You can make fresh and delicious pie crust using a food processor at home. Freshly made dough gives you the best flakey layers. So let’s begin with the necessary ingredients.

The process requires only a few ingredients easily found in your home. You will need some food-grade plastic wrap to freeze the dough.

1. Flour: Use any unflavored all-purpose flour to base a pie crust. If you are a beginner, go for all-purpose or refined flour because it will be easy to handle. But if you are a little experienced, go for any flour like wheat or pastry dough to get a nice texture on your pie crust.

2. Sugar: This is totally optional. If you like your pie crust a little sweeter, go for it. Be careful while adding sugar because this may loosen the dough and make it hard to roll out. Adding sugar provides a nice rich brown color to the pie crust

3. Salt: Just use a pinch of table salt and mix it thoroughly; adding salt will unlock the flavors of the pie crust.

4. Ice Water: Ice water will give the dough a strong fix, holding it together. Add some ice cubes into a small water bowl and mix until the cubes dissolve. You must add enough water to the dough to make it into a clean ball. Without enough water, the dough might be clumpy and break while kneading. You can substitute water ice cubes with buttermilk, vodka, or orange juice cubes, adding more flavor to your pie crust.

5. Butter: Butter is the main ingredient to get a flaky crust. But, using excess can make the crust tender, and this flavor is strong enough to dominate the flavor of the fillings.

6. Shortening: Adding shortening gives you perfect crimping on the edges of the pie. Although this can make the dough very tender, it is easy to shape your dough. In addition, it has a mild flavor, not as strong as butter.

Many people confuse about what to add to your pie crust. Well, we say add both! Yes, both butter and shortening together. Butter gives a rich flavor, while shortening gives a nice texture to the pie crust. This way, the crust will be easier to shape and assemble too.

Now that you have assembled all your ingredients let’s get into the process.

1. Take a large bowl and add a cup of flour, a single tablespoon of sugar, and a pinch of salt. Mix all the dry ingredients using a whisk or a fork.
2. Add cold butter and chilled shortening pieces into the mixed dry ingredients.
3. Use your hands and toss the butter cubes until they are coated with the flour, and use a fork to cut through the pieces of butter and shortening.
4. Let these be a little chunky, then add 4 spoons of ice cold water to the above mixture and mix it using a non-stick or rubber spatula.
5. Check for the water level required and add at regular intervals; adding whole at a time can create lumps and will be hard to get texture.
6. The dough should not be as loose as a pizza base; it should not be too dry.
7. Adding water is an important step in maintaining the consistency of the pie crust. However, it should still have little clumps so that it would be pizza dough.
8. If you add water all at once, you need extra flour to eliminate the excess water; this will give you a hard and rubbery pie crust.

1. Release the dough onto a clean flat surface or a Silpat mat. Do not forget to dust the base before you place the dough on the floor or the mat.
2. Dust your hands with loose flour and start kneading and shaping the dough
3. into a ball. Add low pressure while kneading the dough, or it might get hard after you bake it.
4. After gathering the dough into a ball, cut it into two halves and roll them into a one-inch thick layer.
5. Then cut the layers into discs and wrap both discs using food-grade plastic wrap.
6. Place the discs in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 hours before you use them. After that, you need them to rest for at least one night to two days to get a perfect texture.
7. You can also store them for three to four months in the freezer.

1. Remove the chilled dough from the refrigerator and let it rest until it reaches room temperature; this will hardly take 5 to 10 mins.
2. After preparing your filling, roll out the discs starting from the center and dust the base properly so it would not stick down.
3. Roll the discs as per the diameter of your pie dish, and let the layer be 4 to five inches more than the diameter of the disc.
4. Now place it in the dish and frame the edges; take the other disc and roll as the previous one. Finally, cut it into strips to make the top of the pie.
5. Place the strips over the filling and arrange designs as you like.

Why buy processed pie crust dough in a supermarket where you can make it at home? We guarantee it will taste much better than the one available on the market. All you need to do is follow our steps to make the best flaky homemade pie crust. Resting the dough properly is the key to the best flaky brown-colored pie crust.

