The Vocabulary of Cooking....L and M

Happy 4th of July everyone!  

This Thursday for Vocabulary Day we will study terms for the letter L and M.  Do you like lemons?  If so, look for a nice recipe under the L's.  Happy learning!

Latke is a fried pancake usually make from potatoes and sometimes onions.  Usually served with sour cream.  A side of apple sauce is good, too.   YUMMY!!!!

Latkes and Sour Cream

Leeks are part of the onion family, but they have a more subtle, mellow flavor and become really tender and silky when cooked.

Leek

Legumes are vegetables such as beans, lentils, and split peas.

Linguine is long, narrow, slightly flattened strands of pasta.

Lox is salt cured salmon.

Lox, serves on a bagel with cream cheese

Lemon Curd is a thick, creamy spread that is made by cooking together lemon juice, egg yolks and sugar.

Lemon Curd Recipe

3 large lemons, zested and juiced

1 cup sugar

4 eggs

½ cup melted butter

• Place zest and sugar in food processor and blend.  Add juice and eggs and blend until smooth.  Slowly add melted butter.  Blend until well incorporated.
• Place mixture in the top of a double boiler.  Allow the water to only come to a simmer.  Stir until mixture thickens.  DO NOT let it come to a boil.  Pour lemon curd in a covered container and allow it to chill completely in refrigerator.
• This will last for about 3 weeks in the refrigerator.

Lemon Zest is the flavorful, yellow outer skin of a lemon that has the essential oils.  (remember when zesting a lemon to only zest the yellow part.  The white part, called the pith, is bitter.

Lemongrass is a fragrant ingredient used in Asian cooking which has a citrusy aroma.

Macerating is the process of sweetening fruit with sugar and resting.

Manchego cheese has a distinctive black-printed rind and is a very well known Spanish cheese.

Manchego Cheese

Marinade is a mixture or sauce used to impart flavor on something. A marinade not only adds flavor but often tenderizes as well.

Mascarpone cheese is a soft, rich, buttery cheese made from fresh cream.  It looks very similar to cream cheese, but is a touch sweeter.

Meringue is whipped sugar and egg whites.

Microplane is a tool that grates ingredients like nutmeg, garlic, lemon zest to a very fine finish.

Microplane

Mis en place is to "set in place."  This term is used to describe preparing your work area with the tools and ingredients you need to make a dish.

Mole (mo-lay) is a complex, savory Mexican sauce which include chocolate.

Mole

From Terry and Pam, the 2 Prickly Pears...

Have a happy and safe holiday!