How a Little Cream Can Solve Some Common Cooking Problems

So what's my secret you ask? Just add CREAM! This can be applied to many dishes for many different reasons- so lets go through some of the most common mistakes and see how just a little cream can save a dish:

Too Much Spice

I love spices, and there seems to be an infinite amount of them... those specialty cooking stores are the best with these spices you have never even heard of let alone cooked with. The problem is when you have never cooked with something you never know the exact amount too add and things either come out tasting bland (if you are shy with the spice) or burning your mouth (if you go over board as I normally do).

I have found that the best thing to do if you over-spice is just add some cream to the dish- and just a small amount can go a long way. This will also prevent you from being shy with the spice and underspicing, since you will also have an out in case you do end up going overboard! I usually start by adding an 1/8 of a cup and going from there, the cream will mellow out the flavor and create a more even taste. Warning: careful using cream when using any type of citric in the dish - or you might end up having to throw the whole thing out the window!

Overcooked Meat

We have all left the meat in the over too long, we get busy with the vegetables, or decorating the tables, or talking on the phone, and before you know it a little stream of smoke is coming from the over (if you are lucky, or if you are like me, a large stream of smoke!) But don't fret, some cream can save the day!

What you do with the cream depends a little on how much time you have- if you are short on time add the cream over the meat, allowing it to pool in the pan, this will take away that burnt flavor and take away some of the toughness of the meat. If you have some extra time put the meat in a sealed container with some cream and allow it to sit and absorb into the meat, taking away a lot of the toughness and again taking away that burnt flavor. This method works on red meat and poultry.

Oily/Greacy Food

And lastly we have the problem when things are too oily or greasy- some foods are naturally greasy when you cook them, and although adding flour can reduce this, it doesn't give you the best taste- I have found that adding cream at the last stage of cooking (within 5 minutes of fully cooked) and keep your flavor and reduce the oily/greasy texture.

There is also the problem of simply adding to much cooking oil (which I have done on more than one occasion). Just add cream while you are cooking the dish to reduce this, start with a small amount, a tsp. or so and then increase from there.

I hope this helps you save some dishes and create some masterpieces of your own!!! Who would have know just a little dairy could do so much!!