Demystified cooking with steam in a home kitchen

Demystified - Unveiling the Art of Repurposing Leftover Bread

Welcome to the Demystified Podcast, where we unravel the mysteries of home cooking. Hop into this immersive episode as our hosts Linda and Paul unravel the potential of leftover bread. Join us in a thoughtful conversation about reviving store-bought bread, its pros and cons, and the magic of combi steam ovens. We go into the depth of how you can transform a staple so basic into something extraordinary.

We delve into the various uses of bread past its prime, from creating breadcrumbs to preparing a delicious, traditional bread and butter pudding. We demonstrate how you can utilize day-old challah, brioche, and other baked goods potentially wasting away in your kitchen.

Our hosts further explore the concept of bread sauce, a perfect companion for your roast meats, equating its texture to that of hummus. To wrap up, they highlight the mouthwatering Panzanella salad, a summer favorite that promises to excite your taste buds. This episode assures you, nothing goes to waste in a smart kitchen!

We also take up crafty ways to repurpose stale bread into captivating dishes that will surprise your culinary senses. Learn how simple ingredients like salted tomatoes and day-old bread can whip up an irresistible meal.

Discover how to conjure up your Taramsalata dip, and the versatility breadcrumbs offer. Ever thought of how your baguette slices can transform into fancy canapes for your next soiree? Or the grandeur of changing stale bread into a delightful bread and butter pudding fry-up? We've got you covered.

Whether you've just stepped into the world of cooking or you're a seasoned home cook, our hosts will inspire you. We promise to make your leftover bread a star ingredient compelling enough to trigger your creativity. Get ready to elevate your home cooking.

Happy cooking!

The Best Grilled Cheese (Toast)

Welcome to a fresh episode of Demystified, the podcast that takes you on a culinary journey through the world of home cooking. Your hosts, Linda and Paul, rethink the commonplace and unveil intricate details involved in creating the flawless toasted sandwich. Listen in as they share their personal techniques, test out various methods, and reveal the surprising secret to crafting the ultimate golden, crispy toast.

In this episode, they explore the art of making the perfect toasted sandwich: how to achieve a flavorful melt with an irresistibly crispy crust, the best types of bread to use, and the crucial balance between convenience and patience required in the toasting process. Paul also discusses his thoughts on various toasting tools, from Jaffel irons to induction cooktops. Join us for fascinating and insightful conversation filled with marvelous tips and delicious nostalgia.

But the discussion is not limited to the technicalities. The hosts share heartwarming stories related to toasties, their childhood memories, and even controversial toasting practices from different parts of Australia. The episode winds through a variety of everyday cooking topics, focusing on the magic and simplicity of a well-made grilled cheese sandwich and the role it has played in our lives.

Find out how to utilize leftovers creatively and make mouth-watering toasties! Join our foodie chat by sharing your own tried and tested toasted sandwich techniques and tell us about your favoured fillings. Become a part of our journey exploring the depths of this seemingly basic yet incredibly diverse food item. Tune in, gather some insider tips, and let your home cooking experience be Demystified!

Insights from a Veteran Culinary Trainer

Join the vibrant conversation in this episode of Demystified where hosts Linda and Paul chat with Jeff Patterson, the National Training Manager for Fisher & Paykel Appliances. Jeff shares his wealth of knowledge on differentiated learning styles and how these apply not just in general education, but specifically in the culinary field. Discover how people's individual learning preferences shape their approach to cooking, be it through visual aids or hands-on exploration.

The hosts and their guest spar over the precision of recipes. Is a recipe a strict blueprint or rather a flexible guide to artistic culinary creation? Paul champions the former for pastries, whereas Linda stands firm on the latter for cooking. Tune in to find out what insights Jeff, with his extensive training background, offers on this lively debate.

This episode further encourages listeners to embrace trial and error, promoting the idea that sometimes failure is the first step towards learning. Jeff recommends slowing down the teaching and learning process - practice slowly, understand thoroughly, then go ahead.

On a larger scale, the episode emphasizes the integral role feedback plays in any ongoing learning process. Linda, Paul, and Jeff acknowledge that constructive criticism and self-evaluation are stepping stones towards growth, improvement, and refinement of their craft. They also share insights from their experiences in retail markets, discussing appliances, brands, and the fascinating world of culinary tools.

While discussing the importance of retailer education, the trio underscore delivering a memorable customer experience by telling relatable, real-life stories. They believe in providing value beyond mere product specifications. As they journey towards rebranding and enhancing their content, their top priority remains creating useful and purposeful content for their listeners.

This episode is truly an enlightening journey for anyone interested in understanding different learning styles in a cooking context and beyond.

Happy cooking, everyone!

Wooden spoons - their Importance and maintenance

Join us in the latest episode of Demystified as our phenomenal hosts, Linda and Paul, go beneath the surface of the critical role wooden utensils play in our kitchens. Commencing the New Year, they focus on a topic that is often undeservingly unnoticed: kitchen equipment. They explore the significance of wooden utensils, delve deep into their maintenance, and enlighten listeners on the potential health issues connected to improper care. Discover the fascinating insight they present on the absorption of liquid and oil that wooden utensils are prone to, making their upkeep an even more essential task.

