Charcoal is a preferable option over gas as an outdoor source of cooking fuel. People who love the smoky flavor of their food are also famous for using charcoal grills to prepare their foods in the backyards using charcoal grills. There are various charcoal grills in the market, and more creative types are emerging.
However, using charcoal grills demands effort. For the cooking process to be successful, you must master several tips on grill usage. The tips will enable you to control the heat, clean and maintain the grill. Continue reading to discover tips to help you make the best out of outside cooking.
1.Buy the right grill
A charcoal grill uses charcoal as a source of fuel. Besides fuel, consider the price, style, size, and additional features in a grill. Also, you should buy the correct tools or equipment to use in the grilling process.
Items like the chimney, gloves, and spatula should be appropriate to use under high temperatures to handle different foods. To get a premium grill to last you a lifetime, click https://www.blazegrills.com/.
2.Buy the right charcoal
Different types of charcoal are available in the market. However, not all will give you the desired smoky flavor and heat food simultaneously though they are all made from wood.
Lump charcoal is among the best choices for grilling and comes from natural hardwood. It can lit faster and burn longer to give high temperatures producing fewer ashes in the process. Most importantly, it produces more smoke to flavor foods cooking on the grill.
3.Prepare your grates
How well you maintain your grates will impact the result of the food. You have to Clean grates to remove all debris and avoid foods from sticking. High heat is recommendable when washing the grates; it allows excess foods on the grill to burn off.
If you do not have a grill brush to use when cleaning, an onion is an alternative to cleaning the grill. Carefully scratch the grates; if you over scratch them, your grill might get rusty. Oiling the grates will prevent foods from sticking. Use tongs and a pair of paper towels to avoid burning your hands on the heat.
4.Create fires for your cooking
It is highly advisable to use a charcoal chimney in building a fire for your grilling. Lighter fluid can give your food odd flavors that can be disgusting in the mouth. Use a chimney and light from the bottom. They are available in a variety in many shops.
Foods need time to cook, some more and others less time. For foods that will cook over a long time, you place them on low heat to cook properly without burning. Therefore, you need to create more than one heat zone on your grill for different foods.
5.Handle the foods properly
Don’t move or poke foods on the grate too often. If you do, it will not cook properly nor get the desired grill marks. Only sauce the foods at the end of the cooking to avoid burning the food. It is also advisable to buy a thermometer to read food temperature to determine well-cooked food.
6.Use vents to control heat
Too much heat will burn your food, and lack of heat will not cook your food. Adjust the vents to allow airflow that will stimulate sufficient heat for cooking. Learn to take it easy and slow on your grill for the best outcome.
7.Distinguish the fire and clean after cooking
Safety is vital in every situation in life. Do not eat food directly out of a grill without letting it rest first. Distinguish the fire after using the grill and throw away the ashes using a metallic spade. Clean the grill the second time to avoid pests from invading your grill.
Besides the above tips, foods selected or handled is an added tip for grilling. For example, you should not place refrigerated foods directly on the grill.
Who doesn’t love the fact that spring’s getting closer and closer? Not that you don’t enjoy warm winter soups, homemade cookies, or hot coffees by the fireplace and snugging in your cozy blankets, but spring amazingly makes flowers and trees bloom, brings the nicest weather ever, and of course, some delicious traditional spring dishes that you can enjoy by yourself or with your loved ones.
Refreshing meals like salads, seafood, and vegetable dishes are always the most cherished plates during spring. You can’t even begin to imagine a picnic or barbecue session without the seasonal fruit desserts of spring.
To give exciting twists to the classic spring dishes, discover new flavors in your existing recipes with smoked spices, such as salt or oregano spices, and start off the season with a kick! Here’s a list of ideas to spice up your spring dishes:
Put Your Vegetables On The Grill
After the winter season, when all your desires revolve around being indoors and as near the heat as possible, the best way to welcome the spring is with an outdoor activity. Nothing says spring like a backyard barbecue with your family, friends, or that special someone. Instead of sticking to the typical meat meals like burgers, organize a unique evening with your loved ones and try grilling seasonal vegetables like asparagus, eggplant, or potatoes. But that’s not all—while grilling your veggies, add your favorite smoked spices to really bring out the flavor. You’ll be surprised how tasty it can be!
