Cooking Basics: How To Make Mashed Potatoes

What kind of foods do you enjoy? Are you always hungry for sweets? Do you enjoy interesting and unusual ethnic dishes? Perhaps you have been wondering if you can cook exotic foods yourself. Time to wonder no more, it's cooking time! Use the tips in this article to find out how to cook up some delicious meals.

Always store your spices in a cool and dark place. The flavor of the spices and herbs will decrease if they are kept in areas with light, humidity, and heat. Another little known fact is that ground spices tend to lose their flavor quicker than whole spices. You may retain your spice's flavor for about 5 years. Keep spices fresh for the longest time possible by storing them correctly.

For a delicious take on pie crusts, bake them for longer than the recipe calls for. Judge their color, not the time in the oven to determine if they are done. They will be golden brown when cooked. The golden color indicates that the sugar in the pie crust has caramelized and this will give a sweet and crisp flavor.

Slowly stir corn starch into simmering sauce to thicken. In a separate bowl, blend 1 Tbs of corn starch with 2 Tbs of water. Slowly stir the mixture into the sauce to thicken it. Add the mixture slowly and keep stirring to make sure it does not thicken too much.

If you're making a recipe with seasoned meat, sample a small piece of the meat before cooking the rest of it. Many foods such as hamburgers, meatloaf and meatballs need careful and specific seasoning. You do not want to try cooking the whole thing right from the get go. Section off a small bit and cook it. If the flavor of the sample is to your liking, you can procede with seasoning and cooking the entire quantity of meat.

Apples turn ripe in the early fall; therefore, they should be stored in a cool, dry place. Air that is warm or dry will cause apples to spoil, so it is important to place them in a plastic bag, knotted loosely and keep them in a cool place. Make sure to check on them regularly, as one rotten apple means the rest are soon to follow.

Apply the tips from this article and put together great meals. Take some risks and use some new sauces and spices. Maybe in the cooking process you discover a new food that becomes your favorite! Find the chef that is hiding within you by following these tips as well as your taste buds.