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Milk Street Recipes

Asked Dec 30, 2019 by Amanda N.

Why Milk Street's Neapolitan Meatballs Skip the Parsley

Hi.. I made these and they were so different from my meatballs.. my friends and family loved them.. so now these are it for us.. BUT.. the article about them discusses the use of parsley in Italy to make them more then once yet the recipe doesn't call for parsley at all. I was wondering why ?? Thank you

Answered by Matthew Card

I think we ultimately found the parsley wasn't necessary and we always aim to streamline our recipes. If you like, feel free to add!

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Milk Street Recipes

Asked Dec 29, 2019 by Mitchell G.

Why Maqlubeh Tasted Overly Spiced with Chicken Breasts

First, a caveat - I hate it when people modify a recipe and then complain about the results, as if it's the original recipe's fault. I'm not complaining - just asking ;-) I made the Palestinian Upside-Down Chicken and Rice recipe from the recent issue of the magazine. I did substitute boneless, skinless breasts for the bone-in, skin-on thighs and reduced the oil by roughly a quarter. The end result was VERY aggressively spiced. My wife couldn't tolerate it. We both liked the preparation method and thought it had some potential though. Are the seasoning amounts in the recipe correct? I was thinking that the significant reduction in fat after my modifications might impact how the spices worked if they were fat soluble. I'm planning to try it again in the future, maybe with half the seasoning (and perhaps when my wife is on a business trip to avoid the "are you nuts?" stare :-) Thanks! Mitch

Answered by Matthew Card

Hi Mitchell, The reduction in oil and fat from the chicken thighs does impact how the spices are perceived. The fat will mellow out the spices. I'd suggest in the future reducing by a quarter if swapping out white meat for the thighs.

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Cooking

Asked Dec 20, 2019 by M L.

Can You Substitute Pomegranate Molasses for Regular Molasses

Your chewy Molasses Spice Cookies got me thinking since I'm not a huge fan of mild or robust molasses most of the time. Though I do adore pomegranate molasses. I'm wondering about the qualities of the kinds and how differently they might cook up & bake. I did substitute the pom for regular in a Shoo-Fly Pie and it was really good . . . but my spouse usually makes those "on the fly" so one never truly knows til it's done what it is going to be. Saturday's was pretty dry. In any case . . . Thanks! Blessings!

Answered by Matthew Card

Pom Molasses generally isn't an even swap for regular molasses. Its made by reducing down pomegranate juice to a sticky syrup and doesn't have quite the same viscosity or sweetness as conventional molasses. If regular molasses doesnt gut it for you, might I just swapping out Lyle's Golden syrup or treacle? Milder flavor, but same basic texture and sweetness.

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Cooking

Asked Dec 20, 2019 by Robert P.

How to Grind Bay Leaves for Stronger Flavor

Chris commented that he dislikes bay leaf. A recent commentator called and said he grinds them which I have done for years in order to make heirloom melon gazpacho, a recipe from Tierra Sur. I too grind the dried leaves in a blade type coffee grinder that I use as a spice mill. My nuance is that I tap the ground powder into a small tight tea stainer and sieve away the larger pieces and save the dust into a little jar. Amazing stuff.

Answered by Matthew Card

That's a great tip for bold bay flavor without having to pick out bay leaves. You could add peppercorns, thyme, chili peppers, etc for a more complex blend. I use bay leaves by the handful in roasted vegetables to add aroma and flavor. My family is used to picking leaves out of there food! Its easy to underestimate the capacity of bay leaves to add flavor. We've even got sweet desserts flavoured with bay--the flavor cuts through monotone sweetness to add dimension.

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Cookware

Asked Dec 20, 2019 by Elizabeth K.

Best Christmas Desserts You Can Make Without an Oven

Hello, my husband is in the military and we just moved overseas to Japan. We live off base and love it, but my kitchen is lacking an oven. I have a three burner stove top. I am looking for dessert recipes for Christmas that can be created on the stove. Any suggestions?

Answered by Matthew Card

Steamed chocolate cake! Stovetop Chocolate Cake Gussy up with whipped cream with a touch of brown sugar, vanilla and sour cream for a tangy accent. A few berries would be great too.

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Cooking

Asked Dec 20, 2019 by Mary A.

Why Salt and Black Pepper Became a Classic Seasoning Pair

The most basic of seasonings -- at least in US cuisine -- are salt and black pepper. Since all living creatures have an absolute need for sodium, it's pretty obvious why we evolved to like salt. But why pepper? Is there any reason other than because that's what we're used to?

Answered by Matthew Card

Western cooking's dependence on pepper is a complicated story tracing back hundreds of years, trading routes and European colonialism. Pepper's punch adds accent to dishes and a mild spiciness, which helps define a dish's flavor. However, there are lots of ways to do that if black pepper isn't your thing. In Morocco, cumin seed is often used instead of pepper. In Turkey, smoky-fruity tasting chilies, like Aleppo or Urfa pepper, are used as table side garnishes.

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Milk Street Recipes

Asked Dec 20, 2019 by Judy T.

Timing a Half Batch of Ikarian Braised Pork

I made a half recipe of this delicious dish using the timing for the full recipe. Can anyone please offer the timing adjustment for the half recipe? Mine seemed over cooked, but still tasty.

Answered by Matthew Card

I'd probably begin checking at 1 hour and 45 minutes.

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Milk Street Recipes

Asked Dec 16, 2019 by Emily Z.

How to Make Polenta Firm Enough to Cut into Squares

In the "creamy polenta with savory sauces" recipe, the texture described in the recipe is quite different than the texture in the accompanying images. Do you have any recommendations for achieving the firmer text so that it can be cut into squares? Thank you!

Answered by Lynn Clark

Hi Emily - the recipe for Fried Polenta is linked are the bottom of the Creamy Polenta recipe. Here is the link - https://www.177milkstreet.com/recipes/fried-polenta. Hope that helps! Best, Lynn C.

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