Blog Posts - Page 23 of 75 - Carma's Cookery | Tips for Unleashing Your Kitchen Creativity

The Double-Yolk Egg

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date April 25, 2018

Lately, I’ve been getting a lot of double-yolked eggs. In fact, one dozen I purchased had more than half of them with double yolks! That lead me to do a little research about the kitchen phenomenon of the double-yolk egg.

Double-Yolk Egg Facts

Sometimes, a chicken can get eggs backed up in her oviduct system, which causes two yolks to be encased in one shell. This occurrence is apparently rare, happening in about one out of 1,000 eggs — so guess I’m just lucky of late.

In fact, in my research I read an article where a woman had a dozen with six double-yolk eggs. I guess I got her beat since my dozen had eight!

That said, given how we produce eggs in the Western world — collecting eggs from flocks of hens who are roughly the same age and selecting for the size of an egg — the odds of finding double-yolk eggs is more like one in 30 than one in 1,000.

More often than not, a double-yolk egg is produced by a young chicken, since her reproductive system has not fully matured. However, a double-yolk egg can also come from an older chicken nearing the end of her egg-producing period.

I used to think that a double-yolk egg was a “twin egg.” However, because the eggs you buy at the store are not fertilized, no twin chicks were possible. In addition, most double-yolk eggs come from young chickens before they are ready to produce viable offspring. Again, not likely to have twin chicks.

Rarer than the double-yolk egg is the egg with three yolks. The record so far is an egg with nine yolks!

Double-Yolk Egg Superstitions

When you find a double-yolk egg,

You or someone close to you is pregnant, probably with twins. (Nope, not me!)
You will be getting married soon. (I got married in October 2016, so I won’t be doing that again any time soon.)
You have lots of good fortune coming to you. (That would be nice.)(
A death will occur in the family soon afterward. (Yikes! Let’s hope not.)

So, have you found a double-yolk egg? Share your story in a comment below.

Tags eggs, ingredient spotlight

Creative Cookery Product Reviews Taste Tests

Dorot’s Fresh Frozen Herbs Are Easy to Use

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date April 23, 2018

Have you ever bought a ginger root or bunch of fresh herbs only to use a small portion and have the rest go bad? I know I have!

I’ve tried freezing ginger root — it makes it hard to cut into cubes later. I’ve tried refrigerating ginger root — it goes bad before I can use it all. I’ve even tried storing it in potting soil — it takes up up a lot of space, is messy, and if you don’t remember to water it, it goes bad. That’s why when I was given the opportunity to try out Dorot’s all-natural frozen seasoning products, in particular, its crushed ginger, I was intrigued.

I was sent samples of Crushed Ginger, Crushed Garlic, and Chopped Basil. Below are my thoughts and ideas about the product.

About Dorot’s Frozen Seasoning

Dorot Garlic & Herbs specializes in developing, producing and marketing frozen seasoning products throughout the world. The company was established in 1992 and is fully owned by Kibbutz Dorot in the southern part of Israel. The kibbutz has more than 3,500 acres of field crops, which are picked, and then immediately chopped, packaged and frozen in a unique fast freeze process, maintaining their taste, freshness and nutritive value.

Dorot’s frozen herb and seasoning products help cooks have on hand fresh, flavorful ingredients they can use in a pinch. It solves the problems of food waste while not sacrificing flavor. And it saves you time in the kitchen – no prep or clean up needed!

The herbs are packaged in miniature ice cubes and can last up to two years in your freezer. All Dorot products are natural, raw, and vegan. They are non-GMO, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, and soy-free, and contain no preservatives or artificial flavors. Dorot is kosher and halal.

You can find it in the frozen veggie aisle at most major grocery retailers including ShopRite, Stop & Shop, Kings, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Wegman’s, Ralph’s and Safeway, among others. They retail for about $2.99 per package.