Taste Some Abroad Refreshing Drinks
Spring is a perfect reminder that life’s constantly renewing itself and that your imagination and curiosity are the perfect roots to grow your interests from. To truly celebrate the arrival of the blooming season, a lemonade can’t be missing from your spring list. Not just any lemonade though—prepare Sima! This Finnish spring mead is a lemonade with a twist; it’s lightly fermented. You can enjoy this beverage with floating raisins and some smoked rosemary to add a unique touch!
Nevertheless, be warned: the longer Sima ferments, the more it’s possible to go from slightly bubbly to a bit intoxicating. So, just be careful and you’re well on your way to celebrate the arrival of spring the Finnish way!
Couple playing a game on picnic at park. Woman covering her eyes with man holding a fruit in hand.
Spinach Will Be Your Best Friend
How many times have you ignored your mother’s wish to eat her broccoli or spinach meals? Quite a few times for sure. Prepare yourself as things are about to change!
For the ideal brunch or for an easy supper when you arrive late from work, delight yourself in spinach and ricotta pie with spring vegetables. It’s very easy to make! It’s also great for picnics because of its lightness, plus it’s easy to carry around. Blow your friend’s mind by adding smoked cumin to the preparation! It’ll mix perfectly with the spinach’s flavor.
The Perfect Spring Cookie Isn’t A Chocolate Cookie
Are you shocked? It’s not that they aren’t delicious (because they are) or out of fashion. But haven’t you been eating chocolate cookies since forever? This spring is the perfect time to explore new traditions and nourish your palate with delicious flavors that you never thought you’d fall in love with before.
Substitute the all-time loved chocolate cookies with lemon bars instead, and to make it extra flavorful, add smoked cinnamon on top. Now you’re ready to enjoy your new favorite afternoon tea snack! Moreover, it works as a beautiful gift for your loved ones; slice the bar into squares, rectangles, or triangles, choose a decorated box to pack them in, and surprise them with a thoughtfully wrapped, exquisite lemon bar!
Reinvent Your Spring Rolls
There’s never a more inspiring time than the spring season. This can apply to many aspects in life: starting a new business, changing your furniture completely from the ground up, and your soon-to-be favorite spring activity—creating new recipes and mixing flavors you know you love.
Here’s a suggestion: try making traditional, fresh spring rolls made with steamed buns. Simply combine your chosen ingredients from two traditional food items or recipes to create your own recipe. There are no rules, it’s all up to you! However, to really innovate this creation, we suggest adding smoked crushed red pepper to your list of ingredients to spice things up!
Conclusion
Now that the days are longer, the sky is brighter than ever, and the shining sun transforms the outside of your home into a gorgeous picnic spot, there’s no reason to lock yourself at home and limit your options to old recipes when you want to grab a bite. The lighter and easier it is to make your meal, the more you’d be enjoying the beginning of the spring. More importantly, modifying traditional dishes with your favorite smoked spices will enhance their flavor, and perhaps even the way you live your life.
Grilling is a good way to give food great flavor, and there are many delicious foods to cook on the grill. If you want to learn how to grill different meats, then read the tips below. Learn what goes into a good steak and more, and you will be ready to get the grill out.
Turn The Heat High For Steaks
When you are cooking an expensive piece of meat, such as a steak, you want to make sure that you get it right. The first thing that you need to do is to make sure that your grill is getting nice and hot. The second thing to consider is what seasonings you want on it. Flavor it how you want, slap it on the hot grill, and watch it carefully for around ten minutes until it is done.
Give Chicken Flavor Before It Goes On The Grill
It is important to give chicken flavor before you stick it on the grill, no matter what kind of chicken you are using. If you are grilling it up for salads, then choose the flavoring and seasoning you like on them. Put the chicken in a bag with a marinade and let it sit for a few hours. Once you put it on the grill, you will immediately notice the scent of the spices, herbs, and flavorings you used. Take your time with the chicken when it is on the grill, cooking it without direct heat so that it won’t burn. Use a thermometer to make sure that it is cooked all the way through before you take it off.
