A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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Aerate
To pass dry ingredients through a fine-mesh sifter so large pieces can be removed. The process also incorporates air to make ingredients like flour, lighter. Sifting dry ingredients aerates them while distributing small amounts of chemical leaveners or dry seasoning evenly through the mixture. Use sifters, sieves or tamis to both aerate and sift.

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Baking
The next time you bake bread mist the oven with water just prior to placing the bread in to cook. By misting the oven you will have a given the crust of the bread a crispier finish. You can crisp the crust even more by misting throughout the baking process. Test and customize this method to suit your own needs

Bard
To tie fat around lean meats or fowl to keep them from drying out during roasting. The fat bastes the meat while it cooks, keeping it moist and adding flavor. The fat is removed a few minutes before the meat is finished, allowing the meat to brown. Barding is necessary only when there is no natural fat present.

Baste
To brush or spoon food as it cooks with melted fat or the cooking juices from the dish. Basting prevents foods from drying out and adds color and flavor.

Blanch
To cook raw ingredients in boiling water briefly. Blanched vegetables are generally "shocked" i.e. plunged immediately and briefly into an ice water bath to stop the cooking process and preserve color and crunch.

Blend
To combine two or more ingredients together with a spoon, beater or blender.

Boil
To heat a liquid to its boiling point, until bubbles break the surface. "Boil" also means to cook food in a boiling liquid.

Bone
To remove the bones from meat, fish or fowl. Use a sharp boning knife and angle the blade toward the bone to avoid tearing or nicking the flesh.

Braise
To cook food, tightly covered, in a small amount of liquid at low heat for a long period of time. Sometimes, the food is first browned in fat. The long, slow cooking tenderizes meats by gently breaking down their fibers. The braising liquid keeps meats moist and can be used as a basis for sauce. Use wine, stocks or water as components in braising liquid.

Broil
To cook food directly above or under a heat source. Food can be broiled in an oven or on a grill.

Brush
To apply a liquid, like a glaze, to the surface of food using a pastry brush.

Butterfly
To split food (meat, fish, fowl) down the center, cutting almost, but not completely through. The two halves are then opened flat to resemble a butterfly.

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Canel
To create small V-shaped grooves over the surface of fruits or vegetables for decorative purposes using a canelle knife. The fruit or vegetable is then sliced, creating a decorative border on the slices.

Caramelize
To heat sugar until it liquefies and become a clear caramel syrup ranging in color from golden to dark brown. Fruits and vegetables with natural sugars can be caramelized by sautŽing, roasting or grilling, giving them a sweet flavor and golden glaze.

Cheese
The next time you shred mozzarella cheese in large quantities, add a light dusting of cornstarch and mix well. This will help prevent the cheese from sticking together.

Chiffonade
To slice into very thin strips or shreds. Literally translated from French, the term means "made of rags".

Chop
To cut food into bite-size pieces using a knife. A food processor may also be used to chop food. Chopped food is more coarsely cut than minced food.

Citrus
You will get more juice than you thought possible by rolling citrus fruits, such as lemons, limes, oranges, between the palm of your hand and the counter top. Apply pressure slowly and in a back and forth manner. Slowly increase the pressure until the side walls are very soft. Be careful not to apply too much pressure or you will blow the side out of the citrus.

Clarify
To remove sediment from a cloudy liquid, thereby making it clear. To clarify liquids, such as stock, egg whites and/or eggshells are commonly added and simmered for approximately 15 minutes. The egg whites attract and trap particles from the liquid. After cooling, strain the mixture through a cloth-lined sieve to remove residue. To clarify rendered fat, add hot water and boil for about 15 minutes. The mixture should then be strained through several layers of cheesecloth and chilled. The resulting layer of fat should be completely clear of residue.
Clarified butter is butter that has been heated slowly so that its milk solids separate and sink, and can be discarded. The resulting clear liquid can be used at a higher cooking temperature and will not go rancid as quickly as unclarified butter.

Cure
To treat food by one of several methods for preservation purposes. Examples are smoking, pickling - in an acid base, corning - with acid and salt, and salt curing - which removes water.