The post How to Make Pie Crust Without a Food Processor appeared first on Kitchen Matts.

If you’re looking for donut pan substitutes, then we’ve got a list full of them. Donut pan substitutes work best when you bake like twice or thrice a year; otherwise, the donut pan will lie in your cupboard all alone.

Just like you check every feature while buying a smartphone, these are the following things that you should check before picking up a donut pan substitute.

When the matter comes to baking, it is important to choose the right material so that your item is baked properly and deliciously. Here are a few materials you should consider.

• Aluminum
• Stainless Steel
• Silicone
• Carbon Steel

We are talking about making donuts here, so the size of the pan is the most important thing to consider. If you use a too-small pan, there will not be enough space to make holes in the donut.

If you’re using the muffin pan as a donut pan substitute, make sure it comes with handles. If the pan has handles, it becomes easy to take it out of the oven.

A muffin pan is a popular substitute for a donut pan. For this, you need a muffin pan, for sure. Apart from this, you need to have aluminum foil or parchment paper and a pair of scissors.

Parchment paper would be a much better option as it is non-stick while the aluminum foil isn’t. That is why aluminum foil is not used as a substitute for parchment paper.

All you need to do is grease the muffin pan with any type of oil. Now use parchment paper and roll it up with a flat bottom. Keep the size only that much to fit inside the muffin pan. Place this roll in the center of the muffin pan. Now using a pastry bag, fill the pan with a donut mixture. Doing this will allow you to avoid any kind of mess.

You can also make your own donut pan when you don’t have one. Just take parchment paper and roll it like a cylinder. Take the foil and wrap it tightly around the cylinder roll to secure it. The thickness totally depends on your choice of donuts. Now make this cylinder into a circle and secure it with tape.

Now for molds, you need to cut a big sheet of foil. Fold this in half and cut it into two pieces. Now put the foil donut (made above) into the middle of this sheet. Add some more foil and wrap it around the edges of this donut. Remove the foil donut placed in the center.

It’s okay if you don’t have any pieces of equipment like a muffin pan, molds, or cutter with you, you can always form a free shape for your donuts. Just put 3 to 4 tablespoons of batter on a baking sheet, and start shaping the batter using your fingers or a spatula. To make it smooth, you can use a spoon.

Keep shaping it until you get the desired shape. Doing this will help flow your creative juices and make you feel happy. Making free-shape donuts is an exciting method.

You can always transform your muffin pan into a donut pan. Just follow these simple steps, and you’re all set.

• Aluminum foil
• Cooking Spray
• Muffin Pan

1. Place a square piece of foil over one of your fingers. Make sure the size is big enough to cover the bottom of each muffin cup.
2. Gently fold up the sides of the foil around your fingers, making a mold.
3. It will look like a cup but with a stick inside. (this is for making the holes in the donut)
4. Place it into the cup and press it.
5. Follow the same for all cups.
6. Now pour the donut cake mixture (any recipe would work) into the molds.
7. Bake the donuts.
8. Take them out after the required time and decorate them the way you like to.

If you don’t have a piping bag, you can always use a zip bag. Just pour the batter inside the zip-top transparent bag and cut the tips to make a pipe. Then, pour it as you would do with a piping bag.

Donuts will always remain in our hearts and our mouths! Now you can easily make donuts at home without taking tension about arranging a donut pan. You don’t have to arrange a donut pan because we have provided you best donut pan substitutes. The muffin pan is the most popular substitute used by most people. And don’t lose your heart even if you don’t have a muffin pan. There’s always a different way. Use your creativity and make free-shape donuts.

Now no more worrying about purchasing a donut pan in a hurry. Just grab all your ingredients, make a batter, and pour it into a muffin pan. As someone said, when there’s a way, there’s a will. There’s always an alternative to everything; you just need the right resources to find it, and we did that for you.

The post Donut Pan Substitutes To Try Right Now appeared first on Kitchen Matts.

Can you make a hamburger helper without meat? Here’s the thing. Water, milk, and meat are all additional ingredients, so it’s okay if you want to cook hamburger helper without meat. It will be a simple macaroni dish for you then. You can also replace meat with something else like lentils.

