Three Cookbook Phrases that Burn My Arse!

[Inchworm]

1. "cook until done"

Ok, if I knew when the dang things were going to be done, why on earth would I be looking for instructions in your stupid book?!?

2. "cook until tender"

A ball park time maybe?!? How the hec am I supposed to know how long it takes shredded carrots to be "tender?" Am I screwing up by overchecking?

3. "use X ingredient or Y ingredient"

Use cloves or dried mustard?!? You tell me.. thats why I'm reading yer stoopid book!!


:rant:


I enjoy following recipes and experimenting in the kitchen, but gawd! :D

:hi:

[The Straight Story]

1. I just read the package instructions "Microwave on High for 4 minutes"

Simplifies things :)

[Inchworm]

3. HeHe - I've see it there too

Microwave on high 3-4 minutes.

Hello?! lolol

:hi:

[Critters2]

9. I hate that.

I always take the middle ground. 3-4 minutes? 3.5 it is!

[Left Is Write]

2. I'm guilty of often saying, "Cook until done."

Don't know how long it will take. Depends on how much you have, and how you like it done. I can just tell when it's done. :D

[Inchworm]

4. Well pork still scares me

I just cook 'til its like 190 degrees inside :dunce:

:hi:

[Left Is Write]

5. See? You cook 'til done.

:)

[Xipe Totec]

6. My mom drives my wife batty

Mom's recipes are by feel; the dough has to feel a certain way (flour tortillas), or the masa has to be just fluffy enough to float in water (tamales), or the egg whites have to be beaten to "punto de turron" (till they make peaks), and on and on. It's not the ingredients or the quantities that matter. Especially with flour tortillas.

[Inchworm]

7. I try to stay away from baking for that very reason

They need a glossary with pictures in every baking book lol. I try to get personal recipies off someone who has used it, then I can give them a ring and say..

What the hec is an egg peak?!?

:D

[davsand]

8. Whipped egg whites.

If you whip them a while they will stay in the waves and mounds you put them in--like whipped cream does. That is what they mean by egg whites "peaking." Chill the bowl first--it helps.

As for microwave cook time, I just assume that the lower time listed is probably gonna be enough time. If it isn't hot (or cooked) I just add another minute or two until it is.

I like recipes that show "assembly" or "prep" time. THAT way I know if I have to start cooking at dawn or if I can start cooking dinner at five PM.


Laura

[CraftyGal]

18. I love the Company's Coming cookbooks!

They have how long it takes, conversion tables, dry list and wet list. It the ingredients aren't exotic, they usually are things that you would have in your kitchen. My son, who is 14 has been using them since he was 8.

Crafty

[Manifestor_of_Light]

10. Get the "I Never Cooked Before Cookbook" in paperback.

By Jo Coudert. It's truly idiotproof.

Has steps: 1. Do this. 2. Do this. etc.

Explained about the girl who basted a turkey by stitching it together before she put it in the over, and taking it out and redoing it every hour because the instructions said "Baste turkey once an hour".

Basting is not only pouring liquids over cooking food, it is also very loosely (big long stitches) stitching pieces of cloth together as a preliminary step during assembly.

[wildhorses]

11. ~

:spray::rofl:

"Baste turkey once an hour" with a needle and thread :wow:


:rofl::rofl:

[Inchworm]

15. hey you!

:hi:

[Inchworm]

13. LoL

ok, see.. I'm not the only one :)

:hi:

[Oeditpus Rex]

12. There's only one cookbook phrase that burns my arse

"Place your arse on a cookie sheet in an oven preheated to 425° and bake until done."

[Inchworm]

14. How do you know when it's done?

:D

[Oeditpus Rex]

16. When it's burned, of course

[Inchworm]

19. LOL

:spray:

:rofl:

[Richard Steele]

17. The only time I ever did that, I was already baked. Strange world, innit? nm

[Left Is Write]

20. ...

:rofl: