Roast Beef and I

London Broil Sliced Against the Grain

Roast beef and I used to have a fine time together.  When I was growing up, going out to dinner with my family and ordering prime rib was a grand tradition.  We didn’t do it often—maybe once a year—so it was memorable.. 

My mother didn’t know how to cook prime rib.  I doubt she ever looked for it in the meat department.  As I grew up and started learning about cooking, I examined various beef cuts, but I was so confused that I mostly bought ground beef and made hamburgers. 

What was the difference between sirloin steak, porterhouse steak, New York strip steak, minute steak, flank steak, round steak and chuck steak?  Before I figured it out, I moved to London, where these cuts of meat had different names.  Luckily the city had lots of small-store butchers who were willing to answer questions.  With their help

Mom Cooking Tip 129

Draft an ice cream scoop to shape meatballs or burgers, keeping your hands out of raw ground meat.

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Mom Money-Saving Tip 88

If you like eating fresh avocados, never freeze them.  Their texture as well as their taste will change for the worse.  I buy only as many as my family can eat before they over-ripen.  Otherwise, I'm wasting my money.

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Edamame: What Is It and How Do I Cook It?

For a long time I thought edamame was another name for fava beans because the two look very much alike.  Then I did some research and found that edamame is actually an immature soybean.  The beans grow in pods, which are picked before they have fully ripened.  A popular snack in Japan, edamame is a good source of soy protein.

Fresh edamame may be available in Asian markets.  You are likely to find fresh and cooked edamame in the freezer or refrigerated section of supermarkets.

Question for Mom

Do oven temperatures really matter? –Jesse R.

It depends on what you’re cooking, but usually the answer is yes—especially if you’re baking.  When making a cake, pie, cookies or bread, it’s smart to give your full attention to the recipe and do exactly what it says, including oven time and temperature.  This is an especially good idea if you’re trying out a new recipe.

Mom Cooking Tip 128

Here’s the perfect device to help you get rid of hot turkey fat on Thanksgiving: a specially designed cup with a low spout.  Transfer the liquid at the bottom of the roasting pan into this cup.  The fat will rise to the top, allowing you to pour the remaining fat-free liquid into a pot or bowl for use as needed when making gravy.  Dispose of the leftover fat in an empty can.

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When in Doubt, Make Cornbread

Sometimes dinner needs some extra oomph.  Maybe I didn’t buy enough meat, or the vegetables are a little limp.  Or I forgot to cook the baked potatoes.

Hot cornbread, fresh from the oven, served with a jar of honey or a chunk of butter, will make everyone feel much better. It takes 5 minutes to prepare and just 20 minutes to bake.