Teaching you to cook better by focusing on technique.

Hi, I’m Sandy.
I’m a mom of two who happened to graduate from The Culinary Institute of America and cook professionally for over 12 years. Now my intention is to empower you with knowledge that gives you confidence in the kitchen. I believe it all starts with fundamentals.

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plantainsandchallah

I teach you to cook better by focusing on technique.
Trained at the CIA + Cooked Professionally over 12 years

Boiling is not used as much as you might think. I

Boiling is not used as much as you might think.

It is an intense cooking method which is great for vegetables, pasta, grains (this depends the type and water is drained, not absorbed) hard cooked eggs and reduction of liquids (whether to make a sauce or to thicken)

It's important to know the difference because most other things you may bring UP to a boil (basically bring up to temp) but then back down to a simmer.

Take a look at the video to have it in your mind for next time!

Save this for future reference!

🍴📝 Need help planning your meals? Grab my FREE system to weekly meal planning in my bio @plantainsandchallah

#simmer #boiling #intensecooking #gentlecooking #vegetables #grains #pasta #hardcookedeggs #simmerdown #thinklikeachef #reduction#reducingsauces #homecooks #cookingcoach #mealideas #boilingvssimmer #culinaryschool #cookingmethods #cookingtechniques #cookingwithliquid#trainedchef #homechef #chefmommy #easycooking #cookingbetter#cookinglikeapro

Simply put: Onions cut pole to pole or “with th

Simply put:

Onions cut pole to pole or “with the grain” are not crushing down *against* the onion’s cell structure and cause complicated scientific substances to release.

Think of it like causing more of a splash when going upstream instead of flowing with the current 😄🌊

#knifeskills #onionshavelayers #onions #onioninsights #onioninfo #homecooks #homecooksofinstagram #chopchop #santoku #chefsofinsta

This is a push cut. It’s different than a rock

This is a push cut.

It’s different than a rock chop and is great for foods that are a little bit higher above the cutting board since you lift up in order to get over what you’re cutting.

I tend to cut this way most of the time. How do you find yourself chopping?

#knifeskills #knifeninja #oniondice #oniondice #choppedonion #knifesiills101 #knifetechniques #asmrcutting #asmrfood #knifeskillslifeskills #chefmom #momsofinstagram #foodie #choppingtechniques #foodprep #chopfaster #kitchenefficiency #pushcut #dontcrywithonions #redonions

“What’s this here” sauce 🤣🤣🤣 How d

“What’s this here” sauce 🤣🤣🤣

How do you say it?

#homecooks #homecooksofinstagram #worcestershiresauce #foodjokes #foodfunny

"Uh, Sandy, you don't get paid by the word, ya?" —My Chef with his heavy German accent.

It's actually pretty funny because I'm quite the talker. $$$ 😂

In all seriousness though, it taught me an important lesson about professional kitchens in the real world.

At the CIA, they don't teach that most of your time in a kitchen will be spent with your head down towards your cutting board while you prep your mise en place.

They also don't teach how "brevity is key" as another cook once told me (a different restaurant, but notice a theme?) and most of what you say is "Oui, Chef"

Mise en place is not just about gathering the ingredients needed for your recipe, it's a Chef's way of life. It's how efficient you are, how productive you are; and talking too much wastes time. 🕐🔪

Of course in a home kitchen, things are a little different, but my goal is to teach you how to be efficient so you can be quicker, and find your prep more enjoyable!

Do you feel efficient in the kitchen? Why or why not? ⤵️

#proud2bcia #chefstagram #chefslife🔪 #cooks #procook #culinaryadventures #culinaryarts #foodiesofinsta #foodieforlife #chefmommywife #cooking #food #cookingtechnique #miseenplace #ouichef #chefsofinstagram #culinaryarts #culinaryschool #knifeskills #homecookedfood #culinaryeducator #kitchenhacks #efficientkitchen #chefturnedblogger #culinaryinstructor #homecooks #famileswhocook #letmeteachyou #flashbackfriday📸 #lovetocook❤️ #cookingtips

Sources of Taste You need to understand these bef

Sources of Taste

You need to understand these before you can make any substitutions in a dish because the sources of the taste can be replaced with another on the list!

I sent this about a month ago to my email subscribers - and every week I send cooking, knife skills and kitchen related topics. They eventually make their way onto the blog - but between my day job, kids, etc - my email subscribers get first dibs.

When you first sign up, you get a free weekly menu planning system with shopping list. Don’t miss out! Subscribe with the link in my bio!

💚

#tastes #cookingtechnique #cooklikeapro #cookinginstructions #cookingsubstitutions #foodflavors #homecooks #chefmommy #chefmom #sweetsoursaltybitterumami #homecooksofinstagram #inthekitchen #athomechef #foodiechats #chefstagram

I accidentally deleted my reel off my feed 🙄 my

I accidentally deleted my reel off my feed 🙄 my quick fingers don’t always help 😂

I was only able to share it this way - from a repost of a lovely mention. 💚

#knifeskills #cabbage #homecooks

Being efficient in the kitchen helps you work smar

Being efficient in the kitchen helps you work smarter, not harder.

It’s not just about being comfortable with knife skills. HOW you work in the kitchen is also important...and I’m not just talking mise en place.

When you’re working in the kitchen and you are performing a task that has multiple steps, try breaking down each step and do it in its entirety.

For Example:

1. Peel ALL shallots first. (All 10 of them, if that’s what you’re working with)

2. Make vertical slits on ALL 10 shallots

3. Turn horizontal and dice ALL 10 shallots

Doing this makes the process FLOW faster, because you reduce cognitive load - that’s a fancy way to say that your brain turns the task into almost an AUTOMATION and you don't have to think much about it. It’s efficient because you don’t 🟢🔴🟢🔴

GO, then STOP, then GO and STOP again.

I’m referring to switching tasks. It’s like toggling.

Many people have already told me how approaching their tasks in this manner has been a game changer. It doesn’t *always* makes sense, so think it through and see if it works for what you are doing.

Leave any questions for me in the comments and tap that heart if you think this was helpful. ❤️

#efficient #chopping #knifeskills #flow #homecooking101 #howto #taskbatching #shallots #productivity #chef #cookinglife #smarternotharder #fasterinthekitchen #cookingtips #homechef #homecooks #foodie #foodathome #mealprep #succession #tasks #efficiency #tipsandtricks #hacks #easycooking #choppingvideo #myhomecooking #momcooking #eeeeeats #kitchenhacks101

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