 FOOD TRIVIA: How Food Expressions became Part of out Language

Roman soldiers were paid, in part, by being given SALT, which in those days was a highly prized commodity used for trading. Thus, a soldier who was, "NOT WORTH HIS SALT     " was a worthless warrior.

PEACH  MELBA a dessert combining poached peaches in a raspberry sauce was invented by Chef Auguste Escoffier in 1892 at the Savoy Hotel, London  for Nellie Melba, the famous Australian  opera singer performing at the Covent Gardens Opera House. He also prepared MELBA TOAST, a thinly sliced, toasted piece of bread, for her to eat as a light meal, when she became ill at the hotel.

POUND CAKE. originally when it was baked, weighed four pounds. However, its individual ingredients were measured in pounds, as well; one pound each, flour, butter, sugar and eggs.  Using the traditional four pound ingredient  measurements, it  made a cake possible to serve many persons, hence the name, POUND CAKE.

GERMAN CHOCLATE CAKE is a layered chocolate cake, filled with and topped by a coconut-pecan frosting, that has nothing to do with the country of Germany. It was made in the United States and was named after the English-American chocolate maker, Samuel German,, working for The Baker Chocolate Company, who developed a formulation for a dark (not sweet) baking chocolate that became used in the recipe.

HOTDISH, a term originating in the Midwest United States, refers to a hot, comforting dish often served at social gatherings or community events. It differs from the French word CASSEROLE which  refers to a dish with layers, cooked in a large, deep pan and which has been a staple in French cuisine for centuries. HOTDISH has a significant Scandinavian influence, being brought to the United States by Swedish, Norwegian and Danish immigrant's and is similar to dishes from these countries called, "varmett" or "varmatt",dishes, which translates to "hot" or "warm" dishes.. They differ from French casseroles which involve multiple cooking methods, e.g.., browning meat and/or cooking vegetable, separately, before combining in the cooking vessel; whereas HOTDISH involves cooking ALL ingredients in a vessel at the same time, often with minimal preparation and served from the same cooking dish. YOU BETCHA!

FRENCH FRIES origin are disputed between France and Belgium but the evidence favors Belgium, where, in 1680. at  Namur, a town 39 miles from Brussels, the inhabitants used to fry river fish from the banks of the Meuse river. However, one winter froze the river making fish unavailable. Therefore, they cut potatoes, in wedges, and fried them in fat as a substitute for their fried fish. This tradition remained and when American soldiers, in World War II passed through Belgium, they got to know them.  Because the soldiers got to eat them in the French speaking part of Belgium, they assumes that they were of French origin. When the soldiers returned home, they still called deep fried potato wedges  or strips French Fries and in the United States, they are still referred to as French Fries.

"GONE TO POT" an expression meaning of no use as a thing or a person, comes from the 15th century, before refrigeration was available, to cuts of fresh meat that were nearing the end of being edible. They  would be cut into small  pieces and put into a stew pot. In those days, a stew pot was always kept    bubbling, by being  hung near the fireplace in which food was cooked. Things such as old cuts of meat, vegetables drying out, game birds or rabbits which were in danger of spoiling, were "GONE TO POT".to be cooked. If you were invited to dinner, you took " POT LUCK" and  hoped that you would be eating new food items that had" GONE TO POT", recently, rather than  having only food that had been in the pot cooking  for some time. Remember the old nursery rhyme,, "Pease Porridge hot, Pease Porridge cold, Pease Porridge in the pot nine days old". A reference to the above!

THE FOODIES' COMPANION:  BOOK REVIEW OF MY BOOKS I AND II

Since my fourth book, The Foodies' Companion Food Histories, was just published, I thought my readers might like to read a review of my first two books.

                                                         BOOK REVIEW

THE FOODIES COMPANION I and II By Ian Alan Holder

Review by The Cast Iron Pan Store

 I worked with Dr. Holder for several years when he was the Director of Microbiology at Shriners Hospitals here in Cincinnati. Working in IT at the time, my association with him was usually just to  get his computer to start up after he’d installed something. But it gave me a chance to talk with him and discover common ground. Namely the undying love for food and an appreciation of not only ingredients but the love that’s in its’ preparation. Dr. Holder at that time had enrolled in one of Cincinnati’s culinary programs and had encouraged me to do the same, but circumstances dictated otherwise. After he retired in 2002, I lost touch until he resurfaced on Facebook with his first book “The Foodies Companion”. I didn’t pay much attention until his second book “The Foodies Companion II showed up. I got both and set down to have a look as I know Dr. Holder loved to share his culinary work with the Hospital staff.

At first glance, they are not cookbooks in the traditional style. I like to refer to them as cooking books more in line with Frank Tolbert's “A Bowl of Red” as they tend to tell stories about food in addition to offering tips on ingredients and preparation before they hit the pot, along with some history to go with it.

Some books on cooking are just that. These books are unique in as much as they constitute a read more than just a reference. There’s no table of contents or index so you might want to have some post-it notes  handy for bookmarks. In addition to being extremely easy to read, once you start, they’re almost impossible to put down (as my spouse found out). Even if you have a pot boiling over on the stove. There’s a lot to be garnered by reading the books that all true foodies will appreciate both knowingly and appreciatively.  Both volumes are broken into sections regarding tips, trivia, and history of food with such tips as using 80 proof vodka to reduce Gluten. Preparation and seasoning ideas abound as well as substitutions, weights and measurements, and general handling. Smaller recipes are lightly drizzled among the content for such things as Tandoori Marinade and Chinese 5 powder spice. Volume II caps off the series with some of the authors’ favorite recipes.

There are also excellent sections on meat preparation and baking that you’ll want to ingest as well. All in all, there’s not much about cooking left out and if you’re just starting to learn, these two volumes are must haves. Even experienced cooks will enjoy the material presented both knowingly and with a smile. For myself, I’m off to make Peameal Bacon on page 104 of Volume II. I know you’ll enjoy reading it as much as I did.

If you only get 1 of the books, you’ll want this.one. It is filled with great information on all aspects of culinary advice. 

Available from Amazon.

THE FOODIES' COMPANION; New Book 

My latest book, "The Foodies' Companion Food Histories; 120 Histories of Food, Drink and Other Items of Culinary Interest"  is now available on Amazon.

Book Description

How did Fish and Chips become one of England's favorite dishes? Why was there a cord attached to each side of the original Animal Cracker boxes? Why is corn called corn in the United States, rather than maize used in the rest of the world? Why is Turkey called Turkey? How did the world get Spam, the edible kind, not the email kind? The answers to these questions are contained in this book, The book presents the histories of 120 varieties of different foods, drinks and other items of culinary interest, from Animal Crackers to Zabaglione, all presented in the author's own unique fashion. A book for both foodies and history lovers.

If any of my Blog friends purchase a book and like it, I would be most grateful if you wrote a review of it  for  Amazon. 

Thank you.