How to make a hamburger helper without meat?

Some people are non-vegetarian, so they like meat in their hamburger helper. In comparison, vegetarians like to skip the meat part and want something that’ll not compromise the taste of hamburger helper. So here’s how you can make this delicious treat box without meat.

The process is quite simple. The instructions on the hamburger helper box say roast some beef in a pan. You can use the beefless ground instead of beef. It’s totally meat-free and a tasty alternative for vegetarians.

After stirring the beefless ground for one minute, add one cup of milk. Add 2.5 cups of water to it. Stir the ingredients well. Add some rice and the seasoning that came in the box. Let it simmer on low heat for about 20 minutes so that the rice is fully cooked. Make sure to place the lid on the pan for simmering.

Now take 3 tablespoons of milk in a bowl and add the topping mix (it comes with the box too). It’ll look very creamy, and this is your sauce.

Add the dry pasta that came in the box to the pan. Mix it well and let it cook until you get a thick consistency. Use the sauce you made earlier as garnishing, and enjoy your vegetarian macaroni.

How to make a vegan hamburger helper?

Vegans, we’ve got a hamburger helper recipe for you, so don’t go anywhere. It’s super delicious and packed with flavors. It just requires 30 minutes of your time, a pot, and these ingredients.

Ingredients

• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp cooking oil
• 1.5 cups warm vegan broth( you can use vegetable broth too)
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 2 finely minced garlic cloves
• ½ tsp salt or as per your taste
• Diced ½ yellow onion
• 1 tbsp chili powder
• ¼ tsp pepper or as per your taste
• 1 tsp oregano
• Shredded vegan cheese of your preference
• 1.5 cups of unsweetened milk of your preference
• 2 cups pasta of your preference
• 1 lb. emerge grinds

Optional ingredient: 2 tbsp fresh parsley leaves chopped (for garnishing)

Steps

1. Put a large skillet on medium heat, add cooking oil and let it heat. Now add onions and garlic. Saute for about 3-4 minutes or until you see the onions getting transparent. You will also be able to smell the fragrance of garlic.
2. Add the emerge grinds; it’s a vegan alternative for ground beef. Break them using a ladle. Stir occasionally and cook for 6 minutes. When cooked, drain any extra fat.
3. Take a small bowl. Mix pepper, paprika, oregano, salt, chili powder, and cornstarch in the bowl. Sprinkle this mixture in the pan and mix it.
4. Add the milk, pasta, and broth, and let everything boil. Cover with a lid and let it simmer on low heat. Cook it for 10-12 minutes or till the pasta is cooked.
5. You should know that the consistency gets thick as it gets cold.
6. Sprinkle the shredded cheese all over the pasta and mix until it melts.
7. Garnish with parsley and serve it hot.

Secret tip: If you want to do something creative with your vegan hamburger helper, replace the vegetable broth with tomato sauce.

How to store, freeze, and reheat hamburger helper?

Store

You can store the leftovers of your homemade hamburger helper by refrigerating them in an airtight container. You can use them for up to 3 days.

Freeze

You can freeze them in an airtight container when there is so much hamburger helper left. This can be used for up to three months.

Reheat

You can easily reheat your leftovers on a stove on medium heat. You can also reheat them gently in a microwave.

What can you serve with a hamburger helper?

We always want something by the side of our meals like drinks. Here’s what you can serve with your hamburger helper:

• Salad
• Drinks like juices
• Cupcakes

What’s the best part about a homemade hamburger helper?

Yes, the box version can save you a little time on a busy morning or night. But when you make a homemade hamburger helper, it gives you a lot of fresh flavors. You can also control what type of seasoning you want on the plus side. Extra chili powder, here it is. Homemade means you can also choose what type of cheese you want.

References

The post Can you make a hamburger helper without meat? appeared first on Kitchen Matts.

You just need a mortar and pestle to make pesto, just like it’s done traditionally. You can add ingredients of your choice. Do not stick with basil all the time. You can try baby spinach, mint, cilantro, kale, or celery. Basically, any herbs will give the best-flavored pesto.

