EdgarHF
Assistant Cook
I joined this site a couple of days ago to help me learn how to cook. As I stated in an introduction thread a couple of days ago I bought a beginners cookbook and found it to be over my head. It was suggested that I pick a recipe I would like to try and ask questions. That is what I will do now to show just how clueless I am. I have chosen a recipe for Chicken and Chile Soup. I have gone to the store and bought the ingredients. At least I bought most of the ingredients. I forgot to buy heavy cream and I do not have a potato peeler. I will have to go back to the store today and buy those things. The recipe also called for 2 medium red chiles, seeded and finely chopped. I am guessing the author means fresh red chiles, but I went to two stores and neither had any red chiles in stock. I ended up buying a bag of dried chiles. I hope I can substitute with that. Another question is what does the author mean by medium? Until seeing the bag of dried chiles I did not even know what a chile looks like let alone what is a standard size for one.
Maybe I had better list the ingredients in order to ask my other clueless questions.
2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp olive oil
2 medium red chiles, seeded and finely chopped
2 slices lean bacon, diced
1 onion, peeled and finely chopped
1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed (oh oh I didn't buy this either)
2 skinless boneless chicken breast portions, thinly sliced
1 tsp chopped fresh thyme
1 medium potato, peeled and diced
1 ½ cups corn, frozen or canned
5 cups chicken stock
salt and pepper
2/3 cup heavy cream
1 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro, to garnish
Now, for my clueless questions. What is the difference between chopped and diced? Can I use a knife to do both? The recipe tells me to add the chicken to the pan after 5 minutes. Do I add the chicken raw or do I have to do some cooking or the chicken before hand. The recipe does not say. Wel that is all my questions for now. I am sure I will have more later.
Maybe I had better list the ingredients in order to ask my other clueless questions.
2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp olive oil
2 medium red chiles, seeded and finely chopped
2 slices lean bacon, diced
1 onion, peeled and finely chopped
1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed (oh oh I didn't buy this either)
2 skinless boneless chicken breast portions, thinly sliced
1 tsp chopped fresh thyme
1 medium potato, peeled and diced
1 ½ cups corn, frozen or canned
5 cups chicken stock
salt and pepper
2/3 cup heavy cream
1 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro, to garnish
Now, for my clueless questions. What is the difference between chopped and diced? Can I use a knife to do both? The recipe tells me to add the chicken to the pan after 5 minutes. Do I add the chicken raw or do I have to do some cooking or the chicken before hand. The recipe does not say. Wel that is all my questions for now. I am sure I will have more later.