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Definition: Five-Spice Powder

YumSugar — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:00:55 -0700

A crucial component of Chinese cooking, five-spice powder (also known as Chinese five spice) is a mixture of ground spices that combine the five primary flavors of Chinese cuisine: sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and pungent.

The five spices - cinnamon, cloves, star anise, Szechuan peppercorns, and either fennel seed or ginger - are employed based on the Chinese philosophy of balancing the yin and yang in food. The powder is used to flavor dishes from Cantonese roasted duck to beef stew.

Definition: Fiddlehead Fern

partysugar — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 12:50:23 -0700

Fiddlehead Fern
Also known as the ostrich fern, this Spring vegetable, when coiled, resembles the head of a fiddle. It's dark green in color and about two inches wide in diameter. A good source of vitamins A and C, these ferns are best consumed cooked; in their raw state, they are too bitter. The flavor is somewhere between an artichoke, asparagus, and green bean.

Fiddlehead ferns are in season from April to July and should be kept wrapped in plastic in the fridge.

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Definition: Coulis

YumSugar — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 14:30:13 -0800

Coulis
French for "strained liquid," coulis is a thick, evenly textured sauce that can be either sweet or savory and is made from puréed, strained fruits or vegetables. The sauce, which may also be frozen for future use, is used in a wide range of dishes, from meat roasts to chocolate desserts. Raspberry and other variations of coulis, such as berry, mint, and tomato, were a critical part of the nouvelle cuisine that was popular in the 1980s.

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Definition: Roulade

YumSugar — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 15:00:14 -0800

Roulade
A European dish of meat rolled around a filling, such as cheese, vegetables, or other meats. The meat is often browned and simmered in liquid, then sliced into rounds and served. A roulade can also refer to any rolled dish, from a jelly roll cake to sushi.

You may recall this preparation from a recent episode of Hell's Kitchen.

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Definition: Plantain

partysugar — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 12:30:26 -0800

Plantain
A member of the banana family, this fruit is larger, less sweet, and more firm than the common banana. It's extremely popular in Latin American cuisine and has a mild, squashlike flavor with a starchy texture similar to a potato. Plantains are never consumed raw but are enjoyed fried, boiled, or mashed.

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Wait, Carne Asada or Carnitas, Which One's the Beef?

YumSugar — Mon, 05 May 2008 06:45:25 -0700

If you're not somewhat versed in the Spanish language, heading to your local taqueria can be quite daunting. Often times - at least in my neck of the woods - the meat selection is written in Spanish. There's Pollo, Carne Asada, Pescado and more. If you know what's what, it's easy, you go to the counter and you order your selection. However if you don't know what's what, how do you order?

To help you avoid this dilemma, I've got a quick primer on what meat is what. To discover the difference between camarón and pescado, just read more.

Meats:

Birria - goat or sheep meat, sometimes a combo of both
Borrego - lamb
Cabra - goat
Calamares - squid
Camarón - shrimp
Carne Asada - beef
Carnitas - braised or roasted pork
Jamón - ham
Mariscos - seafood
Pescado - fish
Pollo - chicken
Puerco - Pork

Some other helpful words:

Arroz - rice
Barbacoa - barbecue
Ensalada - salad
Huevos - eggs
Menudo - spicy soup made with tripe
Queso - cheese

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Definition: Locavore

YumSugar — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 15:31:33 -0800

Locavore
Someone whose diet consists of food grown or produced within an area most commonly bound by a 100-mile radius of their home. Locavores usually shun large supermarket chains, opting for farmer's markets and local gardens instead. It is also a current trend for many high-end restaurants as well.

Interesting tidbit - this word was just declared Oxford American Dictionary's 2007 Word of the Year. It was coined in 2005 by a group of four women from San Francisco.

It's also sometimes spelled localvores.

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Definition: Kimchi

YumSugar — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 06:18:11 -0700

Kimchi
A traditional Korean dish made of fermented, seasoned vegetables - such as cabbage and radishes - that are pickled and stored tightly in pots or jars. It is spicy-hot and is served as a condiment with almost every Korean meal.

Also written as kimchee.

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Definition: Mirin

YumSugar — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 08:01:33 -0700

Mirin
A low-alcohol sweet Japanese rice wine. It is essential in Japanese cooking and adds a sweet flavor to dishes, sauces, and glazes. It is also used to erase the smell of broiled fish. In dishes it is sometimes used instead of a sugar/soy sauce combo. It is often referred to as rice wine.

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Definition: Buddha's Hand

YumSugar — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 05:01:33 -0700

Buddha's Hand
A fragrant citrus fruit that is usually described as "lemon-like," even though there is no juicy pulp beneath the rind. It is bright yellow in color and has 5-20 long yellow "fingers." It's used primarily for its zest, as it does not have bitter white pith, but can also make a great marmalade. Buddha's hands are one of the oldest citrus fruits and gets their name from the resemblance closed fingered hands have to praying hands.

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