Pesto, made traditionally, has loads of garlic, seeds, and herbs. Add all the ingredients and work the mortar and pestle. You can use the nuts of your choice, many prefer walnuts and pine nuts, but you can also use sunflower seeds or peanuts. These have vibrant colors, and the texture is literally everything you need for pasta. You can use them along with wraps and sandwiches too. The cheese makes it even more flavorful and soulful.

Pesto is native to Italy, but most of the pesto sauce you encounter anywhere is much different from the original. It is because of the difference in the ingredients and the methods of its preparation. For example, the pesto in Genoa is made from fresh garlic and basil, which are native to their specific region. The basil has more round-shaped leaves, much thicker than the usual ones. They also use specially prepared cheese. So obviously, it’s not surprising when pesto sauce tastes heavenly in Italy.

And many restaurants prefer to make it by chopping and grinding most ingredients using a knife. If you are looking for even textured pesto for your pasta, try the traditional hand chopping method. Follow the instructions and gather the ingredients mentioned below. This batch of pesto sauce can serve 4 to 6 plates of pasta, reduce or increase the quantities as per your requirement.

• 2 large spoons of fresh herbs; you can use baby spinach and cilantro as a substitute for basil.
• 6 to 7 garlic cloves ( use freshly peeled ones, not the canned and pickled ones)
• 1 spoonful of nuts  (sunflower seeds, walnuts, or pine nuts will be the best choices, or even peanuts if you are not allergic to them)
• 125 to 130ml oil  of your choice (olive or sunflower oil will taste the best )
• 2 cubes of grated cheese ( Parmesan and Pecorino)
• 1 small tablespoon of white wine
• Salt and pepper as per your taste

1. Take a fresh chopping board and make sure it is dry.
2. Start peeling the garlic cloves and crush them down with a knife. Put the little crushed garlic cloves and put them into the mortar.
3. Use the pestle and work out with it for a smooth smashed texture of garlic.
4. Then add in the basil or the herbs and grind till it is a smooth paste.
5. Add nuts and salt to taste and mix it up.
6. Then add enough oil along with cheese and mix. Pecorino cheese is very important if you want that authentic Italian pesto.
7. In the end, add white wine and pepper, add oil if it is not creamy, and mix.
8. Use it fresh or freeze it for a week and use it every day.

There are many best ways to use pesto sauce; you can make delicious pasta. This could be the best sauce substitute for pizza if you are out of pizza sauce. Add loads of mozzarella cheese on the top and enjoy. You can use it for grilling veggies and cottage cheese for amazing appetizers. If you are looking for breakfast options, try hash browns, baked potatoes, and pesto. Many love to add a nice dollop of pesto to omelets; this adds a lovely flavor to them.

You can store pesto sauce in freeze bags inside a freezer. This will keep it fresh for four days. Ensure you have enough oil left while you freeze it, so it will not spoil quickly.

Just scoop some frozen sauce and drizzle hot pasta water on it so it will be easy to mix in with gnocchi or other pasta. For extra fun, sprinkle some lemon zest on the top. This will make a perfect meal if you wanna impress someone.

Pesto sauce is the perfect deal for someone looking for a garlicky touch for their meal. Making pesto sauce is a little tricky, but once you master it, you will never buy it from a store. Add any herbs of your choice, and it’s gonna turn yum. Just check the oil content to get the perfect creamy pesto sauce.

1. https://www.fda.gov/media/102587/download

The post How to Make Pesto Without a Food Processor appeared first on Kitchen Matts.

Can you make a hamburger helper without milk? Whether you don’t like milk or don’t have it, you can use its substitutes to make a hamburger helper. However, your hamburger helper might lack thick consistency without using milk or any substitutes.