Cutting Boards
The best method of cleaning or sanitizing your cutting board is to wipe it with a warm solution of bleach and water. A good recipe would be 1 tablespoon of bleach to 2 liters of water. If you are uncomfortable with this method, wipe your board with a warm solution of mild soap and water, dry thoroughly and then rub the cutting board with the juice from half a lemon.

If you have a problem with the cutting board moving around while you slice objects, place a damp dish cloth under the cutting board. Lay the towel as flat as possible to keep the cutting board from pitching or rolling from side to side

Cutting Cake
If you have a problem or are intimidated by slicing a cake horizontally prior to decorating try using dental floss, yes that's right Dental Floss. Take the floss and circle the outside of the cake at the appropriate height, this of course depends if you want more than a one layer cake. Once the floss has circled the cake, cross the ends of the floss over and place in the opposite hands. Slowly pull your hands apart while pulling the floss towards you, you won't believe how easy it really is

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Deep-Fry
To cook food in hot fat or oil deep enough so that it is completely covered. The temperature of the fat is extremely important and can make the difference between success and failure. When the fat is not hot enough, the food absorbs fat and becomes greasy. When the fat is too hot, the food burns on the exterior before it has cooked through. Fat at the correct temperature will produce food with a crisp, dry exterior and moist interior. An average fat temperature for deep-frying is 375 degrees, but the temperature varies according to the food being fried. Use a deep fryer, an electric fry pan or a heavy pot and a good kitchen thermometer for deep frying.

Deglaze
To remove browned bits of food from the bottom of a pan after sautŽing, usually meat. After the food and excess fat have been removed from the pan, a small amount of liquid is heated with the cooking juices in the pan and stirred to remove browned bits of food from the bottom. The resulting mixture often becomes the base for a sauce.

Deorge
1. To sprinkle vegetables with salt to eliminate water. Eggplant for example are generally salted and patted dry before cooking.
2. To add cornmeal to water and soak crustaceans in order that they will eliminate the sand in their shells.

Devein
To remove the blackish-gray vein from the back of a shrimp. The vein can be removed with a special utensil called a deveiner or with the tip of a sharp knife. Small and medium shrimp need deveining for aesthetic purposes only. However, because the veins in large shrimp contain grit, they should always be removed.

Dice
To cut food into tiny cubes (about 1/8- to 1/4-inch).

Drain
To pour off fat or liquid from food, often using a colander.

Dredge
To lightly coat food that is going to be fried with flour, breadcrumbs or cornmeal. The coating helps to brown the food and provides a crunchy surface. Dredged foods need to be cooked immediately, while breaded foods, those dredged in flour, dipped in egg then dredged again in breading, can be prepared and held before cooking.

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Eggs
An easy way to separate the white from the yolk of an egg is by cracking the egg into your hand. When the egg is in your hand, slowly open your fingers and the white will slide away. This method insures the removal of all the white from the yolk. You might find this method messy, however if you're separating a large quantity of eggs you'll love me.

Emulsify
To bind together two liquid ingredients that normally do not combine smoothly, such as water and fat. Slowly add one ingredient to the other while mixing rapidly. This action disperses tiny droplets of one liquid in the other. Mayonnaise and vinaigrettes are emulsions. Use a good whisk for steady, even emulsification.

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Fillet
To create a fillet of fish or meat by cutting away the bones. Fish and boning knives help produce clean fillets.

Fold
To combine a light mixture like beaten egg whites with a much heavier mixture like whipped cream. In a large bowl, place the lighter mixture on top of the heavier one. Starting at the back of the bowl, using the edge of a rubber spatula, cut down through the middle of both mixtures, across the bottom of the bowl and up the near side. Rotate the bowl a quarter turn and repeat. This process gently combines the two mixtures.

Fry
To cook food (non-submerged) in hot fat or oil over moderate to high heat. There is very little difference between frying and SAUTƒING although sautŽing is often thought of as being faster and using less fat.

