A team of culinary enthusiasts (ok, fine, we just like to eat) from MSL and Emeril’s have been hosting monthly cook-off competitions — the theme of the first was chili, and for the second, everyone was asked to bring their signature dish. The competition has been heating up at these events, so when a Taco Cook-Off was announced, I knew I had to pull out all the stops. I began researching taco recipes (more on that later) but I knew that whatever I made HAD to be served in a homemade tortilla. I might have been intimidated by the thought of making my own tortillas, but I was emboldened by a recent tortilla-making how-to that Marc Matsumoto posted on twitter, and of course, motivated by the thought of taking the taco crown.

TJ Pitre, my friend, colleague, and cook-off cohort happened to have a near-full bag of masa harina, which is pretty much the only ingredient in tortillas, and I happen to have a brand-new tortilla press, so we teamed up to make a large batch. 7 large batches, in fact. The results were incredible in every way. I couldn’t believe how easy the tortillas were to make; we were adventurous enough to tackle both hard and soft shells. The hard shells were a little trickier, but after our 30th or so, we had all of the bugs worked out. They were so delicious and fresh, that I may not ever purchase packaged tortillas again.

 

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Picture 11 from 11: Dozens of hard taco shells. The fried shells can be made a day ahead and heated in the oven for a few minutes so they crisp back up.

Get the recipe after the break:

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Emeril describes an easy sauce to accompany grilled fish, vegetables and more during a live on-air cooking demonstration in the SIRIUS XM Studios.

If you are ever in a pinch and don’t have a rolling pin, try using an empty wine bottle instead!  It works perfectly!   I picked this tip up from Emeril at a demo a couple of years ago.  One of his assistant’s forgot to pack a rolling pin along.  While we all scrambled around to find a rolling pin, he suggested using a wine bottle and saved the day (and his pastry)!

To easily give your home-cooked meals a new twist, try making your own citrus-flavored sea salt!

Simply mix about a dozen or so pieces of citrus peel (pith removed and cut into 1/4” squares) along with about two tablespoons of course sea salt into a salt mill (my favorite being made by Peugeot) and use in place of plain salt. The freshly ground zest and will add a nice kick to broiled or grilled fish, steamed veggies and even make a great garnish to a bowl of chocolate pudding!

You can use a single variety of citrus—like orange or meyer lemon, or you can mix your favorite citruses together.  And if you really want to get creative, you could even add some black peppercorns, whole coriander or other dried spices and come up with your own spice blend!

The best way for a chef to know if what he or she is cooking is seasoned well enough is to taste it.  With many things cooked, taste is the key to a perfect dish.  And when it comes to a simple technique like boiling pasta or blanching vegetables, taste and seasoning is just as important as it would be if you were making a highly seasoned curry.

Here’s a tip that will help you to determine whether your water is appropriately seasoned, in this case with salt, when you are boiling vegetables or pasta.  If the water tastes like salt water from the ocean, then it has just the right amount.  And don’t be shy, it may seem like you are adding a lot of salt to your pot (which you probably are), but the pasta or vegetables won’t absorb all of it and interfere with a healthy dinner.  Instead they taste just right.

Finding a tray to organize my silverware drawer has become something that I find myself doing all too often. Perhaps this is not something that most people encounter. I, on the other hand, seem to find myself with this problem at least once a year, if not more. That is because I move way more than the average person. And although I always pack my current silverware tray, it never seems to fit in the drawer of my next apartment!

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Are you visiting this blog because it’s Thanksgiving day and you are in the midst of a cooking disaster?!  I hope not.  (Hopefully, you’re just winding down, belly full of turkey, tryptophan kicking in, and readying yourself for a nice long nap on the couch, football lulling you to sleep….)

But if so, check out this article from ChicagoTribune.com that list several toll-free hotlines and websites that can guide you through any cooking needs you might have during the holiday season.

Best of luck!

Crème fraiche is more or less the French version of American’s sour cream.  It is a fermented cream that has a similar flavor and texture to sour cream, but is a little less tangy and is usually a bit thicker in consistency.

You can find it at your local gourmet food store, and use it for a plethora of recipes.  I love using crème fraiche as a substitute for whipped cream on desserts, or for a tasty veggie dip base.  It’s also a nice way to fancy up a simple baked potato.  However, if you do purchase it in its pre-made state you’ll find yourself paying a upwards of $6 for an 8-ounce package.  So, instead, I suggest you make it yourself!  It is the easiest thing in the world to make; it’ll save you a buck or two; and how cool is it to tell your friends you made your own cheese?!

Here’s the how-to:

For every eight ounces of heavy cream, you’ll need one ounce of buttermilk.  Combine these two ingredients with a quick stir, then pour into a glass mason jar, closed with a screw-top lid.  Let the filled jar sit out at room temperature for 24 hours to thicken slightly and ferment.  Then refrigerate the cheese until cold, even more thickened, and ready to use.

Last week, when developing a dessert for a cooking demonstration at City Park, I decided to use this tried-and-true recipe of mine for buttermilk – lime sherbet. I love it this time of year because citrus fruits are at their very best. And even though it is freezing outside, no one I know can turn down a scoop of this stuff!

BUTTERMILK – LIME SHERBET

2 cups Buttermilk
1 cup Simple Syrup (which is just equal parts sugar and water brought to a boil for one minute)
1 oz. Fresh Lime Juice

Simply stir together all three ingredients and freeze according to your ice cream maker manufacturer’s directions.

I think it is obvious that I have a new obsession (considering the two previous Turbodog-related posts). I want to make the best beer-based cake EVER! And, quite honestly, I think I may have…

So, please ditch last week’s recipe I posted for
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