Essential Recipes You Must Know!

Essential Recipes You Must Know - From Essential Chefs Catering’s Blog - “Prep School”

http://www.essentialchefs.com/basic-essential-recipes/

There are some basic, essential recipes that every cook should master before the age of 30. Whether you are a college student living off campus, a new graduate moving into your own place, a newlywed, or even a newly divorced man who has never cooked before, you need to have an arsenal of great recipes that you feel comfortable making anytime. This way, if you invite someone over for dinner, you don’t have to panic and call your mom.

These basic essential recipes are ones that you will whip up over and over again. Eventually, you will memorize them and know them by heart. From hearty chili to homemade salad dressing and homemade cheesy mac & cheese, each of these recipes can help you put a meal on the table quickly and efficiently.

You can start with these basic essential recipes and after you gain confidence in the kitchen, you can graduate to more complex dishes. Essential Chefs Catering offers fun, interactive cooking classes in their premiere commercial catering kitchen. Chefs John and Dan also offer custom culinary classes for you and your friends in the comfort of your own kitchen. Add a wine pairing element to your classes and really make a party out of it! If you are interested in attending a class or would like a custom-designed class in your own home, please email us at essentialchefs@gmail.com, call us at 1-978-821-5108 or fill out a reservation form on our Contact & Reservations page.

1. Hot, Gooey Grilled Cheese:

The grilled cheese is the most popular sandwich for kids, teens, and the 20-something crowd. The quintessential grilled cheese sandwich is made with American cheese but we like to amp it up a bit by using Gouda and pancetta. We also like using sliced Muenster cheese and Chef John’s preference is sharp cheddar (and crusty sourdough bread). Try this basic essential recipe and then try different variations to decide which you like best.

2. Béchamel Sauce (White Sauce):

White sauce, also known as Béchamel, is used in a variety of dishes and is the base for many sauces. You can use this basic essential Béchamel recipe as a base for variations such as Alfredo sauce and Welsh rarebit. Here are the steps for a basic medium white sauce, with adjustments for other thicknesses.

3. Balsamic Vinaigrette:

Everyone should be able to whip up a salad dressing from scratch. A homemade dressing, seasoned to your taste, can turn ordinary greens into something extraordinary. This basic essential recipe is one of our easiest. Here are directions on how to make an incredible balsamic vinaigrette.

4. Tomato Sauce:

Something you will never find in Chef Dan Martin’s pantry is jarred tomato sauce. Since it is so easy to make and so much healthier without all the preservatives and additives, why wouldn’t you try this basic essential recipe for spaghetti sauce yourself?

5. Mashed Potatoes:

On the top of all “comfort foods” is the homemade mashed potato. Chefs John and Dan prefer mashed potatoes that are buttery, smooth and creamy with no lumps. They prefer this basic essential recipe for mashed potatoes made with sour cream and butter – they are the best we have ever tasted.

6. Macaroni and Cheese:

Few dishes are as personal as macaroni and cheese. Everyone likes to make it a little differently than the next person – whether it is baked, custard-based, a little more white sauce, a little more cheese sauce, with or without toasted bread crumbs – there are thousands of recipes out there. Unfortunately, none of them will satisfy everyone at the same time. The basic essential recipe that we are sharing is our favorite and is easy to make.

7. “The Kitchen Sink” Chili:

Chili is another recipe that can be made thousands of different ways. Chili is a spicy stew containing chili peppers, tomatoes and beans. Chili Con Carne means that it also contains beef (usually ground beef). A strictly Texan chili uses beef but excludes tomato, onion and beans and features a high proportion of meat to chilies. Other seasonings may include garlic and cumin. Chili is a great dish to be made ahead of time in a crock pot and is great for parties. Our favorite recipe is a little unconventional and contains everything but the kitchen sink. We serve ours sprinkled with cheddar and with hot cornbread on the side.

8. Basil Pesto:

Pesto is an incredibly flavorful, easy sauce that can really turn simple dishes like pasta or chicken into a five-star meal. Here is a basic essential recipe for making pesto out of basil or any spicy greens such as arugula.

9. Guacamole:

Guacamole has become part of American cuisine as a dip, condiment, and as a salad ingredient. No football game is complete without a big bowl of guacamole and tortilla chips. Try this easy basic essential recipe for the most delicious guacamole ever.

10. Chicken Soup:

Childhood memories often feature mom or grandma preparing big pots of soup. There is nothing like soup to make you feel warm and secure. For sheer nourishment, chicken soup wins out for best recipe to have memorized. All soups can be prepared ahead of time to be chilled and reheated for serving. Here’s a basic essential recipe that does a very good job at showing you how to adapt your soup `for your own tastes. Our recipe starts with a home-made chicken stock supplemented by store-bought stock. This is probably the most difficult recipe in this series, but once you make it a couple of times, it becomes second nature.

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Now that you have mastered these basic recipes, it’s time to graduate to more advanced gourmet dishes. Visit Essential Chefs Catering website and learn more about our Culinary Classes. Becoming a great home chef isn’t just about great recipes—it’s about great techniques – “Essential Techniques”. Our executive chefs show you how to create delicious dishes all year long. From French cuisine to healthy cooking, you can explore a world of cuisines and disciplines.

Essential Chefs Catering is also available for parties, graduations, weddings, showers....anything you need.

We also cater Backyard BBQ’s and Clambakes on the Beach.

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