Hamburger helper without milk

Milk brings thick and creamy consistency to hamburger helper, making the pasta tasty. Without it, your pasta might look dull and taste like regular pasta. You can use so many alternatives to milk while making a packet of hamburger helper. Here’s the process of making hamburger helper without milk:

1. Saute ground beef in a high skillet on medium flame. Set it aside and remove any extra grease from it.
2. Chop one sweet yellow onion and cook it until it gets soft. This will take only 5 minutes. Now add garlic in the last few seconds.
3. Add some flour and stir it for about 1 minute. Add the beef broth slowly. Let the whole mixture boil.
4. Add the pasta and seasoning from the hamburger helper, and stir tomato sauce. Cover the pan with a lid until the pasta is cooked. Keep stirring in between.
5. In this step, you were supposed to add milk, but here are the substitutes as you don’t want milk.

Substitutes of milk

Kitchen staples

These are the substitutes that can be easily found in your pantry, kitchen cabinets, or fridge.

1. Water: Most hamburger helpers use water as an ingredient in the sauce. You can simply use water to add liquid to the recipe when you want to use or have the milk. You might lose some texture and flavor, but the sauce will still be thick and tasty.

However, if you don’t want to lose the exotic flavor, add a tbsp of butter with each water cup. The butter itself will be as thick as milk, but with water, it will enhance your sauce with fat.

Amount: Use the same amount of water as the milk.

2. Half and Half

When you run out of your regular milk, half and half are there to rescue you. It’ll give you the creamier, thick consistency milk gives. Unfortunately, it also has double the fat milk has.

Amount: Use the same amount of half and half as milk. Or you can also use ½ cup water and ½ cup half and half in place of a cup of milk.

3. Dry milk powder: No more worries when you don’t have fresh milk, just use dry milk powder. Mix the powder with water, and you have milk.

Amount: Just do what the instructions on the packet or can of milk powder say to make one cup of milk.

4. Mayonnaise: Mayonnaise is something you don’t run out of very soon. It has an exotic texture that is perfect for making hamburger helper. It gets its richness from oils and eggs, giving your pasta a thick consistency.

Mayo has a tangy flavor, so it can give your hamburger helper a delicious new taste. Unfortunately, it has a thicker consistency than milk, so you’ll have to add some more water.

Amount: In place of using water, you can simply use ⅓ of the quantity of milk for mayo. That means for 3 tbsp of milk; you’ll use 1 tbsp of mayo.

5. Bouillon: Mix bouillon cube with boiling water and add it to the pan. There’s meat present in bouillon, so it’s less likely to affect the taste of your hamburger helper. Just make sure your meal is not getting too salty.

Amount: Sodium is already present in the seasoning with hamburger helper. So for one cup of milk, you’ll take half water and half bouillon. It’s a great substitute for those who want their dish to be savory and lighter.

6. Mushroom Soup: Grab mushroom soup to substitute for milk. If you have concentrated soup, mix it with water first. Then add the soup to the pan like milk.

Mushroom soup will bring the same amount of thickness and flavor, just like milk to your hamburger helper. You can also use onion or potato soup if you don’t have mushroom soup.

Dairy alternatives

What’s better than substituting one dairy product for another dairy product. It will give you the same consistency and flavor as milk.

1. Evaporated Milk: The best substitute for milk is evaporated milk to make a hamburger helper. Evaporated milk is milk, but most of the water is removed with the help of heat.

Amount: The makers of Hamburger Helper recommend ½ cup water and ½ cup evaporated milk for 1 cup of milk. You have to add water because evaporated milk has a sweet caramel-like flavor, and it’s not best for a savory dish.

2. Cream: You can use heavy cream, cooking cream, double cream, or whipping cream to make hamburger helper. However, you should avoid dessert cream as it’s sweet.

Amount: You can use cream in place of milk in equal quantities. This exchange will give your dish a rich flavor. If you want your dish to be less heavy, mix half water and half cream.

3. Sour cream: Give your dish a rich creaminess with a tangy flavor with sour cream.

Amount: You can either use the same amount of sour cream as milk or mix half sour cream and half water.

4. Cream cheese: Cheese works best with hamburger recipes, so you can use it in place of milk to make a hamburger helper. You can also flavor cheese like garlic or herb or just plain cream cheese.