Be Careful Not To Overwork The Ground Beef
You might think burgers are easy, but there are a few things to keep in mind when making them. When handling the meat and forming it into patties, you need to make sure not to overwork it. If you do too much with it, it can become tough. Get some spices and flavorings into the meat without overworking it. Form the patties gently and get them ready to go before you take them out to the grill. Once you are ready to put them on, place them directly over the heat and watch them carefully. If they are thin, then they will get done after just a few minutes per side.
Know When To Add The Sauce To Your Meat
If you enjoy a good, saucy piece of meat, then you need to learn how to use the sauce when grilling meat. You can bring out your favorite bottle of barbeque sauce or whatever you like to use but hold off on putting it on the chicken, pork, or any meat until it is nearly done. When it has a few minutes to go, you can put the sauce all over it. That way, you will keep it from burning but will still get the favors onto the meat.
Fish Can Be Done Well On The Grill
You might be nervous about cooking seafood on the grill, but you don’t have to be. Fish can be cooked over direct heat and get a nice smoky flavor. Wrap it in foil, and it will be easy to get it off the grill. Other seafood can also be cooked on the grill, such as shrimp and shellfish, and a great way to cook shrimp is in kabobs.
There is no better time to start grilling than now. Don’t be intimidated by your grill, but pick your favorite meat and start with it. Once you master grilling one meat, you will be excited to try making more.
As the warm weather is around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about outdoor dining — and let’s face it; barbecues are the only way to go when it’s time for dining al fresco. Before you start sending out invites, however, it’s important that you plan first. As much as you might think that throwing a barbecue is as easy as putting some chicken breasts on the grill and calling it a day, it’s not the case.
In order to make sure that it’s a truly successful event (and a delicious one), it’s important that you know the right tips. Take a look and some of the best pointers for planning the perfect barbecue.
Get High-Quality Meat
You can forget about mediocre cuts on sale at the grocery store. Whether you hunt it yourself or know a great butcher, you should seek out fresh, high-quality meat. Quality meat makes a world of difference in the flavor that you get out of your meal. If you’re on a budget, then consider cutting your costs on your sides and beverages, but definitely not on your meat.
Plan The Right Amount of Food
One of the biggest mistakes that people make when planning a barbecue is miscalculating how much food they need. Having too much or too little food can be equally disastrous. It’s in your best interest to make sure that you calculate the amount of food you need per person before you start throwing meat on the grill. Making a precise list of exactly what you need can help avoid waste.
Don’t Forget Cold Drinks
Nobody has time for a warm beer on a hot day in a backyard! It’s critical that you have cold drinks ready to go. Although it’s not necessary, it’s certainly more convenient to have your cold drinks outside—where they’re easily accessible. Whether you have an outdoor mini-fridge or an ice cooler filled to the brim with beverages, the idea is to have cold ones on deck at all times.
Music is a Must
What kind of a barbecue would it be without music? It’s essential that you set up a bluetooth speaker so that you can play tunes outside for everyone to listen to while they mingle. If you’re really on the cutting edge of technology, you’ll have an Alexa or something of the sort so people can contribute to the DJ list. Please don’t be that guy— the host that won’t let anyone touch the music.
Plan For Trash
Since there’s going to be multiple people eating at your event, there’s inevitably going to be waste. Make sure that you have a place to put it all by setting up several trash bags spread throughout the yard. In addition to trash bags, you should also assign a place for recycling. This is the best way to ensure that you have the least amount of cleaning to do when it’s time to send everyone home.
Cooking with alcohol may seem like such a pro move, that many folks easily get intimidated at the prospect of using this ingredient. While it certainly is a showcase of skills upgrade, however, it doesn’t have to be so overwhelming as to have to avoid it at all cost.
Using alcohol in cooking offers a variety of benefits. Used in a marinade, for example, the alcohol helps in seasoning the meat, as well as carries more flavor to make the meat more tasty. It also makes for a very good addition to sauces, elevating the flavor profile of the dish.