The conversation expands to other wooden kitchen tools such as chopping boards and knife handles, highlighting the common ignorance on their maintenance and lifespan. Paul also brings up an enlightening simple test to sophistication the level of cleanliness of wooden utensils, packed with unexpected results that might make you reconsider your decade-old wooden utensil. They compellingly argue the necessity of replacing aging wooden spoons and elaborate on how to effectively increase the lifespan of your wooden utensils.

The iconic wooden spoon takes center stage in our show as our hosts share riveting stories on its role in discipline in past eras, to its significance in contemporary times. The interest doesn't end there, they probe into recent trends in kitchenware, particularly the rise of induction cooktops due to economic and environmental concerns. This engaging and informative dialogue is further highlighted by personal tales and memories, making it an unmissable episode for all food and kitchen enthusiasts.

The hosts passionately push for an overhaul of kitchen routines in the new year intending toward a healthier environment, advocating for advancements in utensil quality and use of eco-friendly materials. They affirm the importance of the longevity of essential kitchen tools, with an enriching discussion on the care and upkeep of wooden kitchenware. Expect to learn, laugh, and be immensely entertained during this enlightening narrative about wooden kitchen utensils.

A Tale of Two Kitchens - Fine Dining at Per Se vs Rustic Deli at Katz's

Welcome to another thrilling episode of "Demystified." Your hosts, Linda and Paul, engage in a riveting dialogue contrasting the worlds of high-end dining and no-frills deli cuisine. They invite you behind the scenes of Paul's gastronomic sojourn through the USA and Canada, notably highlighting his memorable dining encounters in New York City.

Experience the grandeur of Per Se, one of Thomas Keller's lauded eateries, through Paul's vivid descriptions. Amidst changing daily menus and scrupulous avoidance of ingredient repetition, linger on Paul's narrative of his unpretentious encounter with high-class dining.

Next, brace yourself for a sensory leap to Katz’s Deli, the bustling heart of New York's down-to-earth cuisine. Paul retraces his footsteps through the noisy corridors, immersed in random conversations and simple yet delightful gastronomic moments.

Regardless of location — the artistically orchestrated Per Se kitchen or the clamorous counters at Katz's Deli, every description is power-packed with the dynamism of New York’s rich culinary landscape.

So join us in this enchanting gastronomic adventure as our guest shares his unique experiences from two drastically different kitchens, each nestling its charm and delight. This delightful culinary chat provides insights about the spectrum of dining styles, offering food for thought about the essence of food and its interaction with culture and comfort.

The Versatility of Frying Pans and Understanding Appliances

Welcome to an exciting episode of "Demystified" where we tap into the unexplored versatility of frying pans in oven cooking, and the importance of understanding the functionalities of your kitchen appliances.

Your hosts, Linda and Paul, engage in enlightening discussions about innovative cooking methodologies involving fry pans. We delve into the reasons behind using a frying pan over an ordinary baking oven tray, and the benefits it brings like better heat conduction and practical convenience, thereby enhancing your cooking experience.

Through sharing personal stories and practical kitchen techniques, we encourage listeners to bring creativity and mindfulness into their everyday cooking. A highlight of the episode includes Paul’s ingenious method of making dumplings with a frying pan, demonstrating the multi-purpose usage of fry pans beyond just stovetop cooking.

In an interesting twist, Linda shares her findings about the hygiene of wooden spoons, shaking our beliefs about the cleanliness of commonplace kitchen items. This episode will leave you with widened perspectives and heightened appreciation for what's in your kitchen.

Furthermore, we delve into the concept of sustainable aquaculture and making informed decisions when purchasing cooking appliances. We emphasis that it's not about having fancy brands in your kitchen, but about understanding how they contribute to your cooking process.

We draw analogies between owning a Ferrari and a high-end cooking appliance - owning it doesn't make you a better cook or driver, but understanding how to operate it does. We believe in empowering our listeners to make informed decisions in their kitchen, binning retail sales pitches for useful knowledge on how to enhance their cooking techniques, and make the most out of their kitchens.

Join us every month for a new episode of "Demystified" where we simplify the complexities of home cooking, helping you navigate through your modern kitchen. For more enlightening tips and intriguing kitchen secrets, subscribe to our newsletter and visit our website at cookingwithsteam.com.

Paella - Breaking Down the Spanish Classic Dish

Join Linda and Paul in this episode of Demystified as they unravel the secrets of the world-renowned Spanish dish, Paella. Sharing her personal journey and the evolution of her cooking style, Linda contrasts traditional techniques with her own innovative approach. The hosts will delve into the importance of high-quality ingredients like chorizo and rice, as well as the use of saffron and wine. You will also get a comprehensive understanding of various paella options whilst discussing different ingredient combinations and flavor profiles. This episode isn't just about Paella, it's an exploration into the love for cooking, the passion for sharing meals, and respect for diverse culinary cultures. So whether you're a seasoned cook interested in Spanish cuisine or a novice looking for a new dish to try, this episode will have something enticing for you. Tune in and let your culinary journey begin!