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Garlic
To remove garlic odors from your hands, rub your fingers on a silver spoon under running water. I'm sure you probably think I've lost it, well your out of luck, it works!

Garnishing
The next time your serving a dessert dust the plate your about to serve the dessert on with icing sugar or cocoa powder. You can even go as far as laying a fork or spoon on the plate prior to dusting, once you've finished dusting the plate remove the fork or spoon and you'll have the outline of the particular cutlery on the plate. Your guest with think you've attended a professional baking school!

Ginger
To remove the outer skin from ginger slightly scrape the surface of the ginger with the tip of a spoon. This method works best with a light amount of pressure. You'll be amazed at how thin the skin of ginger really is.

Grate
To reduce a large piece of food to coarse or fine threads by rubbing it against a rough, serrated surface, usually on a grater. A food processor, fitted with the appropriate blades, can also be used for grating. The food that is being grated should be firm. Cheese that needs to be grated can be refrigerated first for easier grating.

Grill
To cook food on a grill over hot coals or other heat source. The intense heat creates a crust on the surface of the food which seals in the juices. The grill should be clean and must be heated before the food is laid on it. The food can also be basted and seasoned.

Grind
To reduce food to small pieces by running it through a grinder. Food can be ground to different degrees, from fine to coarse.

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Herbs
Make sure you add fresh herbs to a dish or recipe when it's almost finished. Personally, I've-grown up using dried herbs, and of course all cook books suggest you to add them as soon as possible. This is true with dry herbs, since it takes longer for the flavor to be exposed. Fresh herbs on the other hand lose their flavor quickly, so try to add them at the end of the cooking process. Remember you're adjusting the seasoning at the end of the cooking process anyway, so try to incorporate fresh herbs if you can.

To maximize the natural flavor of herbs, slightly bruise the herbs with the pressure of a knife. Bruising involves laying the fresh herbs on a cutting board and slapping them in a quick motion with the side of your knife. Another less noisy method is to rub the fresh herbs between the tips of your fingers before you add them to your recipe. Go ahead, you won't believe the sudden burst of aroma and where there's aroma there's flavor.

The best way to grind herbs is by using a coffee grinder. I can hear you telling me you prefer to have your dark roast coffee without the subtle hint of French tarragon. Yes, I agree. The trick to removing the flavor of your herbs is to place half a slice of bread in your machine after grinding your herbs and pulse to your heart's content. voila! The flavor is removed when you remove the bread.

After making pesto, place the finished product in an ice cube tray.   Once the pesto has frozen, remove from the tray and place it in a zip lock style bag in your freezer. Talk about portion control and using only what you need! It will last in your freezer for a long time, but try to use it within two months. Yes, you can freeze cheese too.

Homogenize
To create an emulsion by reducing all the particles to the same size. The fat globules are broken down mechanically until they are evenly distributed throughout the liquid. Homogenized milk and some commercial salad dressings are two examples of homogenized foods.

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Infuse
To steep an aromatic ingredient in hot liquid until the flavor has been extracted and absorbed by the liquid. Teas are infusions. Milk or cream can also be infused with flavor before being used in custards or sauces.

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Joint
To cut meat and poultry into large pieces at the joints using a very sharp knife.

Julienne
To cut food into thin sticks. Food is cut with a knife or mandoline into even slices, then into strips.

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Knead
To mix and work dough into a smooth, elastic mass. Kneading can be done either manually or by machine. By hand, kneading is done with a pressing-folding-turning action. First the dough is pressed with the heels of both hands and pushed away from the body so the dough stretches out. The dough is then folded in half, given a quarter turn, and the process is repeated. Depending on the dough, the kneading time can range anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes. During kneading, the gluten strands stretch and expand, enabling dough to hold in gas bubbles formed by a leavener, which allows it to rise.

Knives
If you run into the situation of  having a knife go dull and you do not have the time or proper equipment, i.e. a steel or stone to sharpen it try this technique. Turn over a small 6" to 8" plate. A ceramic plate works best. You should see were the plate did not receive glaze prior to firing in the kiln (the round base). Take the knife you want to sharpen and hold it into your hand at a slight angle horizontally above the bottom of the plate. Now move the knife in a circular motion across the plate bottom of the plate. Reverse and sharpen the other side of the knife.