What I liked about Dorot’s Fresh Frozen Seasoning

They are so easy to use and take up very little space in the freezer. The selection I received, as well as others that are available, are all flavors that I’ve personally struggled with issues of food waste or preparation. These are really handy to have around, and because they last up to two years, you will have a lot less food waste.

What I didn’t like about Dorot’s Fresh Frozen Seasoning

I really couldn’t come up with something I didn’t like about these seasoning cubes. They were quite handy and I noticed no reduction in flavor.

How I tested Dorot’s Fresh Frozen Seasoning

I used the basil and garlic in a couple of soups I made from scratch. I also added the ginger to smoothies. Each seasoning added flavor just as well as fresh or dried versions of the same herbs I’ve used before. An added benefit is that because the ginger was frozen, it helped chill my smoothie, so I used less ice!

Overall Comments on Dorot’s Fresh Frozen Seasoning

I really enjoy having these seasoning cubes around. Once you get in the habit of looking for your herbs and spices in your freezer, you’ll rarely go back to fresh!

Who Is Dorot’s Fresh Frozen Seasoning Suitable for?

Home cooks will love these, especially the garlic and ginger, which can be so problematic for many. Garlic can be hard to prep and often leaves your counter and hands smelling of garlic for days. Ginger is hard to grate or chop, can be really stringy and is hard to store for long. Dorot’s Fresh Frozen Seasoning solves all those problems.

For More Information

Dorot’s Website
Flavors available: Garlic, Ginger, Basil, Parsley, Cilantro, Dill and Sautéed Glazed Onions

Score: 5 out of 5

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NOTE: I received a free copy of this product in exchange for an honest review. If you’ve read past product reviews, you’ll know that I don’t pull my punches when I believe they are warranted. I also try to provide balanced information so you can make your own decision to buy or not buy this product, even if you disagree with my opinion.

Tags Dorot's Gardens, herbs

Cookbook Reviews

Cookbook Review: “The Al Tiramisu Restaurant Cookbook” by Luigi Diotaiuti

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date April 20, 2018

This collection of more than 100 recipes comes from the Al Tiramisu Restaurant in the heart of Washington, DC. This award-winning restaurant is thought of like “taking a trip to Italy without leaving the country.” Part cookbook, part Italian cooking primer and part memoir, this book offers you a slice of Chef Luigi Diotaiuti’s life and a taste of his birthplace in Italy.

Summary of The Al Tiramisu Restaurant Cookbook

The chapters follow a logical progression through Diotaiuti’s professional and personal life. Within each chapter, recipes are organized by Appetizers (Antipasti), First Courses (Primi), Second Courses (Second), Sides and Salads (Contorni e Insalate) and Desserts (Dolci). Tips for Italian cooking and wine suggestions follow every recipe. Preceding each recipe is an introduction from Diotaiuti sharing his personal thoughts on the recipe. There are plenty of full-color photographs of the recipes and from Diotaiuti’ life.

Pick up your copy on Amazon.com here.

What Worked for Me

This book uses a nice big font, which makes it, easier to read while preparing a dish. Diotaiuti’s notes for each recipe are fun and interesting to read. The Italian Cooking Primers at the end of each recipe help explain techniques and give you alternatives for ingredients. At the back of the book there is a “Where to Buy” guide and a glossary of terms.

What Didn’t Work for Me

If I had been editing the book, I would have recommended that all the memoir parts be placed at the beginning and have the recipes organized together at the end. Having all five categories of recipe repeated through out makes the book less perusable for recipes. Yes, you can use the index, but that only works when you know what you’re looking for.

What I’d Love to See in the Second Edition

Although the content is good, the printing and design don’t live up to it. I would love to see a second edition that added a little more finesse to the design and used a better printer.

Recommendation

If you enjoy cooking authentic Italian cuisine, this book will make a good addition to your collection.

