Posts Tagged ‘Pepper Mills’
Cheap, Easy Tips for a Classy Dinner Party
With the economy the way it is, few people have the disposable income necessary to go out to a fancy dinner with their friends or family. But just because you can’t go to an upscale restaurant doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a first-rate meal. Entertaining in your home is infinitely more affordable than going out, plus it gives you the opportunity to socialize at length and enjoy the comforts of your abode.
Making it a classy affair isn’t too difficult. A simple white tablecloth and some matching dinnerware is a good place to start. Also be sure that everything on the menu can easily be eaten with silverware, as finger-food as anything except hors d’oeuvres will have a distinct casual feel. Using a Cilio pepper mill, samovar or other traditional fine dining equipment is another great way to add a touch of class without breaking the bank.
Unlike baking, there aren’t any set and fast rules when it comes to basic cooking. If you observe an experienced chef, you’ll notice that they rarely, if ever, meter out the seasonings and spices they use in there cuisine. This is because the amount of seasoning you use when cooking doesn’t affect the consistency or cooking time like it does in baking. And since fresh ingredients like meat, fish, poultry and produce vary greatly in their flavor depending on the season and region they come from, the necessary seasonings will be different every time you step into the kitchen.
Many home cooks make the mistake of seasoning all of their food the same. Certain foods, such as most fish and crustaceans, have naturally high levels of sodium. So it probably isn’t necessary to whip out the salt mill. The best way to determine the proper blend of seasonings is through simple experimentation. Once you have a grasp of the flavor profile of various foods, you’ll naturally be able to discern which spices will meld best with the natural flavors.
Nobody—and I mean nobody—wants to be in the kitchen when the weather is scorching. When it’s already in the 80s in your kitchen, the last thing you want to do is turn on the over or spend an hour standing over the stove. This is why I always fire up the grill during the summertime.
You can cook virtually any protein, fruits or vegetables on the grill, plus you don’t have to suffuse your home with extra heat. Many people make the mistake of simply throwing their meat straight on the grill. While the open flame will lend your food more natural flavor, it’s still important to at least break out your Cilio pepper mill and salt mill and season both sides liberally.
When I was going up, I always loved ordering Caesar salad at restaurants. I certainly wasn’t a vegetarian or health nut—far from it. Sure, I liked the taste of the salad and everything, but what really attracted me to it was the fancy cheese and pepper. Now I know it’s just grated parmesan and cracked pepper, but at the time, it seemed like a special production.
I used to think that this whole dog and pony show was just to make the affair seem more upscale, but there’s actually a reason—and it’s not just to subject the wait staff to manual labor. Freshly grated parmesan is obviously superior to the cheap, pre-grated stuff, but freshly cracked pepper from a pepper mill has its benefit too. The flavor is more pronounced and the grains are larger, which is good for dishes with big flavor like Caesar salad.
Ever since my children were old enough to talk I’ve tried to instill in them the desire to maintain an active, healthy lifestyle. Many of their friends live on fast food and spend hours on end playing video games and watching TV, rarely venturing outside to see the light of day. I’ve learned that it’s crucial to encourage healthy habits without being overbearing; otherwise, you run the risk of promoting rebellion.
When my children were little, I encouraged them to assist me in the kitchen—whether they were helping me measure out ingredients for recipes or using the pepper mill to season a dish. I also made sure to make time for some hands-on activity during the day, no matter how busy our schedules were. Making a concerted effort to educate your children on a healthy lifestyle and incorporate the habits into their daily lives will pay huge dividends in the end. Now that my kids have reached adolescence, I’ve noticed that they live healthier than most of their friends—but I do see them splurging now and again, of course.
There are literally thousands of spices and flavor combinations that are used in cuisine today. From the zesty and spicy flavors from Central and South America to the rich and decadent recipes from Italy, our taste buds are constantly exposed to new and exotic foods. With all of the options now available, many people overlook to of the most basic spices: salt and pepper.
Regardless of the cuisine you are eating, salt and pepper mills are virtually always on the table. When experienced chefs refer to the seasoning of the food, they typically aren’t referring to spices like coriander, thyme or cayenne, but simply the amount of salt. So while it may be exciting to experiment with unusual spices, don’t neglect that time-tested staples, salt and pepper.