COOK + SMARTS Blog

Delivering servings of cooking IQ to your kitchen

Monthly Archives: December 2011

Dec 14 2011

The Quick Blanch + Saute

When I was trying to decide on the photos for the COOK + SMARTS website, I immediately knew that my favorite cooking formula would make the final gallery. Blanch + Saute is a cooking formula that is used almost every night in our kitchen for three reasons: 1) we love making vegetables a big part of every meal; 2) the blanching step makes vegetables cook in a flash (perfect for weekday preparation); and 3) the sauteing step step adds a ton of flavor. This cooking formula can be applied to almost any hearty vegetable, and we have a whole list below to get you through all four seasons.

Get the full serving >>>

Dec 03 2011

Cooking Formulas: X + Y = Something Good

A friend recently asked why I chose to include a plus sign in our logo. While it’s meant to be silent (we are called Cook Smarts, not Cook Plus Smarts), the decision to include an addition sign was a purposeful one. After all when you break it down to the basics, cooking is all about the process of adding. We cook by bringing ingredients together, layering flavors upon flavors. We create an edible meal by combining an array of cooking formulas, bringing ingredients to life in different ways. The key to becoming a good cook comes with understanding what ingredients to marry together and knowing the basic cooking formulas.

Get the full serving >>>