Cooking Exceptionally With Gin Lee

Homemade mixed pepper flakes Today, I am dehydrating a mix of different colored bell peppers to create mixed pepper flakes for seasoning. To prepare this seasoning mix you can use any type of peppers that you have on hand. However, if you prefer spicy red pepper flakes, use mostly cayenne peppers. Bell, chili, habanero, jalapeño, serrano, and Thai peppers are some of the other peppers that can be used to create homemade pepper flakes. Mixed pepper flakes can be used in various ways, in many recipes, sprinkled on pizzas, tacos, and salads to add an additional peppy flavor. To dehydrate peppers, there's no need to blanch them first. Just wash them well, cut off the stems, de-seed them, and slice them into thin strips. If you want flavor, but don't want the heat, use bell peppers only. For mild heat, use jalapeño peppers mixed with bell peppers. To make spicier pepper flakes use cayenne, or opt for a mixture of chili, habanero, jalapeño, serrano, and Thai peppers. And if you'd...

  Stewed Chicken Full Recipe for Tender Chicken and Rich Gravy A good stewed chicken recipe gives you tender meat, savory gravy, and a hearty meal from one pot. The key is to brown the chicken first, cook the aromatics in the same pan, then simmer everything gently until the meat pulls tender from the bone. This method also gives the gravy a rich taste without complicated steps. The recipe below includes ingredient swaps, cooking tips, serving ideas, storage guidance, and fixes for thin gravy, dry chicken, or uneven cooking. Build Deep Flavor With the Right Stewed Chicken Ingredients The best stewed chicken starts with dark meat and a well-seasoned base. Bone-in pieces add flavor as they cook, while onions, garlic, herbs, and stock create a savory sauce. Tomato paste adds color and depth, but you can leave it out for a lighter brown gravy. Choose the Best Chicken Cuts for Stewing Use 2 1/2 to 3 pounds of bone-in chicken thighs, drumsticks, or a mix of both. Skin-on pieces offer ext...

Bisquick griddle biscuits Griddles aren't just for cooking pancakes and hamburgers. Today, I am making Bisquick drop biscuits. This is a simple but yummy biscuit recipe, and since Bisquick already has leavening ingredients added to the mix, the only other ingredient you'll need to add is milk. Ingredients: 2 cups Bisquick mix 3/4 cup of milk Instructions: Mix two cups of Bisquick mix with three-fourths of a cup of milk. Combine well.  Allow the dough to sit for at least ten minutes. Turn your griddle on (low heat) to 250 degrees F to 350 degrees F (medium heat). Spray cooking spray on the surface of your griddle or use oil or butter to coat it before placing the biscuits on the griddle.  Now, place your biscuits on the warm griddle. Since I didn't roll my dough this time, I just dropped spoonfuls of the biscuit dough on it.  Place a metal lid over your biscuits to keep the heat inside the cover, and cook the biscuits for about 12 to 15 minutes. Flip the biscuits about mid...

  Shellfish Used to Be Prison Food? How Oysters Became a Luxury A raw oyster can cost several dollars today, yet oysters once fed workers, families, and people in public institutions. The phrase shellfish prison food comes from this older reality, when coastal shellfish were cheap, local, and easy to collect. It doesn’t mean every prison served oysters or that shellfish had one fixed social class. It points to a time when oysters, clams, mussels, and other shore foods were everyday fare. Why Shellfish Used to Be Prison Food in Some Coastal Cities Oysters were a working person’s food Native oyster beds grew near many early American settlements. People gathered oysters in bays, tidal rivers, and estuaries, often close to where they lived. Clams, mussels, and periwinkles added more choices, especially for coastal families with limited income. Oysters appeared in stews, pies, soups, and simple meals served with bread. Vendors sold them in busy port towns, while households bought them ...

Bisquick skillet breakfast This recipe can almost be considered as a breakfast pizza, but it could also be considered a casserole. Instead of making a pizza crust, I opted to make a simple Bisquick biscuit crust for the bottom layer. So it's one big biscuit with scrambled eggs, cooked sausages, chopped peppers, diced onions, and gooey cheese on top. It can be sliced like a pizza or scooped out with a spoon. Ingredients for the dough: 2-½ cups of Bisquick (homemade biscuit mix or any other type of purchased biscuit mix would work as well) ½ cup of water To make the dough, add the following ingredients together in a bowl (just like you're making biscuits). Seasoning salt and freshly ground pepper to taste 4-5 eggs, scrambled 1-2 banana peppers, chopped 1 small onion, diced ½ pound of sausage, cooked (I used ground sausage, but made them into mini meatballs before cooking them. If you want to do the same, just roll the ground sausage by hand into ball shapes, then cook them until ...

One Pot Rice Chili Full Recipe for a Hearty Weeknight Dinner A warm bowl of tender rice, savory beans, sweet vegetables, bold spices, and tomatoes can come together in one pot. This One Pot Rice Chili Full Recipe keeps prep short, dishes to a minimum, and costs low with everyday pantry staples. The rice cooks right in the chili, soaking up the broth and tomato flavor as it softens. You’ll also find easy swaps for meat, beans, vegetables, and toppings, plus tips for keeping the rice tender instead of mushy. Why One-Pot Rice Chili Belongs in Your Weekly Meal Rotation A complete meal made in one pot Rice brings substance, beans add plant-based protein and fiber, and vegetables provide color and texture. Ground beef, turkey, chicken, or extra lentils can make the chili even more filling. Cooking the rice in the tomato broth gives each grain more flavor than plain boiled rice. It also means you won’t need a second pan for a side dish. Budget-friendly pantry ingredients Canned beans, tomatoe...

Cathead Biscuits Rest assured, no cats were harmed in the making of these delicious biscuits! The name "cathead biscuits" simply refers to their size, as they are roughly the size of a cat's head once baked. These biscuits are a Southern tradition, known for their large size and fluffy texture. Enjoy them as a savory side dish or a sweet treat with jam or honey. Ingredients: 3 cups of self-rising flour 1/2 teaspoon of seasoning salt 3 tablespoons of lard, vegetable shortening, or softened butter 1 1/2 cups of evaporated milk 4 tablespoons of melted butter (for brushing the tops of baked biscuits) Instructions: In a mixing bowl, combine 3 cups of self-rising flour and 1/2 teaspoon of seasoning salt. Mix the ingredients thoroughly. Next, add 3 tablespoons of lard, vegetable shortening, or softened butter to the flour mixture. Incorporate the fat into the flour using a pastry cutter or fork until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. This step is crucial for achieving a flaky...

  Sliced Zucchini and Tomato Casserole Bake with Gooey Cheese A bubbling sliced zucchini and tomato casserole bake turns everyday vegetables into a colorful, comforting dish. Tender zucchini, juicy tomato slices, garlic, herbs, and melted cheese come together in one shallow baking dish. Patting the vegetables dry, using firm produce, and resting the casserole after baking help prevent a watery result. Why This Sliced Zucchini and Tomato Casserole Bake Belongs on Your Table Fresh vegetables create bright, comforting flavor Mild zucchini balances the sweet acidity of ripe tomatoes. Melted cheese adds savory depth and a rich, gooey finish. Each bite has tender zucchini, softened tomato, and a golden cheese topping. Garlic, Italian seasoning, basil, oregano, black pepper, or red pepper flakes can shape the flavor. The bake works especially well during summer, when zucchini and tomatoes are plentiful. A short ingredient list delivers a satisfying dish The base needs sliced zucchini, sl...