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Ladles
Did you know that by purchasing an 8oz ladle it is equivalent to a one cup liquid measure. Ya so big deal you say, think about this the next time you need 4oz of any liquid. Whether it's cold or hot water, milk or honey, this trick will save you a lot of time. Also you will find that a ladle can hang from anywhere in the kitchen.

The next time you try to ladle any liquid from a pot slowly rub the bottom of the ladle along the edge of the pot as you remove it from the pot. I know it sounds complicated but try it you'll avoid drips and spills. You can thank me later

Lard
To insert strips of fat (lardons) or bacon into a dry cut of meat using a utensil called a larding needle. Larding makes the cooked meat more succulent and tender.

Line
To cover the bottom and sides of a cassoulet, mold or terrine with a thin layer of bacon, pork fat, flavorings or pastry. Cake pans are frequently lined with parchment paper to prevent the cake from sticking to the pan after baking.

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Macerate
To soak foods, usually fruit, in liquid so they absorb the liquid's flavor. The macerating liquid is usually alcohol, liqueur, wine, brandy or sugar syrup. Macerate is also frequently applied to fruits sprinkled with sugar, which intensifies natural flavor of the fruit by drawing out its juices.

Marinate
To soak food in a seasoned liquid mixture for a certain length of time. The purpose of marinating is to add flavor and/or tenderize the food. Due to the acidic ingredients in many marinades, foods should be marinated in glass, ceramic or stainless steel containers. Foods should also be covered and refrigerated while they are marinating. When fruits are soaked in this same manner, the process is called macerating.

Mash
To crush a food into smooth and evenly textured state. For potatoes or other root vegetables, use a ricer, masher or food mill. While food processors provide a smooth texture more like a puree or a paste, they should not be used for potatoes.

Mince
To cut food into very tiny pieces. Minced food is cut into smaller, finer pieces than diced food.

Mount
To whisk cold butter, piece by piece, into a warm sauce for smooth texture, flavor and sheen. Each piece of butter must be thoroughly incorporated before a new piece is added so that the sauce does not break (or separate into liquid and fat).

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Nacho's & Nuts
If you're using nachos or nuts in a recipe, improve their flavor by placing them in the oven at a low temperature until they have been warmed. Both of these products taste better when heated, because you are releasing their natural oils. The aroma will astound you, and remember where there's aroma there's flavor.

Nap
To completely coat food with a light, thin, even layer of sauce.

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Open Faced
A sandwich prepared with just one piece of bread which is topped with a wide variety of meats, vegetables, cheeses and heated or not.

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Parboil
To boil food briefly in water, cooking it only partially. Parboiling is used for dense food like carrots and potatoes. After being parboiled, these foods can be added at the last minute to quicker-cooking ingredients. Parboiling insures that all ingredients will finish cooking at the same time. Since foods will continue to cook once they have been removed from the boiling water, they should be shocked in ice water briefly to preserve color and texture. Cooking can then be completed by sautŽing or the parboiled vegetable can be added to simmering soups or stews.

Pare
To remove the thin outer layer of foods using a paring knife or a vegetable peeler.

Peel
To remove the rind or skin from a fruit or vegetable using a knife or vegetable peeler.

Poach
To cook food by gently simmering in liquid at or just below the boiling point. The amount of the liquid and poaching temperature depends on the food being poached.

Pot Roast
To cook meat slowly by moist heat in a covered pot. The meat is first browned, then braised either on top of the stove or in the oven. Pot roasting is good for tougher cuts of meat which require longer cooking times to break down connective tissue.

Pound
Pounding thinner cuts of meat tenderizes it by breaking down muscle. Kitchen mallets are generally used for pounding, but it can be done using a small frying pan as well. First place the piece of meat between two pieces of plastic wrap or wax paper.

Puree
To grind or mash food until completely smooth. This can be done using a food processor or blender or by pressing the food through a sieve.

