Instructions: If you intend to cook meat in wine, then be sure to sear the meat first before adding the wine. This helps prevent the meat from becoming wine soaked.

A little lemon juice added to the water you cook green vegetables in will help them retain their color.

1 tbsp of flour will thicken the consistency of 1 cup thin liquid to that similar of medium cream.

You can make confectioners sugar from granulated sugar by processing in a blender until it is pulverized. Stir occasionally for even processing.

Do not dust moist cakes with confectioners sugar, or wait until just before serving. Otherwise the sugar will turn grey in color.

If you are making a chilled soup that calls for chicken stock, make sure you chill the stock and skim off as much of the fat as possible. You do not want to have traces of congealed fat in the chilled soup you serve.

When you buy shrimp, select the ones that have the shell closely fit to the body. Loose shells are a sign of shrinkage, and they are probably not fresh.

Scallions are excellent for tying food together, such as stuffed sole or vegetables. They make a wonderful presentation when used in this way.

Rice cooks better in low wide pots than high narrow ones.

Replace each cup of water when preparing couscous with apple juice and 1/2 tsp of cinnamon. It makes for a delicious variation!

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