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    Home » Recipes » How To

    The must-have book for anyone who cooks, might cook one day, or just watches other people cook

    Last Updated: Dec 14, 2020 By: Chef Christina

    Recipes are okay. I don't love them. Which is why I often convey a method or technique, instead of littering the internet with a gaggle of measurements and steps that mean ten different things to ten different cooks.  But ratios - yes, cooking ratios - really light my fire.  And are the only surefire way to success in any kitchen adventure.

    cooking with ratios not recipes

    Never hunt for a recipe again

    Cooking ratios boil down to science, and are the simple formulas that professional cooks rely on for consistency. While any executive chef with half a brain will require his cooks to learn dish recipes for consistency,  a majority of trained cooks and chefs understand the basic formulas behind them.

    Milk in pitcher and eggs in ramekin on wooden table.

    Take a quiche, for example.  Google will tell you that there are hundreds of thousands of trillions recipes for quiche.  I've got news for you - half of them are #$%& (please excuse my bleep).

    Because all you really need to know is that for every cup of dairy in the batter, you need two eggs. That's it. Now you can spice up the classic any way you want, and it will set perfectly moist every time. So how do you discover the magic of ratios...?

    Asparagus and tomato quiche with whole wheat crust from Edible Times

    Of course, there's an app for that. And a book, but the application is cheaper.  The author, Michael Ruhlman, is a journalist who's really into food (takes one to know one), and publishes culinary musings on his own, and with many notable chefs.

    Photo of Ratio app on iPhone sitting on counter.

    The book encompasses all manner of cooking and baking - from home-simmered stocks to doughs and batters.  And I find it even more useful than the book because it takes you one step further in calculating the math.  Because don't get me wrong - I love ratios. But I definitely do not love math.

    Yours in ratios,

    Christina text on Edible Times

    « My favorite frozen daiquiri recipe, courtesy Mr. Lavender (yes, that's his real name)
    A white sangria recipe created for a Malibu sunset »

    Filed Under: How To, Op Ed Tagged With: best cook books

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    Welcome to
    Edible Times!

    Chef Christina Bailey, Boise Private Chef, Creator of Edible Times

    I'm Christina, a classically trained, Michelin-star restaurant alum and private chef. And more importantly, Chef Mom to two little boys.
    I'm here to empower you in the kitchen. I share way more than delicious, chef-tested recipes. I explain the professional formulas, ratios, and techniques, too. To read about me and my food philosophy, follow this.



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