Double Boilers: The Simple Art of Using One! | Wednesday’s In the Know

For those of you that hear the mention of a double boiler in a recipe and simply haven’t a clue what it means or what purpose it serves, today’s post has you covered. Let’s start from the beginning…

What is a double boiler:

A double boiler consists of two pots: the bottom pot is slightly bigger than the top pot and consists of ¼ – ½ cup of water. The top pot fits snug inside the bottom pot but isn’t as deep so that the bottom surface never comes in contact with the water below. The top pot also contains the ingredient at hand, like chocolate.  The steam from the water in the bottom pot is then trapped by the pot above, which keeps a nice hot environment.

What is the purpose of a double boiler:

The purpose is to gently heat, melt or “cook” the ingredients in the pot above without ever coming in direct contact with the heat source. In this situation, steam acts as a source of heat and works perfectly for sensitive and fragile objects, like chocolate, butter and eggs in the pot above. Heck, this is also a great way to keep sauces – and even gravy – warm for dinner!

If I don’t want to purchase a double boiler, how else can I cook with this affect?

A saucepan with a fitted tempered bowl – which most glass bowls are, like Pyrex, but worth double checking – will work just as well. Just make sure the water in the saucepan doesn’t come in direct contact with the bowl above – the water level should be high enough to create steam but low enough that it doesn’t evaporate quickly. Keep an eye on the water level and if the water starts boiling or resulting in too much heat, adjust the temperature adding more water as needed.  I usually start with ¼ – ½ cup water in the pot below and go from there.

How do I stir the contents in the saucepan – or bowl – above without the entire unit moving and the steam burning my hands?

Either wear a kitchen mitt while holding the top pot or bowl in place as you whisk with the other hand, or wrap a kitchen towel around the hand securing the pot or bowl while using your other hand to whisk.

For other terrific tips and hundreds of recipes, visit my website (thetabletogether.com). While there, consider “subscribing” and I will send a new tip or blog post directly to your inbox every Tuesday and Wednesday morning!

P.S. Make sure you check out my YouTube channel, The Table Together with Tiffany Lewis, solely dedicated to bringing all of these fantastic tips and recipes to life!

Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

Hosting an Unforgettable New Year's Celebration with Minimal Effort and Maximum Appeal! | Wednesday’s In the Know

You may not believe it, or want to, but New Year’s is in just a few days. Breathe…..

Today, I am going to offer some simple, easy and last minute tips for hosting an unforgettable New Year’s celebration with minimal effort and maximum appeal.

Location: 

• In the business world, they say location is everything. Funny fact, that's the same when it comes to throwing a party! Whether at home, the local cozy pub, cellar or at Jonathan Gold’s latest 5-star establishment in LA,  the "where" really sets the tone for the evening at hand. Although my apartment may be small, I love hosting parties at home so that people can dress casual, lines are short – wait, what lines? –  food and dips are of abundance and you control every element…even the coat check and dancefloor.

Time:

• Think later than earlier as your guests have to last till midnight! Unless you have dinner and activities planned, consider a later start time, like 8:00 pm where appetizers and drinks offer merriment until the ball drops!

Menu:

• Heavy hors d'oeuvres, or finger food is ample especially with a later start time. If earlier, guests will expect dinner which simply put, is great but adds more to your to-do list.

Drinks:

• Less is more! Consider a signature cocktail or minimally stock the bar to keep it from getting cluttered while saving on the pocket book. Or, consider looking at yesterday’s post “Stocking the Bar Cart: Celebrating New Years with all the Fixings” – for some fun ideas when it comes to stocking your bar cart!

Invite List:

• Before you invite the entire neighborhood, keep in mind the size of your party and space at hand. Yes, more is often merrier, but when hosting at home, there comes to a point where you just don’t have enough room or chairs.

Plateware and Serviceware:

• Disposables may be the “easier” choice but it also costs more than using what you have on hand. Yes, you may need to cozy up to the dishwasher after your guests leave, but if money is tight, here is one way to keep costs down while keeping a sophisticated touch. If looking for disposables, Smarty Had a Party and JB Prince are my fav!

 Games or Activity:

• Consider having an activity or board games on hand to not only help keep you awake till midnight, but offer a fun touch for the evening.  One of my favorite activities is offering gold envelopes, fancy pens and stationary for a New Year resolution station. Simply put, your guests write their New Year resolutions on stationary, seal them in an envelope and take with them for the big reveal next year!

Decorations:

• No need to re-decorate for New Year’s Eve! Keep your Christmas decorations going strong straight to 2017!

And with that, here’s to an incredible, delightful, festive, show-stopping and safe New Year’s celebration surrounded by those that you love!

For other terrific tips and hundreds of recipes, visit my website (thetabletogether.com). While there, consider “subscribing” and I will send a new tip or blog post directly to your inbox every Tuesday and Wednesday morning!

P.S. Make sure you check out my YouTube channel, The Table Together with Tiffany Lewis, solely dedicated to bringing all of these fantastic tips and recipes to life!

Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

Showstopping Quick & Easy Christmas Tablescapes | Wednesday’s In the Know!

As I mentioned a few weeks ago for Thanksgiving, when it comes to creating a memorable, simple yet elegant tablescape for any celebration, it’s important to remember, less is more! Just in time for Christmas, let me show you how to quickly dress up your tablescape with minimal effort and maximum appeal.

Tell a Story, Start a Conversation:

• Your table should always tell a story! It’s Christmas, a birthday, Easter, spring, summer, Fourth of July, etc. Make sure the table is set for the occasion or celebration at hand and all touches and elements lead back to the story. Without a story or focus, it’s easy to loose sight on the vision which quickly leads to mismatched pieces and no synergy. Be thoughtful of each component, from the linens and cutlery, to plateware and glassware, ensuring they all play a part in the overall story.

Elements of Texture:

• When setting the tablescape, think about adding texture throughout. Personally speaking, diversity in texture and height across the scape, is a fundamental component to a breathtaking tablescape!
• For Thanksgiving, I like adding eucalyptus leaves and branches weaving throughout my Glassybaby collection and finishing with Melissa’s produce crabapples and pears for a lovely finishing touch. For Christmas, think about ornaments, ferns and greenery, branches, and even pinecones to add a simple yet sophisticated touch of winter with minimal effort and maximum appeal.

Add Color:

• Keep the tone and hue consistent and relative to the season while staying on track with your “story.”
• For fall, think earth tones like amber, cream and browns where Christmas surrounds itself with greens and reds.

Edible Arrangements:

• Think about using the season’s bounty of produce to help add a festive and seasonal touch to your display. Right now, crabapples, kumquats, and even mini pears, are inexpensive, edible and practical. And, if nothing else, it’s a fun takeaway for your guests to enjoy on their way home.

Keep it Simple:

• Remember, less is more and “breathing” room or “white space” is appreciated! Keep the tablescape simple and streamlined while allowing plenty of room for passed platters, and of course, mom’s homemade popovers.

Consider the Height:

• Keep your tablescape low so that you can easily carry a conversation with those across the table from you.
• Super tall vases with over the top flowers, for example, can absolutely look show-stopping, but make it hard to connect those tightly nestled around the table together.

For other terrific tips and hundreds of recipes, including several perfect for your holiday celebration like my Peanut “Butterfinger” Fudge, All-American Apple Pie, and Roasted Chipollini Onions perfect for accompanying with a Mustard Crusted Bone-In Standing Prime Rib Roast, visit my website (thetabletogether.com). While there, consider “subscribing” and I will send a new tip or blog post directly to your inbox every Tuesday and Wednesday morning!

P.S. Make sure you check out my YouTube channel, The Table Together with Tiffany Lewis, solely dedicated to bringing all of these fantastic tips and recipes to life!

Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

Setting the Table | Wednesday’s In the Know!

When it comes to entertaining, there are many things we must think about. From selecting the flower arrangements, to creating the playlist, choosing wines to accompany, and even a signature cocktail, oh and wait, the menu, we must capture all these details for a successful evening!  One thing that is often forgotten about till the last minute, or simply not paid much attention to at all, is setting the table. However important this step may be, if not one of the most important details for setting the evening’s tone, is something so often overlooked. Today, I am going to show you how to quickly and properly set the table while providing some tips on doing so in a fun, festive and celebratory manner regardless of the celebrations at hand.

Setting the Table: A skill we should all know, a proper place setting is one sure way to impress your guests while letting them know you were expecting their company and are ready for the evenings gathering. Here is a quick rundown:

Plates: In order from bottom to top:

• Charger:  If using, a charger adds a sophisticated touch to the evening, even if the evening doesn’t require one.
• Dinner Plate: Your main dinner plate.
• Salad Plate: If serving.
• Soup Bowl: If serving.

Bread Plate:

• Top left corner of your dinner plate with the butter knife on top.
• Tip to remember which side: Make a “b” by pressing your thumb and pointer finger together. Whichever hand makes a “b” (left hand vs. right hand) that’s the side of the dinner plate the bread and butter plate should be. Answer? It’s your left hand as your right hand makes a “d”.

Silverware: Always set the silverware from the outside in (toward the dinner plate) in the order they accompany each course. For example, if serving a salad, the salad fork should be to the far left as it is the first fork that will be used. Next up, dinner fork to its’ right.

•  Forks: Left side of the dinner plate.
• Knives & Spoons: To the right of the dinner plate. The spoon should be to the far right, with the knife to its left. Again, organize in the order of courses served. For example, if serving soup, the soup spoon should be to the far right.
• Dessert Fork: Directly centered above the dinner plate with the fork teeth facing the right.
• Coffee Spoon: Directly centered above the dinner plate, above the dessert fork, with the top of the spoon facing the left.

Napkins: There are numerous ways to fold a napkin, but before you try your luck at origami, think “less is more!”