Its texture is much thicker as compared to milk. Therefore, it is advised that you should melt the cream cheese separately before using it in your dish.

Amount: You don’t have to replace the same amount of milk with cheese. Instead, use half the amount and add some water to the cream cheese.

5. Buttermilk: Buttermilk also gives your dish a tangy flavor richer than sour cream. Its consistency is the same as milk.

Amount: Because of its thin texture, like milk, you can replace equal amounts of milk with buttermilk.

6. Yogurt: Take the plain yogurt from your breakfast menu and use it to make a hamburger helper. It’s less heavy than sour cream or cream, so that’s an advantage. It also resembles the flavor of milk without any tanginess like other creams or buttermilk.

Amount: Use equal amounts of yogurt-like milk to make your hamburger helper.

7. Other dairies: Camel, goat, or sheep milk can also be used while making hamburger helper in place of cow’s milk. Use the same amount as cow’s milk. The creaminess and texture of your dish will remain the same, but the taste can change.

Plant-based alternatives

Plant-based milk doesn’t give your dish the same thickness, so use a little cornstarch to get the thickness.

1. Soy milk: Take an equal amount of unsweetened and unflavored soy milk.

2. Coconut milk: Use the same amount of coconut milk as your regular milk.

References

1.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamburger_Helper

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dairy_product

The post Can you make a hamburger helper without milk? appeared first on Kitchen Matts.

What can be a healthy substitute for accent seasoning? There are actually a bunch of alternatives for this white crystal seasoning. But, if you’re looking for a quick substitute that’s easily available, it’s salt. You use salt in every meal, so it’s perfect.

Accent seasoning is used in many dishes instead of salt. It’s a very common product available in many stores in the United States. It doesn’t have its own taste, but it works as a flavor enhancer.

MSG is an important ingredient present in accent seasoning. It looks crystal and white. This helps in adding flavor to the food. There are also other ingredients present in accent seasoning. Salt, garlic, onion, and pepper, among other ingredients.

Accent seasoning is used in many recipes to bring out the flavors of the food. Finding a perfect and healthy substitute for this seasoning depends on what you’re making. Here we have made a list of ingredients you can use in place of accent seasoning. They are present in your kitchen cabinets, so you don’t have to worry about that.

Sea salt is the most common variety of salt used in many dishes. However, you can also use other varieties like kosher salt, sulfuric Indian black salt, and Korean bamboo salt. All of these are excellent alternatives to accent seasoning.

You can use herbs to bring warmth and flavor to your sauces. Garlic, rosemary, tarragon, and pepper will be good. You can also use cumin and turmeric as an alternative to accent seasoning. You can even combine different spices and herbs together and get a burst of flavors.

This is never going to be kicked out of any recipe. Salt brings flavor to food; the dish would not be tasty without it. However, you should limit the amount of salt you’re using. As salt contains sodium in high quantities, it can lead to high blood pressure.

It’s 3rd on the list because it’s less healthy than others. But it is the closest ingredient you can use instead of accent seasoning.

If you don’t like the effect of accent seasoning on your health, you can use seasonings of other brands too. Check the quantity of each ingredient present in each brand and if it suits your health chart, use them.

Why buy accent seasoning from the market when you can just make your own at home. You can limit the quantity of each ingredient and make a healthy seasoning. Then, your own seasoning will be ready in just a few minutes.

All you need is a bunch of dried herbs and spices found in any grocery store. First of all, get 26 oz of salt. Then, measure the remaining ingredients using a tablespoon.

Peppers play an important role in any seasoning. Take some tablespoons of black pepper with cayenne paper. As per your choice, you can even increase any of the peppers. If you like spicy food, add some chili powder with the peppers.

Finally, add all the dry herbs, basil, bay leaf, and thyme. Stir all the ingredients well. Place it in a salt and pepper shaker or any other container. We recommend storing it in a shaker as you can sprinkle it easily without any overdose.

Choosing a healthy substitute is in your own hands only. You know what works for you best and whatnot. Ask yourself questions like these- how do I want my food to taste? If you like spiciness in your food, add half an extra tablespoon of chili powder.

