10 Pro Tips to Make Your Best Meals Better
10 Pro Tips to Make Your Best Meals Better
When it comes to coaxing the best flavor out of food, the pros have a few tricks up their (chef's jacket) sleeves. And while you may not be able to replicate all of their best dishes at home, there are a few tips that home cooks can easily employ that make a world of difference when it comes to making ...
When it comes to coaxing the best flavor out of food, the pros have a few tricks up their (chef's jacket) sleeves. And while you may not be able to replicate all of their best dishes at home, there are a few tips that home cooks can easily employ that make a world of difference when it comes to making Mexican faves, pancakes, salads, pasta, pizza and even popcorn taste as good as those you enjoy when you go out. Some of the best ideas for making some of Kowalski's most popular products even better appear below:
1. Kowalski's Signature Flour Tortillas
Warm tortilla shells make burritos and tacos infinitely better. Heat soft tortillas in a dry, medium-hot skillet or on a griddle a few at a time, turning once, until hot and just starting to puff.
2. Kowalski's Signature Bulk Cheese
Pre-shredded cheese naturally loses moisture through evaporation, no matter how freshly shredded or how it's packaged. For recipes where a creamy or melty texture is desirable, shred bulk blocks of cheese on a box grater or with a food processor as you need it.
3. Kowalski's Signature Pancake Mix
The reason the last few homemade pancakes are always fluffier is time. Don't rush the batter from the mixing bowl to griddle. Once mixed, let it stand and allow it to become bubbly before cooking.
4. Kowalski's Signature 100% Pure Maple Syrup
Once opened, this is best kept in the fridge (a high-moisture content and lack of preservatives makes real maple syrup an ideal environment for yeast, mold and bacteria growth), but it's best served warm. For a real treat, add 2 tbsp. of Kowalski's Unsalted Butter to every 1 ½ cups of syrup before heating.
5. Kowalski's Signature Organic Unpopped Popcorn
Movie theater popcorn, freshly popped and sprinkled with finely milled salt, is irresistible. The oil it's cooked and tossed in? Not so much. Make a better snack at home when you microwave ¼ cup popcorn in a paper lunch sack. Close the bag and fold down 2 times to seal. Microwave until popping stops for 2 sec. (about 2 ½ min.). Instead of chemicals and oils, flavor it with melted butter, Kowalski's Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Kowalski's Popcorn Salt, which is specially made to be perfect for popcorn.
6. Kowalski's Signature Corn Tortilla Chips
The reason these are even more impossible to resist at your favorite Mexican restaurant? They're served warm. Pop chips on a baking sheet and toss into a preheated 325° oven for 3-5 min. to bring them to life. (The same trick works for hard taco shells, too.)
7. Kowalski's Signature Smoked Bacon
Roasting your bacon in a hot oven (400°) is a sure way to get flatter, crispier strips perfect for burgers and other sandwiches. This method also has the added advantage of being faster and much more hands-off than cooking on the stovetop, where bacon cooks mostly from the bottom and must be turned frequently. In the oven the bacon cooks on all sides at once. 15 minutes should do the trick (thick-cut bacon may take longer).
8. Kowalski's Signature Italian Parmesan Croutons
Why have a crouton only every 7-10 bites of salad? Put these Bakery Department croutons in a zip-top plastic bag and use a heavy metal tool to crush croutons. Sprinkle evenly over the top of your salad just before serving.
9. Kowalski's Signature Pastas and Pasta Sauces
Scoop out and reserve a cup of starchy cooking water from the pot just before you remove al dente pasta from the salted, boiling water. Add drained pasta to hot pasta sauce, then use the warm pasta water to enrich and thicken the sauce while helping it cling to the noodles as they finish cooking. Serve with freshly grated Kowalski's Signature Parmesan Cheese.
10. Kowalski's Signature Fresh Deli Pizzas or Bakery Pizza Dough
Replicate the results of your favorite pizza joint when you cook your pizza on a baking stone for just 7-10 min. in a scorching hot oven preheated to 550°. Serve sprinkled with Kowalski's Pizza Seasoning
BONUS TIP: Warm It Up! Many tomato products (including ketchup, salsa and actual fresh tomatoes), refrigerated peanut butter, butter and cheese almost always taste better at room temperature, when the flavor compounds are more readily perceived by your taste buds. That’s also why cakes and cupcakes frosted with Kowalski’s Signature Real Buttercream taste better at room temperature – the frosting is made with 100% butter (no shortening or oils)!
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