Fall Cooking Activity

 Its soon to be fall and  that means cooler weather and the drive tod o thin

gs. Some are goi g ro plunge into apple picking. Some baking warm yeasty breads.Some home chefs are going to dive into preserving.Theres probably a few who will dive into creating big tailgate platters

What will you be doing.Let us know

What's Your Range

 The stove is the most integral part of the home kitchen. We use it for baking roasting, pan frying and sauteing. Picking the right one and the best one all depends on how much you use it. There are so many different ones out there. which one is the best.

Ovens have been around since the 1400's. Most wealthy families had their own , mostly to bake bread. Poorer ones had to share in a communal oven. These were mostly brick and mud and were surprisingly good in keeping in the heat. They could reach temperatures up to four hundred degrees Farenheit. The only problem was regulating the temperature. There was no Celsius or Farenheit back then. Home chefs just tossed some flour into the oven and if it browned at the correct speed then it was ready. By the end of the 1700's ovens became more compact. They used wood or coal and then around 1820 gas was introduced as one of the fuels to heat them. Great Britain was the first country to have used gas stoves throughout the country. It was only until the end of the 1800's that temperature settings were introduced. It became easier to bake and roast with accuracy. Cakes and breads weren't burned and roasts were evenly cooked, eliminating undercooked or burned areas on chickens and briskets.

Now there are so many different kinds of stoves from the traditional gas to to electric. There are also single and double ones, Larger kitchens can definitely benefit form the double ones, These are roomier and perfect for big families.They're also perfect for roasting such dishes as London Broils and twenty pound turkeys. Single ovens are better for smaller families who aren't into making elaborate meals or throwing large gatherings. These are still good for big roasts (you will have to remove the shelving to accommodate hefty hams and poultry) along with baking of any kind. Many home chefs prefer convection ovens. These are built more or less the same as regular ovens except they have fans and an extra heating element found in the back. They cook twenty-five percent faster than regular ovens. This is great however you will have to constantly adjust cooking, roasting and baking times. You also have to think about the stove top. Do you want to stick with four burners or six? Six do come in handy for holiday cooking, when you have a lot of sides to heat. A four burner does the job just fine and it's less space to clean.

Ovens have been a part of home cooking since before the Renaissance. Now there are so many different kinds. Pick the ones that satisfy your baking and cooking needs.

Scavenger Hunting For Food

Does it feel like going to the grocery store these days like a never ending scavenger hunt. It's hard to maneuver through all the protocol only to find what you want gone. What's to do? Order on line or head to another store. Better yet  - make it yourself.

That's the dilemma shoppers the world over are facing right now. Home chefs around the globe are snapping up the basics at alarming rates. Our truckers and shelf stockers can't work fast enough here in the States. What should we do when something we need like milk or eggs are not there? Forget ordering from companies like Peapod. They're booked for the next month it seems. You could go through Amazon if you really need eggs for cooking. It may take a week or two. Another idea is spending one day visiting different stores in your area. One may have what the others don't have. Doing such would also mean stocking up on a variety of different foodstuffs and essentials that can last you weeks. The only problem is overexposure to three groceries full of people. There's also the problem of stores having limited access. A trip to three stores that would usually take two hours may last up to four or five. If you leave the house at seven AM you may be home by lunchtime, tired , hungry and on your last nerve.

Another idea , sadly, is hoarding. If you have a big fridge along with a freezer, you may have to double buy. It looks selfish. After all we glare at those toilet papers hoarders with utter contempt. Yet, we may have to do that with basics such as bread and meat, frozen veggies and beverages. What could lessen it is that two people from the same household go to two different stores and update each other about what the other store has and doesn't have. One, that means your grocery list can be fulfilled and two , you can stock up on the basics without looking too greedy. We could also follow our grandparents and great grandparents leads and make it ourselves. Breads can be made. Even if you're not much of a baker, there are plenty of yeast free recipes anyone can make. Make rolls too , which again are easy. One you've mastered dough you can make pizza and pot pies  as well. Apple sauce is easy to make , especially if you have a crockpot or Instapot.  Another idea is cooking fresh vegetables first with your favorite sauces and spices and then freezing them. This way you have your own frozen food - and ones you know your family will actually like.

Food shopping is a scavenger hunt these day. There are ways to lessen the headache of it, making the experience less unnerving. Do what you have to do, over stocking, shopping at different stores or just make the food yourself .