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FOOD

This here is where I'll put posts about food. Surprise!

Food probably falls under the "more like guidelines" category the most. There are a few things to keep in mind though.

Baking

Stick to the Code: When it comes to baking there are some definite areas where you must keep to the code. An interesting thing about baking is that it is half science and half art. When it comes to things involved in structure; like flour, baking soda, eggs, etc. they must be measured as accurately as possible. These items work together in chemical type reactions to make your cake or cookie come out properly. If they're off, you could end up with mush or bricks.

More Like Guidelines: Now, when it comes to ingredients that are involved with taste, those come down to art and preference. The vanilla, spices, and sugar (with exception to recipes that include yeast) are more variable. I'd recommend sticking to the recipe exact in most cases, but in certain cases you might find that you want it sweeter or less sweet and you can play.

Baking

Stick to the Code: When it comes to baking there are some definite areas where you must keep to the recipe. An interesting thing about baking is that it is half science and half art. When it comes to things involved in structure; like flour, baking soda, eggs, etc. they must be measured as accurately as possible. These items work together in chemical type reactions to make your cake or cookie come out properly. If they're off, you could end up with mush or bricks.

Tips that make a difference to baked goods:

Do not over-beat your eggs! Literally, cannot stress this enough. It makes your end result come out tough so mix well before you add your eggs and keep it to a minimum after that.

You may come across a recipe that has sour cream in it and you'll be like "why does this cake call for sour cream??" It seems weird, but that's the recipe you want. Some of my best recipes include sour cream. It helps make them nice and moist.

Cooking

I know you may be asking yourself "wait there's a difference?"

Yep, not synonyms.

So cooking is art. There are some definite basics to follow, but after that it's almost completely to taste.

Red meats (steak, hamburger) do not have to be cooked throroughly before eating
- You can get food poison still, but it is less likely
White meats (chicken, pork) must be cooked completely. If you see pink when you cut into one of these, put it back on. These can be dangerous if not cooked completely.
When it comes to seasoning, less is more