Wednesday, November 10, 2010

I Suck


So...lesson of the day: Baking Soda is NOT the same thing as Baking Powder.

Over the weekend we went to the market and picked up a chicken which I figured I'd roast sometime during the week. But I always forget that it's hard to roast a chicken mid-week after work since more recipes take about two hours to cook. So I decided to go with the Zuni-chicken since this recipe consists of cooking a chicken at a high heat for about an hour. You do need to salt the chicken in advance (the recipe calls for 2-3 days) but that's easy as long as you plan ahead.

ANYWAY. I wanted to try out some tips that I'd seen on a recent episode of America's Test Kitchen that were supposed to help achieve a crispy skin. It involved separating most of the skin from the chicken before hand (this is kind of gross. At one point pretty much my entire hand was in the chicken-skin) and also incorporating baking powder into the dry rub....ugh. Now I'm an experienced enough baker that I know the difference between baking powder and baking soda. I didn't just run out of baking powder and assume that they could be substituted for one another. Somehow I just got it into my head that I was supposed to use soda and led to completely disastrous results.

Luckily the actual chicken was relatively unmarred and tasted fine (deliciously flavourful and juicy, even). But my favourite part, the skin? Completely inedible. I actually spit the first piece out it was so bad. It also ruined the drippings which is a crucial ingredient to the Zuni bread salad. So sad :(

Anyway, the funny part is that I spent the majority of the evening convinced that the baking soda was a bad idea and that maybe we just used too much. I don't really take cooking failures well so was kind of depressed about it when I realized that I was actually supposed to use baking POWDER! Idiot!!

So anyway, Zuni chicken is delicious but don't use baking soda in your rub. Actually maybe skip the baking whatever altogether as it's not even an ingredient. But please....don't repeat my mistake. It was gross.

bleed


hye. my name is aqilah.
111110 - my nose bleed. for the 1st time.


Giveaway Winner

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You are the winner of my Creative Memories Paper kit giveaway! I will also be sending you an e-mail. Please contact me in the next 48 hours with your address so I can send you your paper kit! 

Thanks to everyone for entering! Stay tuned for another giveaway, coming in just a couple of weeks!!

 

Great Christmas Gift Ideas for Cooks 2010: Wine Racks - and a Little Bit More...

It is very often the case that those who love to cook also like to enjoy a glass or two of fine wine with their meal. Although most serious wine connoisseurs are well aware that finer wines require to be stored in the correct fashion in the longer term, not all of them will have a purpose built wine rack. These racks come in all different shapes, sizes and price ranges and could therefore very possibly represent an excellent choice of Christmas gift for your family cook. Below are but a sample of the wine racks currently available at excellent prices on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.



Bonus Gift Idea Today!

Does your wine-loving culinary friend or family member perhaps enjoy a bit more than the occasional glass of vino? Do they tend to put more sherry in their mouth than in the trifle? More brandy down their throat than in the Christmas Pudding? If so, you may want to inject a little bit of humour in to your Christmas gift in 2010.

The T-shirt pictured below is just one of the dozens of items of merchandise available from, "The Exorcist Store." Clothing, mugs, kitchen calendars and lots more could bring a smile to your gift recipient on Christmas morning.

Click here to visit, "The Exorcist Store," today - and note that you can even select the currency in which you wish to pay from the menu at the top of the page!

See you at Murcia!


I'm travelling today to Murcia, and I'll be there until Monday... see you there!!