How to Make Buffalo Wings 2015

Whether you prefer them baked or fried, you can whip up your own wings with just three basic steps - 1.  Prepare the wings, 2.  Cook them by frying or baking, and 3.  Sauce them up. 

Step 1

Cut the Wings

Chicken wings have three parts, two of which are used to make Buffalo wings. There's the meaty drumstick-like part, the two-boned center portion, and the small, almost meatless wing tip. To make Buffalo wings, you need to separate them into these three parts.

To separate, lay each wing on a cutting board and cut off the wing tip. Since there's almost no meat on them, discard the wing tips. Next, cut through the remaining joint to separate the drumstick-like and center sections. These two meaty pieces will become the Buffalo wings.

TIP

If you'd like to make preparation even easier, use precut frozen chicken wings from the grocery store.

Step 2

Oil or Flour Your Wings

If you're baking the wings, the only thing left to do to prepare them is to toss them with a little bit of olive oil, salt, and pepper. Simply place the wing pieces in a big ol' bowl, give them a drizzle and a sprinkle, and toss until they're well coated.  

If frying the wings, give them a good coating of flour first.  This step is optional, but it gives the finished wings a nice crisp skin. To flour-coat, place a bit of all purpose flour, salt, and pepper in a zip-top bag. Place about four or five wing pieces in the zip-top bag at a time, close the bag, and give them a good shake.

Step 3

Fry the Wings

To fry the wings, place enough vegetable or canola oil to cover the wings completely in a deep fryer, cast iron skillet, or deep frying pan. The oil should be at least about one inch deep and heated to 350 to 375 degrees.

Once the oil is at temperature, use tongs to gently place in several wings, taking care not to crowd the pan. A crowded pan doesn't allow enough room around the wings for them to cook properly and lowers the oil temperature too quickly. Cook the wing pieces for about 10 to 12 minutes until the skin turns deep golden brown, turning occasionally with a large spoon, tongs, or a spatula to ensure even cooking.

Remove cooked wings to a platter lined with several layers of paper towels to drain.  Repeat with remaining wings, allowing oil to reheat between batches.

TIP

It's important the oil be at temperature before adding the wings or they will absorb too much oil, be greasy and lack the nice crispy skin.

Step 4

Bake the Wings

For the baking method, line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and spray the foil generously with non-stick cooking spray. Place wing pieces on the pan in a single layer, taking care not to crowd the pan.  Leaving space between the wings helps them bake up nice and crisp.

Bake at 400 degrees for 45 minutes, using tongs to turn the wings over one time during baking.  If the wings stick a bit, don't worry.  Just give them a gentle wiggle back and forth with your tongs and they'll let go of the pan.

Step 5

Sauce Up Your Wings

Whisk together your favorite cayenne pepper sauce and some melted butter in a large bowl, using approximately 1/4 cup cayenne pepper sauce and one tablespoon butter for every pound of wings. To sauce up your wings, put a few at a time into the bowl of sauce and toss with tongs or a fork until well coated.

Step 6

Wet or Dry?

Prefer your wings "wet" and dripping with sauce? Transfer them directly to a serving platter. Rather have them "drier?" Place them back on the baking pan and pop them in a hot oven for about three minutes. The sauce will set on the wings.

How to Frost a Layer Cake 2015

How to Frost a Layer Cake

 

Frosting a layer cake can seem intimidating, but with a little patience and a few tips on technique, you can frost like a pro.

TIP

To ensure success, wait to frost your cake until it’s completely cooled to room temperature — approximately 4 hours or more after baking.

Step 1

Level the Cake Layers

Often when you bake a cake, the layers turn out uneven, but leveling takes care of that. Simply slice lightly across the top of any high spots on each layer using a bread knife or other serrated knife.

Step 2

Prep Your Cake Stand

Begin by cutting a round of cardboard to fit the size of your cake. Place the cardboard in the center of your cake stand — it will help you rotate the cake while you are frosting.

Then, with your homemade frosting,
 spread a few tablespoons in a thin layer on the cardboard. Center one cake layer on it, anchoring the cake with the frosting. Secondly, place four strips of parchment or wax paper on the platter around the cake, with the edges just barely tucked under. This will keep your serving platter clean.

TIP

The best utensil to use for frosting a cake is an offset icing spatula. It gives you the most control while you work. If you don’t have one, try an icing spatula or a butter knife.

Step 3

Frost Between the Cake Layers

Start by placing about 3/4 cup of frosting in the center of the base layer and gently pushing the frosting toward the cake edges with the spatula. Be careful to keep the frosting level so you have a nice even layer when you cut into the cake.

Step 4

Add Layers

Place the next cake layer on top of the frosting, aligning the edges. Very gently press the cake layer in place. If you're making a three-layer cake, spread frosting on the second layer the same way and top with the third cake layer. Once the inside layers of frosting are finished, it’s time to get down to business.

Step 5

Create a Crumb Coat

Making a crumb coat is the No. 1 rule when frosting a layer cake. A crumb coat is a thin layer of frosting that seals in crumbs and keeps them from ruining the final look of your cake. To create it, use your spatula to spread a small amount of frosting across the top of the cake. Then scoop about 2 tablespoons of frosting at a time onto the tip of the spatula and gently smear onto the side, working to cover the entire surface. 

