Rice Advice

Posted on August 5, 2021August 5, 2021 by Chef David

Rice Advice

Rice is the most consumed food on earth. Billions of people survive largely on rice diets. There are many kinds of rice including:

Arborio Rice – used for Risotto in Italian cuisine
Black Rice – high in anti-oxidants
Converted Rice – parboiled rice used for quick cooking applications
Basmati Rice – used extensively in Indian cuisine
Brown Rice – favored by health food aficionados
Jasmine Rice – a delicate long grained rice used in Asian cuisine
Long Grain Rice – a more delicate less starchy rice
Red Rice – a fairly glutinous rice with a nutty flavor
Short Grained Rice – a good all-purpose cost effective rice
Sticky Rice – very short grained used extensively in desserts
Sushi Rice – used for making the vinegary rice known as Sushi
Wild Rice – technically not rice but from wetland grass often used as a rice blend ingredient

Problem

Cooking Rice easily and efficiently to the perfect doneness.

Solution

Rice Cookers. Authentic Sushi rice is very finnicky and I won’t go into that here but for non-purists the rice cookers I’ll showcase here will work for almost any rice except for things like Paella and Jambalaya where cooking the ingredients in the rice in a specific way are what make the dishes unique.

Implementation

Buy a rice cooker and some rice and follow the suggested cooking instructions that come with the cookers.

If you have questions please reply to this post below and Chef David will reply so others can learn too. Or, contact Chef David.

Gadgets

Here are some rice cookers that might work well for you. I’m not a purist and somewhat lazy so I use a microwave rice cooker (the one shown) and am perfectly happy with the results. I’ve also included some great rice options to get you started right away!

– Bon Appetit from Chef David !

Select your new rice cooker below to get started now!

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Cold Brewed Coffee

Posted on July 19, 2021 by Chef David

Cold Brewed Coffee

I have come to drink cold brewed coffee almost exclusively – even in the winter. It is so mellow and refreshing that I simply find it difficult to drink it any other way. But now that it is summertime it is even more satisfying than ever.

Problems

Don’t want hot coffee when it is hot outside and in a hurry in the morning. Premade and Barista made cold coffee drinks are expensive.

Solution

Homemade Cold Brewed Coffee

Implementation

Homemade cold brewed coffee is easy to make and can be turned into a variety of drinks:

Whether you grind your own or use pre-ground coffee beans cold brewed coffee is easy to make. Simply add your ground beans to the cold brewing system of your choice, add filtered water, and wait 1 to 3 days for a rich, hearty, and mellow brew (except for the “instant” cold brew machine shown below).
I keep a couple of plastic beverage containers of cold brewed coffee in my fridge while the new batch is steeping in the fridge so I won’t run out while waiting.
I filter my own water using the Brita pitcher and filtration system – which works great even on my hard well water to make a pristine tasty water.
The finished coffee is mellow enough to drink black or to mix over ice with milk, soy milk, almond milk, etc. and/or flavored syrups like the Torani French Vanilla Syrup I crave.
NOTE: If you purchase a syrup without a pump do yourself a favor and order a pump to go with it as it is much easier to measure and dispense. It is worth the extra expense.

If you have questions please reply to this post below and Chef David will reply so others can learn too. Or, contact Chef David.

Gadgets & Stuff

Here are some of the essentials to becoming your own home barista and saving money in the process.

– Bon Appetit from Chef David !

Try Some of the Products Below to Get Started

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Echo in the Kitchen

Posted on July 11, 2021 by Chef David

Echo in the Kitchen

When I started my current job as Food Service Director the first piece of new equipment I brought in was Amazon’s Echo Dot. What? Not a new knife, or food processor, or stock pot you say? Let me explain.

Problems

Cooking Times. Ordering. Measurement Conversions. Accurate Inventory. Task Management. And More…

Solution

An Amazon Echo Device

Implementation

Installing an Echo Device in a professional or home kitchen has many hands-free benefits including:

Setting one or more timers on cooking products. “Alexa set a cookie timer for 12 minutes. Alexa set a pot roast timer for 60 minutes. Alexa add 15 minutes to pot roast timer. Alexa cancel timer.”
Adding items to a shopping list as the need is perceived – even with dirty hands! “Alexa add eggs. Alexa add ground beef. Alexa add juice boxes.” And then pulling up the shopping list on your phone in the store. A list that is also automatically populated at the end with many common household items to serve as reminders in the store rather than getting home and thinking “I forgot the bread!”
Measurement conversions. “Alexa how many tablespoons in a quarter cup?”
I use it for accurate inventory percentages. Q: “Alexa what is 122 (bags of potato chips) divided by 200 (case amount)?” A: “122 divided by 200 is 0.61 (% of a case)”
Alexa has a default “To-Do” list that you can add tasks to as you think of them without having to write them down. And you can create as many custom lists as you’d like such as “Birthday Party” or “Sack Lunches” or “Cleaning” that you can then pull up in the Alexa app when and where you need them either visually or audibly!
With an Echo Show device you can follow visual recipe videos or blogs, or vlogs as you prepare new dishes.
And, you can have the device play music or announce that dinner is ready across all your other household echo devices.

If you have questions please reply to this post below and Chef David will reply so others can learn too. Or, contact Chef David.

Gadgets

Here are three types of Echo devices you can get on Amazon if you’re ready to “Alexify” your kitchen.

– Bon Appetit from Chef David !

Select your new Amazon Echo Device below to get started now!

(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases)

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Whipped Cream Dreams

Posted on July 4, 2021July 5, 2021 by Chef David

Whipped Cream Dreams

Traditionally, people buy canned whipped cream (or, heaven forbid, non-dairy whipped topping) rather than whipping their own. But knowledgeable cooks know that there is no substitute for freshly whipped cream.

Problem

Whipping Fresh Cream is a Pain.

Solution

The Whipped Cream Dispenser.

Implementation

Create your own custom flavors with ease! Mix any strained liquid with heavy cream, place in dispenser with CO2 charging canister and dispense. You can make sweet OR savory whipped creams such as:

Maple or Hazelnut Liqueur or Strawberry Whipped Cream for Pancakes or Waffles
Crème de Menthe Whipped Cream for Hot Cocoa
Raspberry Whipped Cream for Cheesecake
Mushroom Whipped Cream for Beef Tenderloin Croustades
Lemon Whipped Cream for Blackened Salmon Salad
And so Much More…

If you have questions please reply to this post below and Chef David will reply so others can learn too. Or, contact Chef David.

Gadgets

Here are some options for whipped cream dispensers. Generally you pay more for more durability in construction and materials. The more you plan on using your nifty new gadget the more the most durable model is desired. Things like stainless steel parts versus plastic will determine the lifespan of the dispenser. You can spend more or less than the models I’ve curated below that are priced between $25.00 and $65.00. Bear in mind that all whip cream dispensers require CO2 Chargers that provide the gas for whipping the cream. Some models come with chargers and some don’t so be sure you order some if the model you select doesn’t provide it or you’ll have to wait to use your new toy.

– Bon Appetit from Chef David !

Select your new whipped cream dispenser below to get started now!

(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases)

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