• Napkin Rings: With so many festive napkin rings to choose from depending on the season and occasion at hand, this is one of my go to options as it’s so quick and looks great! Neatly nestle your napkins in napkin rings and place in the middle of the dinner plate or to the left of the dinner plate by your fork.
• Folded: In a neat rectangle or square under your fork.
• Draped: Fold into a rectangle, and drape off the top plate toward your lap.
• Tucked: Fold into a rectangle, and tuck between the dinner and salad plate with a small portion draping toward your lap.

Glasses: Water glass, red and white wine glasses…yes there is an order in which they should be placed! All should be to the right of your dinner plate at the tip of your knife or spoon. They should be arranged in this order starting at the tip of the knife with your water glass and angling toward the top of the dinner plate with the white then red:

• Water Glass
• White Wine Glass
• Red Wine Glass

Tablescapes: Yes, you should add a few adornments to your tabletop but it doesn’t have to be complex or take your hours to build as simple is best! Think about what’s in season and use its’ bounty. From crabapples to kumquats, and pears, showcase their beauty as they weave throughout your table scape. Branches (like Eucalyptus leaves found at most grocery stores and floral shops), fall leaves and even seashells depending on the season, add an inexpensive touch of the season at hand while providing great depth and purpose.

·Simple Place Setting Adornments: Top each charger, plate or napkin with a seashell, small apple, pear, kumquat or “ingredient” from the season’s bounty as a fun and festive way to welcome each guest to their spot around the table together!

With simple touches like those above, you immediately set the tone for a fun evening ahead.

For other terrific tips and hundreds of recipes, perfect for entertaining a small or large crowd, visit my website (thetabletogether.com). While there, consider “subscribing” and I will send a new tip or blog post directly to your inbox every Tuesday and Wednesday morning!

P.S. Make sure you check out my YouTube channel, The Table Together with Tiffany Lewis, solely dedicated to bringing all of these fantastic tips and recipes to life!

Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

The Ultimate Baking Guide: 5 Steps to Becoming a Better Baker | Wednesday’s In the Know!

With the holidays quickly approaching, you wouldn’t believe the number of questions I get when it comes to baking. To help answer all your sweet (pun intended) culinary questions, I have turned to The Food Network Kitchens for their complete and thorough rundown! With these simple steps, you will be baking like a champ and the talk of your holiday potluck.

Measure Flour the Right Way:

Flour is tricky – pack it too tightly into a measuring cup, and you might end up with more than a recipe intended. The most-accurate way to measure flour is to weigh it in grams — but not all recipes offer ingredients’ optimal weights (or were even developed with weight in mind).

In our Food Network Kitchen, we aerate the flour a little with a fork, spoon it into a measuring cup, and then level it off — many other pros follow this procedure, too. But other recipe writers might prefer a different method, which could alter how you approach their recipes. In cookbooks and magazines, look for advice in the recipe headers, cook’s notes, or index. But when in doubt, go with our method and adjust the amount next time, if necessary. – The Food Network Kitchens

Make Friends with Parchment:

Parchment helps food lift easily off baking sheets and pans, but it’s handy in other ways, too. For instance, sift dry ingredients onto a piece of parchment, lift up the sides, and use it like a funnel to minimize spills as you’re adding ingredients to a mixing bowl. Or, keep pie dough from sticking to your work surface by rolling it out sandwiched between two pieces of parchment (which also make transporting the dough less cumbersome). – The Food Network Kitchens

Give Eggs Some Space:

It’s frustrating to have to fish eggshells out of a mixing bowl filled with ingredients. Minimize the unwanted crunch by cracking eggs into a separate bowl and then adding them to the mix. This will ensure you never ruin your batter with a bad egg, either. ­– The Food Network Kitchens

Warm Ingredients to Room Temperature — Fast: 

Lots of recipes call for room-temperature eggs or butter, but how many of us always forget to pull them out of the fridge early enough? (Answer: all of us.) A couple of tricks will dispel the problem: Place eggs in a bowl of warm water for about 5 minutes to remove the chill, and cut cold butter into super-thin slices, which will help soften it up much more quickly. – The Food Network Kitchens

Get a Lift with Foil:

Before making brownies or bar cookies, line your baking pan with a piece of foil large enough to hang over at least two sides. Grease the foil, add the batter, and bake as you would normally. When your treat is done and cooled, use the foil overhang as handles to easily lift your goodies out of the pan. – The Food Network Kitchens

For other terrific tips and hundreds of recipes, including tons of baked sweets like my Famous Chocolate Chunk Pecan Cookies, Banana Streusel Muffins, Chocolate Pecan Fudge, Brown Sugar Cardamom Cake, and even Espresso Brownies – to name a few –  visit my website (thetabletogether.com). While there, consider “subscribing” and I will send a new tip or blog post directly to your inbox every Tuesday and Wednesday morning!

P.S. Make sure you check out my YouTube channel, The Table Together with Tiffany Lewis, solely dedicated to bringing all of these fantastic tips and recipes to life!

Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!