TIP

After the crumb coat is in place, refrigerate the cake for 10 minutes to set the frosting. This keeps crumbs from getting into your final frosting layer.

Step 6

Frost Over the Crumb Coat

Next, apply a thick layer of frosting over the crumb coat. Start by placing about 3/4 cup of frosting in the center of the cake. Use the spatula to gently pull the frosting toward the cake edges, working to keep the frosting layer even. Make sure to evenly frost the sides as well.

Step 7

Create a Shiny Seal

To create a smooth surface, dip your spatula in warm water, shake off any excess water and glide the bottom of the spatula along the surface of the frosting. When the spatula begins to stick to the frosting, simply dip it in the warm water again and continue smoothing.

Continue dipping and gliding until the entire surface of the cake is smooth.

TIP

If a completely smooth cake isn’t your thing, use the back of a spoon to make swirls in the frosting.

Step 8

Clean Up & Serve

Once your cake is complete, gently pull out the parchment or wax-paper strips, revealing your nice, clean serving plate. Now, cut a slice of that beautiful cake and enjoy.

How to Make Caramel 2015

How to Make Caramel

This incredibly rich, yet simple, sauce will take your favorite desserts to a whole new level of deliciousness, and with steps this easy, there's almost no reason not to try it.

Step 1

GATHER YOUR INGREDIENTS

Get your ingredients ready before you begin, because once you start, things move fast. You’ll need: 1 cup of granulated sugar, 1/4 cup water, 3/4 cup heavy cream, 3 tablespoons butter and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. 

Equipment-wise, you’ll need a heavy-bottomed pot, a spoon and a whisk. 

TIP

You can use a candy thermometer for added assurance, but with caramel, visual cues can often be a better indicator than temperature.

Step 2

DISSOLVE THE SUGAR IN WATER

Combine the sugar and water in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook and stir the mixture until the sugar is completely dissolved and has begun to boil. Once the sugar has completely dissolved (it should look clear), you can stop stirring and let the mixture boil undisturbed. 

TIP

If you're using a candy thermometer, attach it to the side of the pot so that the bulb of the thermometer is submerged in the sugar, but not touching the bottom of the pot.

Step 3

ALLOW THE MIXTURE TO CARAMELIZE

As the sugar mixture boils, the water will evaporate and the mixture will start to change color. This color change signals the caramelization process, which gives caramel its deep, rich flavor. 

If sugar crystals build up on the walls of the pot as the mixture boils, brush the sides with a wet pastry brush to dissolve the sugar back into the pot.

Step 4

REMOVE THE SUGAR FROM THE HEAT

When the sugar mixture reaches a deep amber color, that's when it's time to stop (about 7 to 10 minutes, depending on the heat level). If you're using a candy thermometer, the sugar should reach about 340 degrees F. 

TIP

The sugar can go from amber to burnt in the blink of an eye, so make sure to watch it closely once it starts to change color.

Step 5

ADD THE CREAM

Carefully pour the heavy cream into the caramelized sugar and whisk until the mixture is smooth. The hot sugar will really bubble when it comes into contact with the cream, so pour with caution.

Step 6

ADD THE BUTTER & SALT

Lastly, add the butter and salt, and whisk until smooth. For added flavor, you can also stir in some vanilla extract. 

Step 7

SERVE & ENJOY

If you just can't wait, the caramel can be used immediately, but beware of the temperature. Nothing burns your mouth worse than molten sugar. Drizzle the good stuff over dessert bars, pies, breads, pudding, ice cream and even coffee.

How to Make a Walking Frito Pie 2015

How to Make a Walking Frito Pie

These unique self serve party snacks combine chili and other Tex-Mex toppings right inside a bag of corn chips for a quick, mess-free snack. The best part? Since the chip bag is used as a make-shift dish, there's virtually no cleanup once the party's over. 

Step 1

MAKE CHILI

Walking Frito Pie starts with a batch of your favorite chili. Beans or no beans, any chili will work. Plan on providing about a half cup of chili per Frito pie and one to two Frito pies per guest.

Step 2

GATHER YOUR TOPPINGS

Next, prepare your toppings. The sky's the limit here, but topping commonly used on nachos or tacos will be a great fit. Think shredded lettuce, cheese, sour cream, green onions, jalapeños and cilantro.

Step 3

OPEN YOUR CHIPS

There are two ways to open the chip bags for walking Frito pie. Opening the top of the chip bag is quick and easy, but the smaller opening makes it a little harder to eat. The better way is to turn the bag on its side and cut it along the long edge with a pair of scissors so the opening is nice and big. 

TIP

Before opening the chip bag, give it a quick squeeze to slightly crush the chips. This helps them mix with the other ingredients and make the chips a more fork friendly size.

Step 4

MAKE A DISPLAY BAG

Display the bags of corn chips for your guests with plenty of forks and napkins, plus an example bag to help get the ball rolling.

Step 5

ASSEMBLE & ENJOY

Surround the chips with the prepared toppings, keep the chili warm in a slow cooker near by, and let your guests go to town. With less effort required on your part, these self-serve Walking Frito Pies will let you to get out of the kitchen and enjoy the party.