You can even use it in desserts. Want a little buzz in your sweets? Pop open that liquor bar and pour a shot or two to add a bit more excitement to it.
Do take note, though, that using alcohol in your recipes is not necessarily about getting the party started. There are, in fact, health benefits to adding them in. So go ahead, use your liquor collection to elevate your dining experience. And check out these tips below to make sure you’re doing it right.
Pick the Right Bottle
The simplest tip you can get to using alcohol in cooking is to use one that you will actually drink. If you like its flavor enough on its own, then all the better for you. Don’t be too quick to grab from the top shelf, though. That’s probably better off being served to drink at the table.
Let it Marinate
Don’t rush the process. Meat or fruit will need a while to soak in the flavors of the wine. When it finally does, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find that it’s added an extra layer of complexity in flavor to the dish.
Another good tip you could use is to soak up overripe fruit in wine; this diffuses the sugariness of the fruit, making it usable as an ingredient once more.
Cook, Don’t Burn
It’s the universal rule in cooking, yes. But more specifically, in the context of cooking with alcohol, realize that the longer you cook, the more alcohol content is actually cooked off. Take note that it’s not a simple matter of pouring it in the pan and then leaving it to evaporate on its own.
Cooking for 30 minutes evaporates alcohol by as much as 10%. What you want to achieve when cooking with it, however, is to incorporate the flavor of the alcohol, not remove it completely. So keep a close eye on it while cooking, which you should as with any other dish you’re making.
Bowl with delicious caramel popcorn on grey table, closeup
Popcorn is prepared by heating corn kernels in the stove or microwave. When heated, it pops and becomes light and fluffy. Many people, both adults and children, love this snack because of its taste and convenience. You can just prepare it in a few minutes and mix it with other flavors like caramel, and you’re ready for a snack session. Contrary to what many people think, popcorn is more than just a staple snack for moviegoers.
There are many events and occasions that are suitable for serving freshly popped popcorn from your stove pan. With a little creativity, you can turn these staple and basic nibbles into a party snack.
Here are some occasions that are perfect for sharing homemade caramel popcorn with your loved ones:
Baby Showers
Having finger foods during a baby shower is be a brilliant idea since the occasion is light, and your attendees are close relatives and friends. Everyone can share a great conversation while munching on sweet, crunchy goodies. Kids will also have fun sharing these snacks with their other friends.
One unique way to present your caramel popcorn during a baby shower event is to repack it in a tin-tie window bag and attach a personalized label that reads the name or gender reveal of your baby. It’s worthwhile to invest in great packaging options because, with food, presentation is key. These are giggle-worthy souvenir ideas that they can take home after the party.
Birthday Parties
What’s a birthday party without some sweet popping kernels? Whether you’re hosting an adult or a kid’s birthday party, it’s always fun to include some homemade caramel popcorn in the birthday food menu. Depending on the party’s theme, you can combine other flavors and ingredients to make your caramel popcorn stand out or match with the other foods served.
Special Milestone Events
If your loved one or friend is celebrating a special milestone in their lives and you’re asked to help prepare the party, you can incorporate caramel popcorn to give the party a hint of fun. Surprise your guests by serving popcorn as desserts or appetizers. You’ll be surprised to receive compliments from your friends, especially those who have a sweet tooth.
Picnics
There’s no denying that many families love going on picnics when the weather’s warmer. It’s said that holding picnics would help families form a closer bond, and kids can develop their physique as they play around and explore outdoors. What can make picnics even more fun is preparing some caramel popcorn for the family to enjoy munching on while listening to music or sharing conversations. Preparing your coolest picnic accessories and the best sumptuous snacks is enough for everyone to enjoy a time out in the park.
Your kids would need that hint of sugar rush since they need a lot of energy to go around and play with other kids in the park or beach.
Holiday Family Gatherings
When your family is all gathered together, one exciting activity that you can all share is watching a movie. Serving popcorn during a movie date is a must. The only difference between eating your popcorn in the movie theater versus eating them at home is that you can serve a massive bucket of caramel popcorn without having to pay a hefty price.
