Cornbread with fixins

Homemade Cornbread: Doneness Temps and Thermal Tips

Let’s talk about cornbread. It’s a marvelously American food—bread made of maize—that compliments other great foods of our cuisine. What is a bowl of chili without a slice of cornbread? What plate of ribs is not made better with a hunk of crisp-bottomed homemade cornbread? While box-mix cornbread is tasty, it has nothing on the…

Pineapple upside down cake
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Pineapple Upside Down Cake Doneness Temps and Recipe

Pineapple upside-down cake is one of the simple wonders of the home kitchen. Classic yellow cake is cooked atop a layer of buttery caramel and zesty pineapple. The result, turned out of the pan so that the bottom is on the top, is a culinary delight beloved by all ages. Such a showpiece cake should…

Homemade Chiles rellenos dinner
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How to Make Homemade Chiles Rellenos: Recipe and Critical Temps

One of the most popular dishes at Mexican restaurants everywhere, chiles rellenos (ray-YAY-nohs) are an indisputable crossover classic. A true traditional dish from the culinary wonderland that is Puebla, Mexico, the dish has reached well into the hearts of Americans, as well. A roasted chili, stuffed (often with cheese, but we’ll talk more about that),…

Whipped cream cake with oranges on the side and a green thermometer
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Whipped Cream Cake: Recipe for a Light and Wonderful Dessert

There’s one problem with cakes: the time it takes to prepare them. Well, two problems, the time, and the unfortunate chance of failure. Well, if you’re just a little bit careful, this cake solves the first and pretty much the second. Whipped Cream cake, a recipe we’ll be adapting from the incomparable Rose Levy Beranbaum,…

King cake, coffee, and Thermapen
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Homemade King Cake: a Traditional Recipe with Temperature Tips

In many cultures throughout Europe and North America, the time between Epiphany (the twelfth day of Christmas, also called Twelfth Night) and Lent is one of special meals and feasts. One tradition that spans these cultures is a special cake associated with the arrival of biblical magi. It has many names, but they all translate…