Get Saucy: Preparing the Perfect Pan Sauces

Today I want to talk about how to make perfect pan sauces. I usually just use prego coupons and pop open the jar when I need a sauce for a dish, but I’ve found that making pan sauces is super-easy and the results taste gourmet – which really impresses dinner guests. Don’t be intimidated, there are only four steps: you start by deglazing the pan, reduce the cooking liquid, thicken with a creamy ingredient, and season your sauce.

            Deglazing is the first step to making any great pan sauce. “Deglazing” is chef-speak for the method of removing the dark bits of flavor off the bottom of the sauté pan after you’re done browning meats, and it brings a savory flavor to any dish. After you brown the meat in a frying pan, you’ll need to remove the protein from the pan and then pour a liquid (wine works beautifully but beer, chicken broth, fruit juice and vinegar work, too) into the hot pan. While the liquid sizzles, scrape the hot pan to loosen the bits of flavor that got stuck to it during the initial cooking process. After you’ve deglazed the bottom of the pan, you’re set up to make a delicious sauce that will compliment the flavor of the meat, seafood, or veggies you just cooked in the pan. Just simmer the deglazing liquid until it’s reduced (“reduced” is chef speak for the thickening that happens as water evaporates from the sauce) by half. Add a few tablespoons of butter, cream, or sour cream to thicken the sauce. Then add fresh herbs, caramelized onions, roasted garlic, and salt and pepper to taste.  Pour it over your cooked meat, chicken, or seafood and you’ve got a delicious dish.

            This method is fantastic because it’s easy and foolproof. It’s a great starter technique for people like me who usually get their sauces with prego coupons and aren’t accustomed to making them from scratch. Once you’ve mastered this you’ll be empowered to try all sorts of inventive new techniques to take your cooking to the next level!!!

Easy Tips For A Fabulous Family Dinner

     
      Feeding a family can be tricky, especially if you’ve got finicky eaters on your hands. How can you ensure that even the choosiest children get the nutrition they need? Just use a few Prego coupons and these clever tips to create meals so scrumptious no one would every guess they’re also healthy!
       Plan your plates. Your family will eat better and you’ll be more efficient if you take an hour or two each weekend to plan the family’s meals for the coming week. Create dinner menus and base a shopping list around the meals you plan to serve, then shop for all the ingredients you’ll need to get thorough the week at once. You’ll save time and energy wasted when you have to throw meals together at the last minute, which often entails hurried grocery runs.
      Go Sicilian! Potatoes are a kid’s favorite veggie, and you can turn them into a quick and scrumptious supper. Just cook baking potatoes in the microwave and top each one with half a cup of pasta sauce, cooked veggies, and sprinkle with mozzarella. In less than five minutes you’ll have a tasty, wholesome Italian take on the classic baked potato.
      Do double duty. Next time you bake your favorite recipe, double it! Freeze the extra in individual portions, which are great to have on hand when you don’t have the time to cook or when everyone is too busy to sit down together for dinner.
     Raise the bar. The pasta bar, that is! A pasta bar is a fun, easy meal for family dinner and even bigger get togethers. Kids love assembling their own meals (and adults like it, too!). Boil a couple of different types of pasta, heat up an array of different frozen veggies, put out a couple of types of protein (cooked meatballs and grilled chicken are a great way to round out the meal), and serve with a variety of sauces and cheeses. No two dishes will be alike, but everyone will be happy and well-fed by the night’s end.
       For more great cooking tips and money-saving Prego coupons, check out the Campbell’s kitchen website: http://www.campbellskitchen.com.