Blame Rachel Ray

So what is it that keeps us from cooking at home? Like many, for me its time… I’m a working mom, so time is a precious commodity! I know I too have been one to indulge in the roasted chicken and microwaveable sides that greet me when I enter my local grocery store… let’s face it, it’s a is a quick way to get something on the table.

The only problem I found is that this became my standard back up and I lent myself to it more and more.  But since I didn’t prepare these foods, there is question as to HOW it was prepared.  What was used on the chicken to give it that beautiful color? Often its an artificial ingredient used for “caramel coloring”.   And when was the last time you read the ingredients list on one of those microwaveable sides?  Its a mile long and most of it you can’t pronounce!   I simply want better options for myself and my family.

The Trick to Quick Meal Cookbooks Read more

The Real Secret to French Cooking

Like so many others I was so inspired by the movie Julia and Julia to start doing some gourmet cooking in my own little kitchen… and then I hit a stumbling block.  No it wasn’t sticker shock for Julia Child’s Mastering The Art of French Cooking (two volume set), nor the daunting task of even lifting the enormous book.   It was the meticulous detail and difficulty of the recipes.. let’s face it, who has that kind of time?

But what I learned is that the real secret to gourmet cooking is all in the sauce.  So here is some basic information on sauces… I’ll start with Wine Sauces.

What I found most amazing in my research is that Sauces have been used since the middle ages- who knew! But of course French chef’s have upped the bar on sauces almost to the point of high art — just treat yourself to any fine dining at a French restaurant and you will know this is true.

So what goes into making a great sauce? The famous French Chef, Aguste Escoffier, tells us that the chef who wants to create a memorable sauce must first prepare a mirepoix (Wikepedia has a great but lengthy definition) and roast beef or veal bones to begin developing a stock… then one must slowly reduce the stock and add a slowly browned roux to create a deep brown color and rich flavor with a smooth and velvety consistency.  This will create a “foundation sauce” from which many other sauces can be made.

Slow being the operative word in the whole process … again I ask, who has this kind of time?  Let’s face it, this is a time intensive process that I certainly don’t have the patience required to complete it.  Never fear! More Than Gourmet has taken care of the time intensive work for us and has created both a Red Wine Sauce as well as a White Wine Sauce which reduces what would have taken hours to mere minutes without sacrificing flavor, consistency or eye appeal!

Using classical methods and only the finest ingredients,these sauces are consistently reliable, dependable, affordable and most importantly delicious! They have found a permanent home in my pantry and I know you also will find them so easy to keep on hand that all your meals will be gourmet!

Bon Appetite!

Sherea

Welcome to The SauceTalk Newsletter

…a blog dedicated to all things Sauce.

Volumes have been written about the history of food, food styles and types, various cooking processes and sauces used and infused from one culture to another through the ages. This is a  continuation of that discussion as we see food trends  evolving  with a new melting pot of ideas from around the world.

This space is therefore dedicated to posting recipes and information about food and especially sauces that we can all enjoy, use and ultimately call our very own.

That said let the posts begin!