| Cooking Hints from Food Network Kitchens: Brining, Gravy and Sugar Substitute |
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Food Network Kitchens Birds for Brining If you are planning on brining your Thanksgiving turkey -- a popular technique of soaking in a salt solution to enhance its flavor and keep it moist -- don't use a self-basting or kosher bird. These turkeys are already processed with salt and brining would be saline overkill. Quick Fix for Thin Gravies Beurre Manie, which means kneaded butter in French, is the perfect last-minute thickener for thin gravies and sauces. Mix equal parts all-purpose flour and soft butter together to make a smooth paste. Scoop a bit of the beurre manie onto the tip of a whisk, then briskly stir it into the sauce. Bring the sauce to a vigorous boil. If it's still too thin, add more beurre manie, but make sure you boil each addition before adding more. The starch in the flour doesn't thicken until it reaches the higher temperature. Sugar Substitute If you are substituting granulated sugar for honey, use 1-1/4 cups sugar per cup honey, and add 1/4 cup more liquid to the recipe. (For more information, visit www.foodtv.com. Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service.)
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