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Can you use stock, broth and bouillon interchangeably? Are they pretty much the same thing?
How long can I store shrimp in the freezer?
Question: Can you use stock, broth and bouillon interchangeably? Are they pretty much the same thing?
--Roy, Alfalutta, LA
Answer: Most people use the words interchangeably but technically, there is a difference. Broth is the liquid that is left from cooking meat, chicken or vegetables. A stock, however, involves a longer cooking time, often removing the meat from the bones and continuing to cook the bones in liquid to extract a more concentrated flavor. Bouillon is dehydrated broth, and usually one cube or one teaspoon of granules equals one cup of broth.
Question: How long can I store shrimp in the freezer?
--Mandy, Kilgore, TX
Answer: In airtight wrapping, shrimp will keep 4 to 6 months in the freezer. Thaw them overnight in the refrigerator or in a leak-proof bag submerged in cold water. If they’re frozen individually, rather than as a solid block, you can remove a handful or so at a time and thaw under running water in a colander. It will take less than 5 minutes!
Question: When I bake cookies, I can’t remove them from the baking sheet without them falling apart. How should I cool them?
--Bridgette, Fallington, AR
Answer: Unless a recipe directs otherwise, cool the cookies briefly on the cookie sheet (a minute) to firm them slightly. Then transfer to the wire racks to cool completely. That minute of cooling helps them hold together during the lifting and moving process.
Question: Do some foods fight stress?
--Bonita, Fort Smith, AR
Answer: Yes and no. Foods that do something (besides just taste good) are called functional foods and there are some foods—dark chocolate, skim milk, oatmeal, herbal tea and walnuts, to name a few—that contain various relaxing and soothing properties. But no food is magical. Eating a lot of dark chocolate won’t make your worries disappear—but it can be soothing. Chocolate, for instance, has flavonoids and chemicals that do alter your mood. But they only do so much. Don’t look at certain foods as the answer to life’s big problems!
Question: How do you toast nuts?
--Charlotte, Opaloussas, LA
Answer: Toasting nuts really brings out their flavor! It’s an important step in many recipes that you don’t want to skip. Arrange nuts in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees. It won’t take long—as little as 2 minutes for flaked coconut and up to 5 minutes for almonds. Shake the pan or stir frequently so the nuts toast evenly. They’re done when they’ve darkened slightly and smell fragrant and toasty. Since nuts toast quickly, you’re smart to stand by the oven and watch. Don’t get distracted with another task or you could end up with burned nuts!
