Link Time: Top Chef Seattle's Restaurant Wars


Updated Jan 10 2013 - 10:25am · Posted by · 0 comments

Photo Courtesy Bravo

The Anything Goes Burrito


Updated Jan 10 2013 - 7:35am · Posted by · 0 comments

The beauty of the burrito is that it's customizable. You are allowed to stuff it with whatever you could possibly imagine (well, with whatever you have left in your fridge). This burrito recipe is intended to help you learn the basic construction, so you can go off and make use of all the random ingredients you have lurking in your kitchen.

Here's the only rule: when using a standard 8-inch tortilla, fill it with about 3/4 cup of ingredients. Otherwise, if you overload the tortilla, you'll end up with a floppy soft taco, rather than a cylindrical burrito. If you're hungry, then plan to make more than one burrito!

Despite it being homemade, a burrito, to me, doesn't feel like a burrito unless it's tightly wrapped in foil. Here are the benefits: the burrito retains heat for longer, the tortilla stays soft, and the whole thing stays intact. Eating is a breeze as you peel the foil down with each bite. Here's another tip: use a heat diffuser to reheat the burrito once it's constructed and wrapped in foil, since you can't microwave the foil, and warming in the oven takes too long. The stovetop is the quickest way to zap some heat into your burrito before you dig in.

If you're looking for the easiest burrito recipe, then keep reading.

Get Your Grains: A Guide to Cooking Everything From Oats to Rice


Updated Jan 10 2013 - 6:50am · Posted by · 0 comments


If you tend to buy the likes of rice and quinoa out of the bulk bin, then chances are your grains don't come with cooking instructions. If you always scratch your head wondering how much water to add or how long to cook your grains, then take a look at this handy list, which you can easily print and post on your refrigerator. Don't see your favorite grain on the list? Tell us in the comments below, and we'll be sure to add it!

GRAIN
WATER MEASUREMENT AND COOKING PROCEDURE
Barley 3 cups water per 1 cup barley; bring to a boil, cover with lid, lower heat, and cook 30-45 minutes for pearl barley or 90 minutes for hulled barley
Brown rice 2 cups water per 1 cup rice; bring to a boil, cover with lid, lower heat, and cook 30 minutes. Turn off heat, and steam 10-15 minutes with lid on
Millet 2 cups water per 1 cup millet; rinse millet, and then dry-roast in pot until toasted and fragrant; add boiling water. Cover with lid, lower heat, and cook 20 minutes
Oats 2 cups water per 1 cup oats; bring to a boil, cover with lid, lower heat, and cook 10-20 minutes, stirring frequently
Quinoa 2 cups water per 1 cup quinoa; rinse quinoa, and then dry roast in pot until toasted and fragrant; add boiling water; cover with lid; lower heat, and cook 20 minutes
White rice 1-3/4 cups water per 1 cup rice. Bring to a boil, cover with lid, lower heat, and cook 15 minutes. Turn off heat, and steam 5 minutes with lid on
Wild rice 4 cups water per 1 cup rice; bring to a boil, cover with lid, lower heat, and cook 45-60 minutes or until rice splits open; drain excess water in colander
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Seductively Simple Side: Roasted Carrots With Scallion-Ginger Glaze


Updated Jan 10 2013 - 5:30am · Posted by · 0 comments

Ultrasimple roasted carrots dressed in naught but a drizzle of olive oil, salt, and pepper are a perennial favorite in my household, but let's face it: too much of anything gets old fast, no matter how delightful. Not quite ready to abandon the idea completely — I relish in how fuss-free carrots are to prep, their relatively long shelf crisper life and adore their earthy, slightly sweet flavor — I made a quick Internet search for a new variation on this old favorite.

Thankfully, this recipe from Mark Bittman delivers. I suspect that I'll be devouring this zingy, vibrant, pared-down side until I'm as sick of it as its predecessor (a mark of a good recipe, in my book).

Keep reading for the fast and easy recipe.

Add-Ins to Take Your Grilled Cheese From Good to Great


Updated Jan 10 2013 - 8:10am · Posted by · 1 comment

Making homemade manicotti or mixing up your own molé is noble and all, but with all due respect to from-scratch cooking, sometimes you just want to get dinner done — and in those moments, nothing fits the bill better than an elemental grilled cheese sandwich.

While a basic grilled cheese is just about the greatest thing since, well, sliced bread, there are a few additions that are guaranteed to take your sandwich to the next level. Click through for our top 10 suggestions.

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