SheSez Lets You In On A Cooking Secret: A Shortcut Worth Taking

I love to cook. I'm a good cook. And, good cooks know that most shortcuts are a no-no. Want to make risotto?  You gotta take the time to make chicken stock. But sometimes I just don't have time to do every single thing a recipe requires - particularly when it comes to desserts.  It's inevitable when I'm having a dinner party. I'm cooking steadily all day, pacing myself,  but then a miscalculation occurs.  Something takes longer than anticipated or a kid needs a ride to Palm Desert to play soccer because, it appears, there aren't enough soccer players here in Los Angeles. Plans for the homemade desert get scratched and, instead,  I make a last minute dash to a bake shop. 

Having said that, there's one shortcut in the kitchen that I believe is worth taking.  Its the pre-made, refrigerated pie crusts by Pillsbury. 

 

                       

                                Fried Pear Pies

      

                                 Tomato, Mozzarella, Basil Pie

Whether I'm making a tomato pie or fried pear pies like in the recipe that the New York Times Magazine offered up last weekend (this pear recipe, by the way is incredible and worth a post all of its own! I changed it up a bit - mixing apples and pears -  and topping the pies with ice cream and guests went wild!), I use these crusts.  You get two, rolled out flat dough circles, so if you are making a pie, there's a bottom and a top.  The baked dough is light, flaky and incredibly tasteful.  

I can't tell you how many times I've heard, "Wow, this crust is delicious!  I've got to get this recipe."  Of course I just smile and let 'em think I'm incredible.  

P.S.  One good secret deserves another. What is your favorite shortcut?  Would love to hear in the comment box below.

Comments

[Suzie Egan]

My favorite shortcut is a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store. I use it for chicken salads, white bean chicken chili, chicken stew, chicken caeser wraps for my kids lunches. The chicken is moist and delicious and dinner or lunch can be "homemade" in minutes. In almost any recipe that calls for cooked chicken breasts that are going to be combined with other ingredients, the rotisserie chicken can be substituted and the prep time cut in half.

[Sybelle Sprague]

My favorite shortcut is to buy chopped onions, celery, carrots and garlic from the grocery store. I love to make homemade soup and the most time consuming part is to chop the veggies, buy them chopped, along with a good quality pre made chicken stock, and you can make a great homemade soup. Serve with grilled Gruyere on Sourdough sandwiches and you have a great weeknight dinner.

[Christine Mason]

Parchment paper - never bother to grease a cookie sheet, pp works wonders. You can also roll it up and use as a funnel, you know for when you've dished out too much sugar/flour and have to put it back in the container!
Also, Trader Joe's chocolate croissants - as long as you remember to take them out the night before to rise, no one would know they weren't from Le Pain!