Let your family enjoy the simple pleasures in life through these holiday family reunions. Prepare a bowl of popcorn and choose the best movie for everyone’s evening gathering.
Conclusion
The next time you’re planning to organize a party or event with friends and family, why don’t you serve some caramel popcorn as a snack instead? It’s easy to make and is a staple favorite for many adults and children. Serve these munchies on special occasions like the ones mentioned above.
Cooking can be a hard and chaotic job, especially when you must do it several times a day. When this gets too hard, people often end up ordering food as the last option. Traditional cookware may make it harder than necessary because there are often incidents of burning, over boiling, and overcooking. Like how important it is to see the ingredients going in your dish, is extremely important to use the right cookware for your kitchen.
Extensive research in the area has shown the importance of using the right cookware for easy and healthy eating. Candidrd.com is a pan designed after much research in the area. After much research and testing, Chef avenue has launched a perfect omnipan for your kitchen that is a perfect solution to healthy eating, and easy cooking. It is a perfect 10 piece set with an ideal modular design perfect for a small kitchen. With flat transparent lids, you can easily store your meals in the fridge.
By its making, Omnipan is a non-stick pan. This means that the food does not burn or stick, and oil is not needed to stop sticking of food. Because no oil or very little is needed is helps you reduce oil in your diet, hence keeping you healthy.
2.No artificial coating
Omnipan does not have any artificial coating, hence there are no harmful chemicals that may enter the food. This keeps your food safe, and you, healthy.
3.Steam vent lid
The steam vent lid allows you to easily steam the food in a microwave or an oven. In this case, the food is streamed in its juices, which ensures that the nutrients do not get lost.
Importance of using the right cookware for your kitchen
We all know that the right cookware for kitchens is very important, but why so?
1.Saves times
With the right cooking utensils at hand, you can save yourself a lot of time. You can get done with your work faster, which is very important if you have a busy schedule.
2. Better taste
The right utensils can be useful for correctly measuring the ingredients that you need. This means that your recipe will be perfected, and hence will taste better.
3. Easy cooking
Cooking gets easier when you have the right utensils at hand. When you are working with specific instructions it gets harder to work with utensils when they aren’t like the ones being used in the recipe. With the right utensils, your cooking gets easier as you can easily follow the recommended preparation time.
Presentation is important in most aspects of life. If you are preparing for an important job interview, your appearance and clothing should be a large part of your preparation. The same goes if you are getting ready for a date. If you are wrapping a gift, you will always take some time to make sure the paper you use is appropriate, fun, and neat in order to give the right impression. For food, presentation is just as important.
If you are considering opening your own food business, whether a simple food cart or truck, a new restaurant or cafe, or you are planning on selling packaged food in a grocery store, then the presentation of your product will be a key factor in your success or failure. For generations, chefs and food lovers have often said that the first taste is with the eye, and how your food is presented on a plate or in a package will have a huge influence on how your customers feel and appreciate your product.
Here we are going to look at a few of the rules on food presentation, whether in a package or on a plate, to help your food business succeed. Let’s make sure the first taste of your food is as good as the last!
Planning Your Plate
Whether you are cooking cordon-bleu cuisine in a fine dining restaurant, plating up big breakfasts in a side street cafe, or dishing up slices of pizza in a fast-food joint, how you present your product is incredibly important.
In a seated restaurant or cafe setting, you should plan your plates and know how your food will be presented when it arrives at a diner’s table. You can use some paper and a pen to draw your display, or take photographs of your dishes for chefs to work from in the kitchen. This helps to ensure that your product is always looking its best and you have presentation standards set for your business and for your employees.
Expand Design Ideas to Your Setting
Not only is the presentation of your product important, but so is the presentation of your premises and your employees. If you are operating a food truck, for instance, then make sure your vehicle is in tip-top condition and that it is clean and welcoming. If you are running a restaurant or cafe, then your property’s decor is incredibly important, as is the presentation of your staff. Give your premises and uniforms a theme to make things easier.
Designing the Perfect Package
If your food business idea relies on product packaging, then you are going to have to take some time to design and plan the perfect packaging for your product.