Rating for The Al Tiramisu Restaurant Cookbook: 3 out of 5

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Specs

Full Title: The Al Tiramisu Restaurant Cookbook: An Elevated Approach to Authentic Italian Cuisine
Author: Luigi Diotaiuti
Paperback: 410 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN-10: 1491205326
ISBN-13: 978-1491205327

Pick up your copy on Amazon.com here.

NOTE: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. If you’ve read past book reviews, you’ll know that I don’t pull my punches when I believe they are warranted. I also try to provide balanced information so you can make your own decision to read or not read the book, even if you disagree with my opinion.

Tags Al Tiramisu Restaurant Cookbook, cookbook review, Italian, Luigi Diotaiuti, restaurants

Creative Cookery Product Reviews Taste Tests Video Podcast

October 2017 Foodstirs Kit – Little Monsters Cupcakes

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date April 18, 2018

Carma’s Cookery Foodstirs Series, Part 2

October 2017 Kit – Little Monsters Cupcakes

My second Foodstirs Kit was perfect for Halloween … but I made them much later. These Little Monsters Cupcakes are fun, creative, adorable and tasty!

Extra Ingredients You’ll Need

The kit comes with all the non-perishable ingredients you’ll need to make the cupcakes. What you’ll need to add to the list are these perishable ingredients:

Butter
Eggs
Milk
Yogurt

Unboxing and Baking Video

What I Liked About Foodstirs Little Monsters Cupcakes Kit

First, even when I was impatient and screwed up, the kit turned out adorable.

Second, they tasted fabulous! I could barely bring myself to share them!

As with the last kit, the instructions were easy to follow and simple to implement.

I had a lot of fun assembling the monsters. They were creative and well-designed.

What I Didn’t Like About Foodstirs Little Monsters Cupcakes Kit

I wish I had been more patient and let the cupcakes cool off before putting on the frosting. Also, the frosting is very soft at room temperature, so I would advise trying a little less liquid when whipping it up.

Overall Thoughts on Foodstirs Little Monsters Cupcakes Kit

Since I started this Foodstirs project, I received four kits and have only done three of them. The third, I didn’t even think to photograph or video record, so I won’t be able to share it with you. Out of the three, this kit was my favorite. They were fun, delicious and so very cute!

Who Is This Kit Suitable for?

Foodstirs makes kits that are suitable for parents to do with their children. I think kids would really get a kick out of this kit.

Score: 5 out of 5

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Tags baking, cupcakes, Foodstirs

Creative Cookery Product Reviews Taste Tests Video Podcast

August 2017 Foodstirs Kit – Campfire S’mores Brownie Cupcakes

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date April 16, 2018

Carma’s Cookery Foodstirs Series, Part 1

August 2017 Kit – Campfire S’mores Brownie Cupcakes

I’ve had my eyes on Foodstirs for awhile for three reasons:

One of the founders is Sarah Michelle Gellar, Buffy from the TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer
The kits are very creative, which I believe helps home cooks unleash their kitchen creativity easily and safely
The kits use organic ingredients

I purchased a three-month subscription. Today’s post is for the first kit I received, which were Campfire S’mores Brownie Cupcakes. I made them for a house-warming party I hosted and they were a hit.

Extra Ingredients You’ll Need

The kit comes with all the non-perishable ingredients you’ll need to make the brownies. What you’ll need to add to the list are these perishable ingredients:

Butter
Eggs
Oil
Yogurt

Unboxing Video + Baking and Display Images

What I Liked About Foodstirs Campfire S’mores Brownie Cupcakes Kit

The kit comes with pretty much everything you’ll need, including a frosting dispenser and cupcake liners. The frosting mix is da bomb. I pretty much could just eat that (and I did with the leftovers!). The brownies were tasty, as well.

What I Didn’t Like About Foodstirs Campfire S’mores Brownie Cupcakes Kit

The kit made eight cupcakes, which turned out to be just the right number for my party. However, under normal circumstances, I probably would have wanted to make more.