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Quadriller
To mark the surface of grilled or broiled food with a crisscross pattern of lines. The scorings are produced by contact with very hot single grill bars which brown the surface of the food. Very hot skewers may also be used to mark the surface.

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Reduce
To thicken or concentrate a liquid by boiling rapidly. The volume of the liquid is reduced as the water evaporates, thereby thickening the consistency and intensifying the flavor.

Rice
To push cooked food through a perforated kitchen tool called a ricer. The resulting food looks like rice.

Roast
To oven-cook food in an uncovered pan. The food is exposed to high heat which produces a well-browned surface and seals in the juices. Reasonably tender pieces of meat or poultry should be used for roasting. Food that is going to be roasted for a long time may be barded to prevent drying out.

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Salt & Pepper
Mix equal amounts of both salt and pepper together to make a "S&P" blend. You may want to vary the ratio to suit your own needs-by all means, go ahead. The next time you need to season something, you'll save time with your own personal mixture.

The next time you have to fill a salt and pepper shaker, use a flimsy style paper plate. Pour the pepper or salt on the plate and then fold the plate in half. This makes a convenient funnel, and minimizes the risk of a major mess.

SautŽ
To cook food quickly in a small amount of fat or oil, until brown, in a skillet or sautŽ pan over direct heat. The sautŽ pan and fat must be hot before the food is added, otherwise the food will absorb oil and become soggy.

Scald
To dip fruits or vegetables in boiling water in order to loosen their skins and simplify peeling. The produce should be left in the water for only 30 seconds to prohibit cooking, and should be shocked in an ice water bath before the skin is removed

Scale
To remove the scales from the skin of a fish using a dull knife or a special kitchen tool called a fish scaler.

Sear
To brown meat or fish quickly over very high heat either in a fry pan, under a broiler or in a hot oven. Searing seals in the food's juices and provides a crisp tasty exterior. Seared food can then be eaten rare or roasted or braised to desired degree of doneness.

Season
To add flavor to foods.
To coat the cooking surface of a new pot or pan with vegetable oil then heat in a 350 degree oven for about an hour. This smoothes out the surface of new pots and pans, particularly cast-iron, and prevents foods from sticking.

Seed
To remove the seeds from fruits and vegetables.

Shred
To cut food into thin strips. This can be done by hand or by using a grater or food processor. Cooked meat can be shredded by pulling it apart with two forks.

Sieve
To strain liquids or particles of food through a sieve or strainer. Press the solids, using a ladle or wooden spoon, into the strainer to remove as much liquid and flavor as possible.

Sift
To pass dry ingredients through a fine mesh sifter so large pieces can be removed. The process also incorporates air to make ingredients like flour, lighter. Synonymous with AERATE.

Simmer
To cook food in liquid over gentle heat, just below the boiling point, low enough so that tiny bubbles just begin to break the surface.

Skewer
To spear small pieces of food on long, thin, pointed rods called skewers.

Skim
To remove the scum that rises to the surface from a liquid when it is boiled. The top layer of the liquid, such as the cream from milk or the foam and fat from stock, soups or sauces, can be removed using a spoon, ladle or skimmer. Soups, stews or sauces can be chilled so that the fat coagulates on the surface and may be easily removed before reheating.

Skin
To remove the skin from food before or after cooking. Poultry, fish and game are often skinned for reasons of appearance, taste and diet.

Smoke
To expose fresh food to smoke from a wood fire for a prolonged period of time. Traditionally used for preservation purposes, smoking is now a means of giving flavor to food. Smoking tends to dry the food, kills bacteria, deepens color and gives food a smoky flavor. The duration of smoking varies from 20 minutes to several days. The most commonly used woods are beech, oak and chestnut to which aromatic essences are often added. Small home smokers are now available.

Steam
To cook food on a rack or in steamer basket over a boiling liquid in a covered pan. Steaming retains flavor, shape, texture, and nutrients better than boiling or poaching.

Stocks
Pour the finished stock into ice cube trays and freeze them. Once the stock is frozen, remove it from the ice cube tray and place in a zip lock style freezer bag. Any time you need stock, you're all set.