Take a look around a grocery store and you will quickly see how important packaging is to products, especially food products. Your packaging is an opportunity to not only sell your product, but to also tell your company’s story to consumers. Look at this article to see how important making an impact with your product packaging can be.
No matter what kind of food business you have planned, the presentation is of paramount importance. Excellent products and services have failed because of poor presentation and packaging. Make sure you take the time to plan and design your product presentation to increase the chances of your business’s success.
If you want to give your catering business the edge it needs to compete with other providers in your area, you should provide perks that other catering companies don’t. Whether it’s an upgrade on service or a completely novel freebie that no one else is giving out, anything that makes your business unique will draw more clients in and give you a leg up over the competition.
Start with these 5 small tweaks that will give your catering business the advantage it needs to wow clients and draw more business your way.
Professional website
The first impression always matters, and in most cases, your website provides the first impression that future clients have of you. This is the reason why it is almost important to have a professional and sleek website that showcases everything that is good about your business. Use professional photos, real testimonials from past clients, and ensure that your website is easy to navigate. Make your website a good source for catering tips and advice too. Useful content will always be king, so don’t forget to update your site with practical tips for choosing the right menus, caterers, and even free recipes that potential clients will find useful. Finally, make sure that you are easy to reach from your website. A contact form and readily-visible contact information on your home page can make it easier for potential clients to book you. Even if site visitors don’t end up booking on their first visit, they’ll definitely be bookmarking your website for future use.
Professional uniforms
How you and your staff look on the day of the event speaks volumes about the kind of service and food you provide. Uniforms worn by well-trained staff give out the ultimate professional vibe and ensure that you are living up to the image that your client is paying for. Uniforms also make the catering team visually appealing to the eye and make members of your staff easy to identify. This allows your team to be readily recognisable and available to guests when they are needed.
Varied and Flexible menus
Catering services that offer menus tailored specifically to the desires of the client often come out on top. This is because flexibility and variety are important features, especially for clients who want their dishes to reflect their personal style, heritage, backgrounds, traditions, tastes and preferences. Listen to the customer and always make sure that you are covering all bases in terms of food preferences, dietary restrictions for the guests, presentation preferences, and other important details to make their experience just that much better. Flexibility can also go a long way towards expanding your customer base. For example, if you offer vegetarian, pescatarian, or kosher menus; this will put you on the map as the go-to provider for any client irrespective of their preferences or background. It ensures the client feels valued, respected and that you’re adaptable and willing to work to their vision.
Freebies
Historically, freebies have always been an effective solution in obtaining new business from clients. Whether this is extra plates, free take-home bags, anything free can be an attractive benefit that will have clients choosing your service over the competitor. Just make sure that you provide the same quality of service for your freebies as you would do for the rest of your service.
A departing gift
Thank you notes and gifts add a personal touch to any event and help cement your relationship with clients. Building relationships is crucial for creating your list of return clients. The simple note thanking your client for choosing your service can help you build that loyal base. If your clients know that they have a personal connection with you, they are likely to follow through with their booking and keep your business card for any future work. For example, thank you notes or baskets could come with a packet of sweets or a personalised bottle of wine to the client’s taste. Whatever you choose to bless the client with, the gesture itself will always help you stand out from the competition and make the client feel truly valued.
These are just 5 small tweaks that you can do with your catering function to make it more professional and memorable. Aside from offering quality and mouth-watering food, the details in presentation matter most, and in some cases, they can mean the difference between a one-time client and a client who will return time and time again, and perhaps share the word about your business for years to come. In a sea of catering providers in Brisbane, being professional while putting a strong emphasis on personalisation can go a long way towards creating a service that your clients will appreciate.
As the fall foliage begins to change colors, the crisp mornings lead to cooler days. Coffee shops emit the everlasting aroma of pumpkin spice, while bakeries whip up cobblers and pies. Through these sensory clues, we can admit that fall is upon us. This means that Thanksgiving is just around the proverbial corner. While this year’s celebrations may be different, the spirit of Thanksgiving remains the same. From recreating old family recipes, to maintaining social distancing while delivering meals to others, Thanksgiving remains centered around family, friends, and food. This year, why not incorporate healthy olive oil into traditional Thanksgiving favorites? The experts at Texas Hill Country Olive Co., a leading Texas olive oil company, share their tips for elevating the ole’ turkey.
