I’d like to discuss some different cooking terminology and then maybe discuss a favorite recipe.
Now we like to play games together, so I thought that I would tell you 5 different sentences using cooking terminology, and you would tell me if I used them correctly or not. If I didn’t, can you please correct me?
Okay:
1. Is whisk - When you want to make scrambled eggs, you must whisk the eggs together in a bowl before putting in the frying pan. (C)
2. Is simmer - The soup was brought to a simmer and then left to boil vigorously. (I)
3. Is dice – Do you like onions on pizza? I like to dice onions, you know, cut the onion into slices for my pizza. (I)
4. Is drizzle - After baking the cake, she drizzled chocolate sauce over the top as a decoration. (C)
5. Is grate – She grated the carrots for the salad, creating fine, delicate shreds that added a burst of color and flavor to the dish.
Now, I’d like to tell you a recipe for one of my favorite dishes, and maybe you can explain some of the terminology in this recipe.
Vegetable Stir-Fry
Ingredients:
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 1 zucchini, diced
• 1 carrot, grated
• 1 cup broccoli florets
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Cooked rice or noodles, for serving
Now – what exactly is the difference between a tablespoon and a teaspoon?
And what is the difference between diced and minced?
Instructions:
1. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
2. Add the minced garlic and diced onion to the skillet and sauté until the onion is translucent, about 2-3 minutes.
3. Add the other vegetables and stir-fry for 5-6 minutes until the vegetables are tender yet still crisp.
4. In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce with a tablespoon of water. Pour the sauce over the vegetables in the skillet and simmer for an additional 2-3 minutes.
5. Season the stir-fry with salt and pepper to taste.
6. Serve the vegetable stir-fry hot over cooked rice or noodles, and drizzle with a little extra soy sauce if desired.
So, do you remember what was: whisked?
diced?
grated?
simmered?
drizzled?
Oh, and one more thing… Do you want to hear a joke?
I found stir-fry all over my bed this morning.
I must have been sleep **wok** king again. Get it?
You know – sleepwalking – walking in your sleep or **wokking*- a wok is used for stir-fry!