Fresh ears of corn provide a slightly sweet vegetable side dish for summer meals. Corn on the cob begins turning up in supermarkets in late spring, but the summer months are prime corn season. The later ears of corn are often more tender and sweet.
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Eggplant works in a variety of dishes, from grilled eggplant sandwiches to eggplant Parmesan. Cooking eggplant on the stove top in a skillet is a simple preparation method when you want to include the vegetable in stir-fry, on a pizza or in a pasta dish.
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A pork chop easily moves from moist and juicy to dry as leather if it is overcooked or grilled improperly. A raw center and crispy outside is also a possible problem when you are grilling pork chops.
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Salmon is a healthy alternative to the typical ground beef in your grilled burgers. The burger format also gives you a new way to prepare your salmon fillets. Unlike beef, salmon needs additional ingredients to help bind it together into burger form.
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The straight tube structure of ziti makes this pasta ideal for casseroles because it adds bulk and stands up well to the baking process. Using ground beef and ricotta cheese, along with spaghetti sauce, in this recipe creates a lasagna-like flavor. Adjust the seasoning and other ingredients as desired.
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Grilling is a common method for cooking bratwurst sausages, but the stove top is another option if you don't have access to a grill or time to let it heat. Searing the brats in a pan gives them a crispy, browned outside similar to grilling.
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Groats are the least-processed version of oats with only the husk removed. When cooked properly, the groats take on a nutty flavor with a chewy texture. Groats take longer to cook fully than rolled oats or other grains that are more processed.
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The shape of a wok pan allows the food to cook quickly over high heat without burning. Shrimp cooks in only a few minutes in a hot wok. The wok is most often used to make stir-fry dishes, but you also can cook shrimp by itself or lightly flavored with your favorite sauce.
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The sweet taste of bananas makes them a go-to choice of fruit. But instead of merely peeling and eating one raw, cook some up for a warm and caramelized treat. Start with a ripe yet firm banana to ensure that the fruit holds up to the heat of cooking.
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Whether you make fudge at home or buy it fresh from a candy store, the storage method affects the quality of the rich treat. Proper wrapping and storage containers slow the moisture loss to keep the fudge tasting fresh and prevent it from drying out. You can store the candy at room temperature for a week or more.
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Kabobs are typically grilled, but you can also cook skewered meats and vegetables under the broiler for a quick indoor meal. The broiler in your oven heats much faster than the grill, especially if you typically use a charcoal grill.
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Bell peppers provide a crunchy, nutritious snack full of vitamin C when served raw, but this vegetable also works well when when grilled, stir-fried, roasted or steamed. You can eat the cooked bell peppers plain, mix them with other ingredients, stuff them or add them to a salsa.
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Pan-frying is a traditional method of preparing fish fillets for a crispy finish. The breading or batter used to coat the fish affect the flavor and the crispiness of the cooked fish. When the breading hits the hot oil, it cooks quickly and seals it to the fish fillet.
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Your selected cooking method affects the taste and texture of food, whether you're working with meat, vegetables or another favorite food. Most foods work with any of the cooking methods, although certain foods are more compatible with one or two ways of cooking.
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If the bland flavor of plain rice turns you away from eating the grain, spice it up with simple additions to the basic recipe. You still get the nutrition from the rice with a more appealing flavor. The spiced-up rice works well as the base for a stir fry or other main dishes.
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Chicken pieces with the bone stay moister than boneless cuts during cooking. However, the bone adds thickness to the meat, so it requires more cooking time to reach the ideal 165-degree internal temperature.
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A cookie that spreads too much during baking comes out too thin, and may turn tough or overly crispy instead of soft. While some types of cookies are meant to come out thin, others work better as thick cookies with minimal spreading.
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Baking a cake requires a delicate balance of ingredients and baking conditions to result in a moist, delicious finished product. Variations in the way you measure or mix your ingredients often leads to problems, such as unwanted crumbling. A crumbly cake is difficult to ice and may fall apart completely.
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A plate of pasta topped with creamy Alfredo sauce and chicken is a hearty meal option. To speed up dinner, instead of making your own sauce, use a jar of prepared Alfredo sauce to simplify the dish. As Alfredo sauce is typically high in fat and calories, compare nutrition labels to find the healthiest option.
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Cooking ground beef in a skillet on the stove top works well. This method is relatively quick and allows you to control how browned you want the meat. The ground beef is done when all the pieces are browned, but you can continue browning the meat to get a crispy outside if desired.
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