This week I wanted to share a few things I’ve been cooking with and a few unfamiliar ways I am using these products. The design of this newsletter is to help home consumers and professionals feel more comfortable working with a variety of products, and out of the box ideas to get you thinking. Supermarkets have hundreds of products that can be overwhelming, but all of these products are a great way for you to explore your own cooking and provide an introspective look at your creative process!
- If you like capers you will love caperberries
- Caperberries are what develops after capers bloom on the plant
- These are much larger than capers and have a more firm texture?
- Can be used in the same way you would use olives!
- Salty and briney flavor profiles. I like to slice them thin and use them in pasta as a garnish. Also great on pizza!
Infused Oils and Infused Vinegars
- Can be store bought and is a great way to use leftover ingredients.
- Whole foods and other smaller/boutique food stores carry tons of different oils.?
- There are some that I only recommend getting store bought; Recently i’ve been using a Meyer lemon infused olive oil. You can make this from scratch, but the technology in pressing that mass manufacturers use is often times way beyond what you can achieve at home
- Leftover herbs make for great infused vinegars. I tend to always keep tarragon vinegar on hand for salad dressing. Use whatever herbs you want!
- I follow the same procedure for infusing most olive oils and vinegars. I bring the oil to 200 degrees Fahrenheit, and vinegar usually to 150 degrees Fahrenheit.
- I then add in my flavorings to the heated oil/vinegar. If the oil is too hot you will actually fry your herbs (which works for some applications, but not during the infusions I am discussing above.?
- For vinegars I want it just hot enough to help break the cells in the flavoring agent, and having it slowly release over time!
- Incredibly easy to way to elevate your home cooking!
- This steak is also known as a “Denver” cut steak, Zabuton is the Japanese name given to the product
- Zabuton translates to “Little Pillow”?
- Zabuton steaks have wonderful marbling and I see it right between Wagyu and normal retail steaks. Think higher end, but cheaper than wagyu
- There is another variety that is similar, “American Akaushi”, which is a less marbled, domestically produced beef, but is still a wonderful product. (Less marbled than wagyu, more marbled than Zabuton)
- Fun Fact: Akaushi cattle in Texas are guarded by armed Texas Rangers! That is how valuable these cuts of beef are
Rendering and saving fats
- Great way to use all of the animal! Lately I have been buying more whole muscle animals. Whole poultry, chickens, racks of pork/lamb etc
- I trim off the unwanted fat and place it in a small heavy bottomed saucepan with a few tablespoons of water (depending on how much fat I put in, mostly you want; a quarter of an inch of water at the bottom of your pot to start)
- Cook on low heat (if you have an electric cooktop use settings 1 or 2, the lowest your dial will go)
- Strain out any solids and save your fat. It will last indefinitely in the freezer or can be stored under refrigeration for a few weeks
- Black garlic is produced under extremely low temperatures typically in an oven or dehydrator. The brownish/blackish hue that it takes on comes from maillard reactions which depends the flavor of the garlic,
- Has flavor notes of licorice, caramel and tamarind
- Trader Joes sells an easy to apply version as well. It is sold in a shaker and you can easily add black garlic quickly to home meals!
- Oysters come in many sizes and varieties and can be sweet, briney etc.?
- I like to use home fermented hot sauces to change the flavor.
- Lately I have also been trying different versions of mignonettes with various ingredients. The small brunoise of vegetable goes down very easy with the delicate oyster
- If you’re looking to get into oysters, but don't want to break the bank trying all types of varieties, Whole Foods throughout the United States have a deal every Friday. 12 oysters for $12!
- Oysters are a great way to consume other items hanging around your house. Leftover bread can easily be toasted, and a raw oyster placed directly on top is delicious!
There are so many uses for ingredients that are around your house, you just have to be willing to get a little creative. Hopefully you found a few of these tips useful.
Website: chefstephenhanyzewski.com
Instagram: @chefstephenhanyzewski