If too much salt troubles you, use a salt variety that will give you the same flavor without putting any extra amount. There are so many salt varieties; get familiar with their benefits and use them accordingly.

All of these substitutes are healthy until you’re using them adequately. Excess of anything is bad so take measures. It can be a little confusing for you to know what quantity of substitute to use for the first time. But as you get familiar with your taste buds, you’ll know exactly what you want and how much.

A try and error method will get you to your perfect substitute for accent seasoning. Keep experimenting with small dishes so that your time and food don’t waste. This will help you know what effect each substitute has on your body.

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Let’s take a situation; you have gathered all the ingredients required to make a pastry. Uh-oh, you don’t have a pastry cutter near you, and you don’t have time to buy it from the market. So, what will you do in this situation? You’ll try to find its substitutes, right? Well, you can end your search here as we have found some great pastry cutter substitutes to save your day and mood!

First of all, let’s clarify the meaning of a pastry cutter. A pastry cutter, also by the name dough blender or pastry blender, is a baking tool made to integrate fat into the flour to make a dough. Pastry cutters are basically half-circle-shaped with a flat handle and a chain of curved blades or metal wires opposite the handle. You must have seen a pastry recipe say “cut in butter” that’s what a pastry cutter does.

Forks are important kitchen appliances found in every household around the world. Well, apart from eating noodles, you can also use forks while making pastries! First, just put all the dry ingredients in the bowl. Remember that the fork you are using is clean and dry. Then, mix all the ingredients with the fork.

Now cut small pieces of butter and add them in small quantities in the bowl, mixing them with the sharp ends of the fork. Keep doing that until you get a fine consistency per your pastry recipe.

Quick fun fact: It was the Italian nuns and monks who introduced pastries to Italy.2. Knife

A chef is recognized by the different types of knives they keep in their kitchen. Knives are not for cutting purposes only; you can also use them while making pastry. How?

You’ll need two knives for maximum benefit. First of all, cut small cold butter pieces in the bowl. After that, add the remaining ingredients. Now, use these two knives to mix all the ingredients until they are properly mixed and make a nice dough. 

Quick fun fact: Croissant was influenced by an Austrian Pastry

Don’t just use your beautiful hands to eat delicious pastries; it’s time to use them to make pastries. Use both of your hands to mix all the ingredients in the bowl but make sure you maintain hygiene. Wash your hands with clean water and liquid soap before conducting the process.

Do not use wet hands to mix the ingredients. Instead, dry them with a towel or tissue, then start the process. Put the flour inside the bowl, take the butter, and start using your hands to mix it. Keep a check if the butter is getting evenly mixed with the flour.

If you feel like your hands are getting hot, stop right there, wait until your hands feel cool, and start again. As the fat or butter can get ruined by the heat generated and the overall taste will be sad, it’s better to cool down your hands.

Quick fun fact: On average, an American eats 300 cookies per year.

Welcome the cheese grater in your kitchen waiting for you to use for things other than grating cheese. You can use it to make pastry dough. But for this, you need to cool the butter in your refrigerator first.

First of all, fill the bowl with all the ingredients, and using the cheese grater, grate the cheese. Do not grate the whole butter; stop in half. Then, store the butter in the refrigerator again. The best part about using a cheese grater is that you can easily mix the ingredients with your hands or knives because the butter is now in very small amounts.

After you’re done half mixing the ingredients, take out the freezing butter and grate it. Follow this process until you get a smooth consistency.

Quick fun fact: The hole in donuts is made by particular machinery.

An egg mixer can also be used as a substitute for a pastry cutter. After putting all the ingredients inside the bowl, cut the cold butter using whatever you want. Now set the low speed of the egg mixer after you put it inside the bowl.

Keep in mind that the butter pieces are small to get mixed evenly with all the dry ingredients. But, in some time, you’ll see a fine consistency in your pastry dough.

Using the egg mixer slowly is the key to a good dough. But, by mistake, if you use it at high speed, you can expect your place to become a mess real soon.

