Diner 23’s Blog

Perfect paella is all about the rice: tender and al dente (never mushy), with a caramelized crust on the bottom of the pan, called a socarrat. Authentic arroz en paella calls for the right pan and a thin blanket of rice. By Norberto Jorge - Diner23.com Every country has a dish that unites its people. Or, just as often, divides them. In Spain, that dish is paella. Get … [Read more...] about The Best Rice for Paella

For pastry chef and Louisiana native David Guas, pecan pie is practically a way of life. Here, he demonstrates his tips, techniques, and a killer recipe for this classic southern pie-and Thanksgiving favorite. By Sarah Breckenridge - Diner23.com For many people in the South, Classic Pecan Pie is a holiday or special occasion dessert, but not for me. I could eat it every … [Read more...] about How to Make Classic Pecan Pie

Get advice from a seasoned baker on equipment that can really make a difference in your baking. By Maggie Glezer - Diner23.com I've always been an impassioned baker, even when I didn't have much room to work. I started in a tiny student-housing kitchen with not much space for anything, and bread baking, which required so few tools, turned out to be entirely feasible. My … [Read more...] about Choosing Bread-Baking Tools You’ll Really Use

Adding a little sour cream, buttermilk, or cream cheese improves the flavor and texture of this favorite traditional cake. By Carolyn Weil - Diner23.com Pound cake is the mother of all butter cakes. While it's pretty humble-blocky shape, no layers, frostings, or fillings-pound cake's dense, velvety texture and pure butter flavor make it so undeniably delicious that, in my … [Read more...] about How To Make Perfect Pound Cake

These rich and buttery little nuts-which really do come from pine trees-add flavor and texture to everything from pasta to cookies. By Kay Fahey - Diner23.com Pine nuts are small but versatile kitchen treasures. No doubt you love them for the richness they give pesto, and you've probably enjoyed them sprinkled over a salad. And if you live in the southwestern United … [Read more...] about How To Use Pine Nuts In Cooking

Rich, full-bodied chili in 30 minutes? Artichokes in 10? You can do it with a pressure cooker. By Jan Newberry - Diner23.com Every pressure-cooker enthusiast has a story of the time she first realized the potential of these pots. Mine came one wet February evening after a particularly harrowing commute on icy New England roads. When I finally got home-exhausted, starving, … [Read more...] about Why You Need a Pressure Cooker

Beef Wellington makes for an elegant and impressive Christmas dinner. In this video, you'll learn how to make and assemble this holiday showstopper. By Sarah Breckenridge - Diner23.com Beef Wellington wows a crowd like no other special-occasion dish. It’s sophisticated, and if done correctly, melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Best of all, the components of beef Wellington can … [Read more...] about How to Make Classic Beef Wellington

Improve your outdoor cooking skills with our selection of clever grilling equipment. By Susie Middleton - Diner23.com Grilled pizza. Grilled rosemary chicken skewers. Grilled tuna salad niçoise. This may sound like dinner at your favorite Mediterranean restaurant, but there's no reason why you can't make this food at home on your own grill. Tricky maneuvers like handling … [Read more...] about The Best Grilling Tools for Great Summer Meals

Hot air circulating through your oven cooks food more evenly, at lower temperatures, and often with better and faster results. By Susie Middleton - Diner23.com Help! I've got a new convection oven, and I don't know what to do with it. I hear this plea a lot from cooks who have just redone their kitchens, and also from people who are intrigued by convection cooking but … [Read more...] about How to Use a Convection Oven Correctly

One size doesn't fit all for this kitchen essential, so be sure to test-drive before buying. By Maryellen Driscoll - Diner23.com How to Choose a Chef's Knife As one of our editors likes to say, a chef's knife "is like a dance partner." A knife that feels comfortable and graceful in your hand might feel klutzy to someone else. When you start shopping for that perfect chef's … [Read more...] about How to Choose a Chef’s Knife

Who doesn’t love barbecue? The combination of charred meat combined with a juicy interior is to die for. However, what we love most about barbeque is the variety you can include in your spread. Apart from various types of meat, you can go for a wide range of meat cuts. When it comes to beef, everything from the classic brisket to the prime rib and T-bone is ideal for … [Read more...] about Flank Steak vs Skirt Steak

Summer is right around the corner! Do you know what that means? Time to pull out your grill, meat grinder, meat slicer and place an order for the best charcoal for smoking because it's barbeque season. A barbeque isn't a barbeque without some beef. The variety of textures and cuts of meat make it a must-have for the BBQ season. If you want to get the best out of your beef … [Read more...] about 7 Best Cuts of Beef to Smoke

Diner 23's senior food editor demonstrates Carole Walter's secrets to getting luscious, billowy homemade lemon meringue pie just right. By Shelley Wiseman - Diner23.com Homemade lemon meringue pie can't be beat, but it can be tricky to make. Lemon meringue pie is extremely temperamental: It doesn't like humidity, and it doesn't like to be overmixed, undercooked, or … [Read more...] about How to Make Lemon Meringue Pie

A fun summer project that gives you salmon with a fabulous smoky flavor and a superb texture. I was first introduced to hot-smoked fish almost fifty years ago. When I was a kid, my father made business trips to Key West from our home in Coral Gables, Florida. If he could, he would take me along for some fishing on the return trip. We didn't smoke the fish we caught, but my … [Read more...] about Smoking Salmon in an Electric Smoker

For the best homemade candy, grab a candy thermometer and a heavy pot and get ready to stir like mad. By Kay Fahey - Diner23.com How many times have you longed for the taste of a homegrown tomato in the dead of winter? Longed for the juicy-firm texture, the pleasing aroma, the indescribable flavor of a garden tomato that can never be approached by mass-market imitations? … [Read more...] about Making a Pair of Old-Fashioned Candies

Thin or thick, crisp or chewy - it's all in how you treat the dough. By Gay Chanler - Diner23.com How to Make Perfect Pizza Crust Everyone knows that the perfect crust is the basis for the perfect pizza. Ultimately, a good pizza results from the balanced union of a well-cooked crust and appropriately selected toppings. The crust can be thin and crisp, risen and light, or … [Read more...] about How to Make Perfect Pizza Crust