What Einstein Told His Cook: Kitchen Science Explained

Seashore Sautéed Soft-Shell Crabs Some chefs like to show off by gussying up their crabs with batter, bread crumbs, cracker meal, flour dustings, or spices. None of that is necessary. In fact, they smother the delicate flavor of a really fresh crab. Save the seasonings for the table. All you need are fresh, live crabs, bubbling butter, and a little

Fish Cooked Just Right Fish in a Package Fish cooks so easily that it can even be steamed, a method that also prevents it from drying out. One classic method is en papillote, or wrapping the fish in parchment paper and heating the package in the oven. These days, we can use aluminum foil. Almost any fish fillet will work: black sea bass, coho salmo

Rock Cornish Brined Hens Bob’s Mahogany Game Hens Cornish game hens are flavorful and juicy, especially when brined before roasting. In this recipe we give them an Asian flair by basting with a soy-garlic-ginger sauce to produce beautiful mahogany-brown skins. How much brine to use? Put the hens into the bowl, crock, or resealable plastic bag that

4 medium potatoes, preferably Yukon Golds 2 to 4 tablespoons clarified butter Coarse salt Freshly ground pepper 1. Preheat the oven to 450ºF. Select an 8½-inch cast-iron skillet and a lid to fit, and butter the skillet generously. Wash the potatoes, pat dry, and cut them into 1/8-inch slices; to peel or not is your choice. 2. Arrange a single layer

to the pan. Turn the birds breast side up and continue to roast for another 30 to 40 minutes, basting every 10 minutes. Make sure to get some of the solids onto the skins, especially on the final basting. The birds will be tender, juicy, and mahogany brown all over. SERVES 2 GENEROUSLY

2. Pour the olive oil into a small, deep saucepan to a depth of 1 inch and turn the heat to

Tapas Almonds In Spain, complimentary dishes of almonds fried in olive oil and salted are set out at bars. They are addictive. You can make them at home either by frying or, for less fat, toasting them in the oven. Both methods are given below. In either case, the best way to make the salt adhere to the almonds is to use kosher salt ground to a pow

cups Diamond Crystal kosher salt for every 4 quarts of water. Sugar and other ingredients may be added to balance the flavors. 2 Cornish game hens 4 quarts water 1 cup Morton’s kosher salt 1 cup dark brown sugar, lightly packed 1/3 cup soy sauce, preferably Kikkoman 2 tablespoons peanut oil 4 cloves garlic 3 nickel-size slices of ginger 1. Remove t

The Baking Soda Blues Blueberry Blue Corn Pancakes Blue corn is common in the American southwest and has a rich and nut-like flavor. It is treated with wood ashes, which are alkaline and, like lime and lye, make certain amino acids more available. Many people value blue cornmeal for its superior nutritional value. The alkali treatment also intensif