The Encyclopedia of Cooking Skills and Techniques

Book excerpt: Whether you are a complete novice or an occasional dabbler, whether you merely need a little help with a tricky technique or want to improve your skills, this book reveals the secrets of successful cooking. This wonderful manual of basic and more advanced cooking skills and techniques is clearly and simply presented with step-bystep photographs and over 200 recipes and variations. It explains how to bread fish for frying, butterfly a chicken, make gravy, clarify butter, peel tomatoes, line a tart pan, and much more. Every technique is used in exciting example recipes to try them out, from simple soups to tasty main courses and dramatic desserts.