Cooking Classes Sacramento

Grilling and Barbecuing, two of the most popular cooking methods in the U.S., especially in warmer weather. There are some who know the difference between grilling and barbecuing, and some who don't. Do you?

To put it simply, Grilling is fast cooking over high heat, while barbecuing involves a slower cooking method, over a lower heat.

Grilling is generally done over a gas flame, or hot coals. Tender cuts of meat are best for this cooking method. The quick cooking and the high heat seal in the juices, creating a juicy piece of meat, but leave the meat on too long, and it will dry out, as with any dry cooking method. Barbecue sauces can be used, but since the heat is so high, it should be added right at the end of the cooking time, especially for sweeter barbecue sauces, so that the sugar in the sauce doesn't burn. Vegetables and fruits can also be grilled, as they don't need a long cooking time. Peaches and pineapple are particularly good for grilling, the natural sugars in the fruit carmelize over the high heat. When you grill food, you need to pay attention to it, so it doesn't get overcooked. You need to stay by the grill the whole time.

Barbecuing is typically done over charcoal or wood, although gas can be used. I've seen kalhua pig being cooked slowly on a gas grill, but usually, barbecuers will use either charcoal or wood. The meats usually used in barbecuing are tougher cuts of meat, such as the beef brisket, or pork ribs. These meats benefit from the long, slow cooking process, becoming so tender that they will just fall off the bone. Since the cooking process is slower, and the heat not as high as grilling, barbecue sauce can be brushed onto the meat throughought the cooking process, forming a delicious glaze on the outside of the meat. Apple juice is sometimes sprayed onto the meat to keep it moist and flavorful. Damp wood chips added to the fire add a delicious smoky flavor to the meat.

Some meats, like chicken, will benefit from either cooking method. It's great either grilled quickly with a glaze or barbecue sauce applied towards the end of the cooking time, or slowly barbecued, absorbing the flavors of the smoke.

Entertaining and Cooking - Cooking Foods To Please Your Guests

When entertaining there are many factors to consider. For instance, do you have enough room for entertaining? What is the desired attire? In addition to these you also need to adequately plan you meal. You will want to serve foods that are not only tasty but also go well with each other. Some characteristics to consider when planning the meal are:

Color is Essential - It’s appealing to most people to see a nice color scheme and it’s no different when viewing food. Granted, color of food is not often the main topic of conversation, but psychologically it does have an effect. When serving a bland color of meat try enhancing its color by garnishing it with tomato or pepper relish. Vegetables such as carrots and mashed potatoes topped with a bit of butter also adds color appeal.

Form - Try to serve a variety of sizes, shapes and proportions. By offering variety in form it will visually interest the guests.

Texture - A variety of textures in food is not only appealing to the eye but also the taste buds. When serving something soft and smooth such as soups then accent the taste with something crunchy by serving a crisp salad or crusty hard rolls with the soup.

Choosing the appropriate food to serve is most vital when entertaining. You want your guests to be impressed with your efforts and planning the perfect meal is a must. When deciding what food to serve try to plan foods that go together.