My Online CookBook

Overall I am looking to increase my cooking skills and explore new flavors! Not only will I be trying to explore my taste buds but to document the journey

One thing to note is I don't really follow recipes exactly and will be more documenting techniques and adaptations.

Recipes

Pizza

Dough
Firstly thing I have discovered is that the dough is so hard to make. It is really good if you can afford the time but I find Aldi's pizza dough is just fine.
Now the techinques I use is firstly is important to let the dough sit out and get to room temperature. Also form rough shapes and let it rest for a bit (about an hour). Next is to prebake the pizza dough in the oven for about 5-10 minutes in a 300 degree oven. Topping with garlic butter before compeleting the pie.
Sauce
I have never made my own sauce (on the bucket list) but I have found that Aldi's or Rao's pizza sauce is great and cheap. Sometimes I will add some extra spices.
Cheese
The prefered is low moisture mozzarella cheese freshly cut or grated but again Aldi's comes in clutch with very good quality and affordable pouches of cheese especially because I buy the mozzeral and itlian blend to mix and match.
Toppings
I am a simple man of simple needs. I prefer bacon and pepporni on my pizza. The pizzazz I add is making to have quality bacon and fresh logs of pepperoni to get the crisp cups. Also I like precooking the topping to get rid of excess grease. Normally half way thought I also throw black pepper and a tiny amount of brown sugar.

Pasta

Generally pasta is a great base for many dishes. Plus there is so many different ways to have pasta! Such as cheesy recipes, garlic sauce, and of course marinara based sauces. But they all start the same. You have to bring a pot of salted-water to a boil and cook according to the package (normally between 8-12 minutes depending on preference).

Mac n Cheese
Generally this is a very classy meal but that is mostly just a matter of how to prepare the cheese sauce. There is only so many ways to dress Mac and Cheese. Normally add the cheese and bacon bits along side ground black pepper.
Garlic Butter
A couple minutes before I normally turn the pan to a low-medium heat and some oil. Next once the pasta is out but it into the pan. Then put spices (normally basil, orenago, parsley, garlic) and if you are feeling real fancy a little bit of cream.
Marinara Sauce
This is the easiest. Overall this is the laziest one I do. Just buy good store sauce then add my own spices. Put on a sauce pot and low heat for about 10 minutes.

Steak

This is more of a recent development in my taste bud. Also another intersting detail is that I have found that my perfect steaks generall are learned, less fatty parts. (i.e. Porters House, NY Strip, Flank). I am not a huge fan of the fat especially when it just feels like i am chewing rubber that never breaks.

The prefered method is to season the steak with spices then to vaccum seal the steak into the bag to let the steak, spices, and herbs (rosemary, thyme) make friends. Then normally take it out 30 minutes befores cooking to let it get to room temperature. Put some oil in a stailess steel pan (or grilled when possible). Used to prefer for a well-done steak kind of guy but more recently I enjoy a more medium then medium-rare. Though I have come around to not like well done espically because I notice how tough and dry the meat becomes.

Porkchops