Fun Food Questions and Answers      

Is it OK to substitute dried herbs for fresh?

Sure.  But, remember,dried herbs lack the moisture of fresh herbs, so their flavor is much more intense.  A good rule of thumb is to use 1/3 as much dried herbs as you would use of the fresh.  So, a tablespoon of fresh thyme would roughly equal 1 teaspoon of dried thyme.  Also, add fresh herbs at the end of the cooking process and add dried herbs at the beginning. 

Is it possible to use the stems of fresh herbs? 

Maybe.  If the stem is soft like parsley or cilantro, sure.  Chop them up and throw them in.  But, woody stems, like thyme and rosemary are too tough.  Use the woody stems, certainly but remove them from the dish before serving.  (use a long woody rosemary stem for a skewer for grilling!)

What are anchovies? 

Herring!  Well, members of that family, at least.  Native to the Mediterranean and southern European coasts.  They are sold whole or salt packed or more commonly in the USA, filleted and packed in oil.  In Portugese and Spanish cooking, larger sizes up to 8” are deep fried or backed. 

 How is cornmeal different from polenta? 

Polenta is medium or coarse ground corn meal that’s cooked porridge style.  Butter, cheese and/or various herbs may be added.  Usually served Italian style, soft.  But, polenta can also be chilled till firm, then cut and grilled, baked or fried.  In the American South, polenta is called mush and is served with butter and maple syrup for breakfast.  The leftover portion is chilled, sliced and fried in bacon grease for lunch or supper and seasoned with salt and  black pepper.

 What is chicken fricassee?

 It’s a French term referring to a light colored, thick, chunky stew with lots of vegetables.  One would cook pieces of meat, in  this case, chicken, in butter but not let the meat brown.  Stock is added, a roux, vegetables, egg yolk and cream finish the dish.

What is the difference in bottled waters?

 Not much.  And, can you really believe the label?   Artesian water is supposed to come from a contained, underground water source.  Spring water should be from an underground water source which flows naturally to the surface.  Distilled water has been evaporated and allowed to condense, removing all minerals and contaminants.  Natural mineral water contains only the minerals present in the water as it flows from the ground.  Water not labeled ‘natural’ may have had minerals added or removed.  Drinking water is tap water that has been filtered and disinfected by water treatment plants, government-operated, private or both.  Bottled water can be high in sodium and low in fluoride.

What are panko bread crumbs?

 Nothing more than the Japanese version of bread crumbs.  It’s roughly shaped so that the crumbs lie unevenly on top of one another.  This creates light, extra crispy coatings on fried foods.  There are two kinds of panko:  white, made from bread without crusts and tan or golden:  made from bread including bits of the crust.

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