Elevated Turkey, Courtesy Of Texas Olive Oil
The cornerstone of every traditional Thanksgiving feast, the roasted turkey can be prepared in a myriad of ways. Swapping heart healthy olive oil in favor of higher fat dressings, marinades, and flavor injectors makes the bird a little more healthier, flavorful, and elevated. The experts at Texas Hill Country Olive Co. suggest rubbing the turkey with Texas olive oil to give skin a crunchy finish. For a classic taste, olive oil can be mixed with simple herbs and spices. To kick things up a notch, aspiring home chefs can incorporate non-traditional herbs into olive oil, like cardamom, cumin, and even curry powder. To take the guesswork out of creating a delicious turkey rub, Texas Hill Country Olive Co. offers infused Texas olive oils. These expertly crafted blends will lend heat via jalapeno peppers, or a sweet finish with blood orange infused oil.
In addition to treating the skin prior to baking, Texas olive oil can be used as a flavor injector for thighs and breasts. Making these pieces extra juicy and tender, flavor injectors are often utilized immediately prior to roasting. Instead of utilizing unhealthy injection counterparts, like butter, olive oil can accomplish the same results with a healthier content. Similar to basting rubs, flavor injections can be flavored to preference. The experts at Texas Hill Country Olive Co. boast the versatility of flavor injectors. From cajun inspired to traditional southern BBQ, there are vast flavor profiles to explore, all complimented by the profile of olive oil.
Veggies Steal The Show
It’s no secret that vegetables are considered “sides”, and are often overlooked in the breadth of the entire meal. To make veggies shine, and earn a well-deserved moment in the spotlight, consider drizzling them with olive oil immediately before serving. Boiled and steamed veggies will gain a heightened buttery finish, while roasted and sauteed veggies will benefit from a little crisp flavor infusion. To maximize flavor and texture, the experts at Texas Hill Country Olive Co. recommend drizzling immediately prior to serving brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, cauliflower, and other dinner staples.
Mashed potatoes can also be made lighter and more flavorful with Texas olive oil. For an elevated take on the dinner classic, swap butter for olive oil when mashing. Finish mashed potatoes with a little bit of garlic, or chives, or any preferred garnish. Traditional baked potatoes get a crispy skin if they’re brushed with a little bit of olive oil prior to baking. According to culinary experts at Texas Hill Country Olive Co., the smooth texture and rich mouthfeel of olive oil renders it the perfect additive to potatoes.
Baking Up Winning Recipes With Texas Olive Oil
While cornbread is a popular addition to meals throughout the year, cornbread can be fancied up with the addition of olive oil, and a few finishing touches. For a spicy southwestern take on classic cornbread, Texas Hill Country Olive Co.’s bakers recommend swapping butter for jalapeno infused olive oil, and adding sliced jalapenos into the batter after mixing. For a Mediterranean feel, incorporate olive oil with fresh olives and capers.
Texas olive oil doesn’t have to be reserved only for savory baking recipes. Chocolate olive oil cake combines the rich and decadent texture of chocolate with the smooth mouthfeel of olive oil. This creates a perfectly balanced, yet interesting, cake recipe. Lemon also compliments olive oil beautifully, so feel free to substitute butter for olive oil in any zesty lemon recipe for a bold new take on dessert. For adventurous bakers, consider a base vanilla olive oil cake, and go wild with additions. From nuts to dried fruits, the possibilities are deliciously endless.
Final Thoughts
Olive oil is an incredibly versatile ingredient and lends flavor, aroma, and richness to any finished product. Most Thanksgiving recipes rely on such schematics, making the meal a rich, filling, and classic culinary experience. Many traditional Thanksgiving recipes call for the use of butter, shortening, or other relatively high-fat ingredients. To make the holiday healthier, and incorporate new tastes, consider switching to Texas olive oil. For the professionals at Texas Hill Country Olive Co., olive oil is the secret weapon to a successful Thanksgiving feast.