Elevating Your Home Cooking With Vinegar and Herbs

Welcome to an enlightening episode of Demystified! Linda and Paul unravel the secrets of enhancing your home cooking experience by discussing the wonderful world of vinegars and kitchen herbs. Delve into the nuances of different types of vinegars, learn how vinegar transcends from a mere cooking ingredient to a crucial flavor enhancer and discover its imperative role in an array of dishes and salad dressings. You'll explore which vinegars pair best with extra virgin olive oil and how to make your own balsamic glaze.

As the conversation veers towards homemade vinaigrettes, you’ll gain insight into the role of mustard and the utilization of a palette of vinegars to craft a delicious dressing. Master strategies for effectively tasting and using vinegars and be informed about vinegars that demand extra caution in their use. With handy tips on selecting premium vinegars, enhance your pastry and other recipes for a wonderful culinary experience.

Furthermore, for the green thumb enthusiasts, this episode ventures into the realm of home gardening. Learn about herbs and greens that can up your kitchen game, receive guidance about different types of parsley, mint, and other plants that can make your dishes flavorful and fresh. Beware of the herbs that can potentially take over your entire garden and discover perennial favorites. This in-depth episode caters to every home cook, providing the flavors you need to impress plus secrets of how vinegar can dramatically change your dishes.

A New Era in Home Cooking: the Rebranding to Demystified

Join hosts Linda and Paul in this exciting episode of Demystified as they make a triumphant return after a year-long hiatus, bringing with them a fresh perspective on the art of home cooking. Delve into the behind the scenes workings as they embark on the ambitious task of reconstructing their web presence, switching from a steam cooking niche to a broader home cooking focus, unveiling thrilling updates such as new branding, merchandise, and delectable recipes for their audience.

The episode highlights the importance of listener feedback in shaping Demystified's evolution, with the hosts keen on sharing diverse, engaging content that goes beyond steam cooking. Discover their commitment to leveraging advancements in technology for improved user accessibility and experience, all while retaining the objective to provide practical cooking tips and tricks to their audience.

Embark on a transcontinental culinary journey as Linda and Paul explore the rich diversity of home cooking across Australia, USA, and Europe. Filled with humorous banter, insightful discussions, and references to culinary TV icons like Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood, this episode addresses the overrepresentation of extreme American culinary styles on Australian television and the distinct regional cooking styles across the States.

Uncover the underrepresented Eastern European cooking traditions and navigate peculiar American suburban eating habits. Towards the end, listen to the hosts' ambitious plans for repurposing Demystified to provide a more diversified, consistent viewing experience. Teasing upcoming updates and content focused on recipes, food, and all things home cooking, this episode ends on a high, reiterating Demystified's commitment to make everyone better at home cooking.

Listen to this riveting episode of Demystified and broaden your perspective on the wholesome world of global home cooking - a testament to embracing the rich diversity within the global culinary scene.

Stroganoff Secrets & Kitchen Tools Tips

Welcome to a new thrilling episode of 'Demystified', your go-to platform where passion for home cooking becomes an enlightening journey. This time, our host Linda, along with her good friend Paul, unravel remarkable aspects of making Stroganoff, alongside discussing the utilization of everyday kitchen tools.

The conversation begins with Linda unveiling an innovative recipe for Stroganoff, where mayo is used instead of the commonly used mushrooms. Paul enlightens listeners on how the fatty content of mayo assists in perfect browning of the meat without overcooking. The duo delve deep into the method of incorporating different ingredients to elevate the dish’s flavor. The conversation then shifts to the role of robust kitchen tools, with emphasis on microplanes.

In response to a listener's query, Paul shares his perspectives on investing in an exceptional-quality Microplane. He points towards a finer grate being more adaptable and the necessity of proper storage and care. The essence of the episode revolves around the fact that the use of appropriate ingredients combined with good quality kitchen tools can escalate the experience of home cooking.

Dry Herbs Vs. Fresh: An Insightful Culinary Conversation

Here's presenting an intriguing episode of 'Demystified' where we navigate through the fascinating world of herbs and delve into the potency and effectiveness of dry herbs versus their fresh counterparts. Expect enriching discussions around commonly used herbs like thyme, rosemary, and sage, and an unpacking of their profound roles in various recipes.

Specially underlined is the mighty oregano, as we delve into its different varieties, especially the wisdom about its enhanced strength when dry and its significance in an array of dishes. We also touch base on herbs like dill and parsley. The focus then smoothly transitions to a vital piece of cooking equipment: the baking tin.

Addressing a frequently asked question, we delve into the relative merits of costly polished stainless steel French baking tins versus their cheaper coated counterparts. Drawing from our wide experience with these tools, we shed light on how tin materials can impact the heat conduction and final delectable outcome of your baked goods. Moreover, we bring up the role and nuances of silicon moulds, their unique features, and benefits in the baking process.

Additionally, we explore bakeware made of different materials and their influence on the end product. An important point made is the understanding and aligning of quality with price when choosing kitchenware. We conclude with addressing questions on effective management and use of silicon moulds, with the promise of yet another engaging episode soon. Pleasurable cooking to you all!