Pour your finished stock into baby bottle liners. This method is similar to the ice cube tray method. However by using bottle liners that have graduated measurements on the side, you'll know the exact amount of stock that has been frozen.

After you've finished making your stock and it has cooled, place it in the refrigerator until the liquid has had time to chill. Once chilled, any fat will have risen to the top and formed a crust or skin. Now all you have to do is remove the unwanted fat.   

Sugar
The next time your recipe calls for superfine sugar and your cupboard is bare, make your own. Put the required amount of sugar into your coffee grinder and pulse. To avoid over-heating, keep a close eye on this mixture. presto Superfine Sugar.

Supreme
To remove the flesh sections of citrus fruit from the membranes. Using a sharp knife, cut away all of the skin and pith from the outside of the fruit. Place the knife between the membrane and the flesh of one section and slice down. Turn the knife catching the middle of the fruit. Slice up, removing each section sans membrane.

Sweat
To cook vegetables in fat over gentle heat so they become soft but not brown, and their juices are concentrated in the cooking fat. If the pan is covered during cooking, the ingredients will keep a certain amount of their natural moisture. If the pan is not covered, the ingredients will remain relatively dry.

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Temper
1. To slowly bring up the temperature of a cold or room temperature ingredient by adding small amounts of a hot or boiling liquid. Adding the hot liquid gradually prevents the cool ingredient, such as eggs, from cooking or setting. The tempered mixture can then be added back to hot liquid for further cooking. This process is used most in making pastry cream and the like.
2. To bring chocolate to a state in which it has snap, shine and no streaks. Commercially available chocolate is already tempered but this condition changes when it is melted. Tempering is often done when the chocolate will be used for candy making or decorations. Chocolate must be tempered because it contains cocoa butter, a fat that forms crystals after chocolate is melted and cooled. Dull grey streaks form and are called bloom. The classic tempering method is to melt chocolate until it is totally without lumps (semisweet chocolate melts at a temperature of 104 degrees F.) One third of the chocolate is then poured onto a marble slab then spread and worked back and forth with a metal spatula until it becomes thick and reaches a temperature of about 80 degrees F. The thickened chocolate is then added back to the remaining 2/3 melted chocolate and stirred. The process is repeated until the entire mixture reaches 88-92 degrees for semisweet chocolate, 84-87 degrees for milk or white chocolate.

Tenderize
To make meat more tender by pounding with a mallet, marinating for varying periods of time, or storing at lower temperatures. Fat may also be placed into a piece of meat to make it more tender during cooking.

Tomatoes
While tomatoes are plentiful at harvest, you may not be able to use them all. Solution-blanch them! Place any extra tomatoes in simmering water for 30 seconds, remove them and place them into a cold water bath. Placing them in affectivity stops the cooking process. Remove the outside skin once they have cooled: you can then freeze the tomatoes whole by placing them in a zip lock style bag. I'm sure you'll appreciate the fresh taste of your summers hard work in the middle of February.

Truss
To secure food, usually poultry or game, with string, pins or skewers so that it maintains a compact shape during cooking. Trussing allows for easier basting during cooking.

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Unleavened
The word which describes any baked good that has no leavener, such as yeast, baking powder or baking soda.

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Vandyke
To cut zigzags in edges of fruit and vegetables halves, usually oranges, tomatoes or lemons. The food is usually used as a garnish to decorate a dish.

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Whip
To beat ingredients such as egg whites or cream until light and fluffy. Air is incorporated into the ingredients as they are whipped, increasing their volume until they are light and fluffy.

Whisk
To beat ingredients together until smooth, using a kitchen tool called a whisk.

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xxx, xxxx, 10x
An indicator on a box of confectioners sugar of how many times it has been ground. The higher the number of X's the finer the grind.

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Yakitori
A Japanese term meaning "grilled."

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Zest
To remove the outermost skin layers of citrus fruit using a knife, peeler or zester. When zesting, be careful not to remove the pith, the white layer between the zest and the flesh, which is bitter.