Quick fun fact: A pastry war between the French and Mexicans over an unpaid debt to a French pastry chef.

Now, whenever you decide to make a cookie at home, you can always try these pastry cutter substitutes. We are sure you must have at least two of these substitutes in your kitchen. There is no complicated technique to use them. Just follow our instructions, and we are sure you will get a smooth consistency dough by the end.

Make delicious pastries without worrying about pastry cutters. Also, did you read the quick fun facts? Hope we successfully entertained you while you were gaining some knowledge about pastry cutters. Cooking is an art, and art requires patience and consistent efforts. While making pastry make sure you’re maintaining hygiene as a hygienic kitchen makes tasty pastries. Also, you’ll have to waste less time cleaning your kitchen area.

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Cauliflower rice is easy to make and can be done in no time. All you need is a kitchen grater or a sharp thick knife. Check out the instructions and details below for a seamless procedure. Also, check the below-mentioned nutritional facts too.

These nutritional facts are per serving (108 grams):

1. Calorie count: 27
2. Protein: 2 grams
3. Fat: less than 1 gram
4. Carbs: 5 grams
5. Fibre: 2 grams
6. Manganese: 7%  of the daily requirement
7. Potassium: 7% of the daily requirement

1. It is high in natural fiber,  aids in easy digestion, and helps to clean your gut.
2. Has high quantities of antioxidants that helps in improving blood circulation.
3. Rich in vitamins that will help to keep your skin spotless and glowy.

Cauliflower needs a good clean because it has many curves where pesticides and insects can accumulate. First, rinse the whole head of the cauliflower under cold running tap water and submerge it into a bowl full of cold water.

Soak in salt water for at least 20 mins. This will remove most of the insects and dirt from the vegetable. Then let it sit in a drainer until it is completely dry. You can also use a vegetable scrubber to scrub the top of the head.

Dicing cauliflower is a simple and quick process. After the cauliflower is completely dry, remove the leaves at the base first.

Then use a sharp knife and cut the base of the head, and make slits into the head in four directions. Then use your fingers to pull the small florets apart. Then trim off the extra stems, ready to make your cauliflower rice.

Use the grater usually available in the kitchen to grate the cauliflower. This is usually available in every kitchen. Now grab the cauliflower heads and grate them using the cheese grater. Make sure the movements are even enough to get the best size for rice.

Be cautious about your fingers throughout the process, or use safety gloves. Usually, a larger cauliflower head can produce about six to seven cups of cauliflower rice. This is usually a messy procedure, so invest time cleaning up the mess too.

Let’s be some old school now, get a thick chopping board and a sharp knife. Start trimming the florets so they can be easily held. Then, chop the heads with regular chopping movements from left to right. Repeat the steps until you get a smooth rice size piece of cauliflower.

Ensure the chopping board is dry and clean, so the rice will not stick to the board. This process gives you the best texture for cauliflower rice. Although this is a time taking process, you can have the best-textured rice.

Saute the diced or shredded cauliflower under medium heat using a skillet. For the sauce, use two tablespoons of ghee, chopped garlic, and some pepper and salt for seasoning. After 30 seconds, transfer it into a bowl so it won’t overcook and become soggy.

If you want an oil-less option, you can steam your cauliflower rice. Steam the shredded or grated cauliflower the same as you steam rice using the steamer. This will give you the healthiest rice. Top it with veggies and sauce, and enjoy.

The easy peasy way to cook cauliflower rice is by microwaving it. Put the shredded or chopped cauliflower rice with two spoons of chicken stock or water and microwave for 3 minutes. Please check after 1.5 minutes for the desired consistency. The rice should not be soggy; let it be a little firm and moist. The crunch should be there. Serve it with chicken teriyaki or any sauced veggies for a fantastic dinner.

Cauliflower rice is the best nutritious substitute for normal rice. It is easy to cook and can be eaten alongside meat or roasted vegetables. Eat it when it is still warm. You can store it in the fridge for one week if it is raw. Or store the cooked cauliflower rice for 2 to 3 days max. Cleanly grated cauliflower rice can stay fresh for 2 months if frozen properly.

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