I’m not sure if it because the mix is organic, but I found the brownies to be a bit heavier than I like them. I like my brownies to be a little more cake-like in density.

Overall Thoughts on Foodstirs Campfire S’mores Brownie Cupcakes Kit

This was a fun kit to make and resulted in a tasty treat that my company loved. Although the assembly was a bit trickier than it looked, so I probably wouldn’t buy another kit. That said, it certainly was fun the first time!

Who Is This Kit Suitable for?

I think that this kit would be good for parents to make with their kids, as well as adults who want to present a different kind of treat at a potluck, but don’t have a lot of time to get creative on their own.

Score: 4 out of 5

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Tags baking, brownies, food delivery service, Foodstirs

Cookbook Reviews

Cookbook Review: “The Secrets of Gluten-Free Baking” by Jillayne Clements

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date March 30, 2018

When Jillayne Clements learned that she could no longer consume gluten, she refused to relegate herself to pre-made gluten-free fare. This book is the result of her search for whole-food, delicious gluten-free foods.

Summary of The Secrets of Gluten-Free Baking

If you need — or want — to go gluten-free, this book gives you a good basis from which to start transforming your pantry. It contains sections on ingredients and techniques, as well as recipes.

What Worked for Me

Clements has an easy-going, personable style of writing that is accessible. I also liked that the goal of the book wasn’t just to be gluten-free, but to be gluten-free and taste like wheat. That’s a biggie for a bread-lover like myself.

There is an excellent two-page section where she shares “Tips to Avoid Accidentally Making Bread Crumbs,” which has some good advice even if you aren’t going gluten-free.

Flipping through the recipes practically made me drool. I can’t wait to try them out and see if they taste as good as they sound.

What Didn’t Work for Me

This is a small nit-pick: The book is designed to look like it is already used and distressed. I’m not sure why the designer went in that direction, but it makes the pages look dirty, which kind of turned me off.

Recommendation

If you are going gluten-free but love your bread, biscuits and other baked good, this book will give you a good place to start in replacing those coveted items. The book is usable and pretty, easy to read and provides plenty of information you might need before you even start baking.

Rating for The Secrets of Gluten-Free Baking

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Specs

Full Title: The Secrets of Gluten-Free Baking: Delicious Whole Food Recipes
Author: Jillayne Clements
Format: Paperback, 8.2 x 0.5 x 9.2 inches
Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc.
ISBN-10: 1462112862
ISBN-13: 978-1462112869

Pick up your copy on Amazon.com here.

NOTE: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. If you’ve read past book reviews, you’ll know that I don’t pull my punches when I believe they are warranted. I also try to provide balanced information so you can make your own decision to read or not read the book, even if you disagree with my opinion.

Tags gluten-free, Jillayne Clements, whole food

Categories
Recipes

Cream of Oatmeal

Post author By Carma Spence

Post date March 26, 2018

I’ve been experimenting with this recipe for a few days, trying to get the right mix of texture and flavor. It was inspired because I accidentally bought steel cut oats rather than thick cut oats, and I couldn’t eat them because of what’s going on with my mouth after the accident two years ago. I wanted a smooth, tasty high protein breakfast without having to resort to a smoothie all the time. This is the result and it is so good!

Ingredients

1 cup milk or milk alternative

1/2 cup rolled oats

1 serving of your favorite vanilla protein powder

2 tsp sugar-free fiber powder

1/4 tsp cinnamon

Instructions

In order listed, place all ingredients in a blender.

Blend until smooth.

Place in a microwave safe bowl.

Microwave for 30-40 seconds. Stir and microwave for another 30-40 seconds until the consistency you like.

Let cool one minute before serving.

You can store the uncooked, blended mix overnight. I take it to work and heat it there. The cereal is about the consistency of Cream of Wheat, which is why I call it Cream of Oatmeal.

Tags breakfast, hot cereal, oatmeal

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