This weekend I went to Salem MA to check out the Halloween sights.  As we walked through the many vendors selling yummy kettle-corn and watching crazy costumes there was a sign for FREE DREAM INTERPERTATION.  I always joked about this one dream I had and never could understand what it meant.  So I said to my lovely wife what the hell!

I walked over to the makeshift tent and said I would like to have my crazy dream interpreted for me.  Over the years my wife and I joked that you could not just make this one up.  She took my name and I waited for about 10 minutes.  As I was standing to the side it seems they shipped these interpreters from all over the USA for this special weekend in Salem.  There was an older gentleman welcoming two women and a man from different areas of the USA.  He told the older woman she would be the lead and the other two would be working with her. He invited them to sit and asked me to follow them into the tent.  I have to tell you I am very excited that these professionals are going to finally settle my restlessness from this crazy dream I had many years ago.  What is a Dream Interpreter professional?  Well I do not know but I am glad they are here!

I sat down and the welcomed me and I was excited to know I was their first of the night.  That means they are awake and ready to impress!  They greeted me and told me their names and where they are from.  I forgot all that information since I just wanted to get to the point. I said you people will think I am crazy but I am excited to know what my dream means.  They sat quietly and waited for me to blirt it all out.  I started out by saying this dream was quick but has been in my mind for about three years now.  It is to crazy for anyone to make up so here it is: [Read more →]

This is a lesson on how to make a Culinary Glaze.   The proper definition of a glaze is a stock of some sort reduced to at least 85 % of its volume.  You simmer your desired stock slowly letting the water steam away.  This results in a liquid which has more intense flavor and syrupy by nature.

What can you make a glaze from? 
Well anything from chicken stock to fruit juices to vinegars.  I recently saw “in a specialty store”a bottle of Balsamic glaze. The price was absolutely ridiculous.  All you need to do is take some cheaper balsamic vinegar and reduce it by 85% and there you have your glaze.

You can also get very creative with glazes.  How about taking your chicken stock and add rosemary to it.  Reducing this would give you a fantastic rosemary infused chicken glaze.  Think about the many options and combinations you can create from simply experimenting.

What are glazes used for?  Did you ever see a chef decorate a plate with his fancy little sauces?  How about a small amount of glaze across an appetizer or tomatoes?  Remember a little glaze goes along way.  You do not want to you ample amounts like a sauce due to intensity of the flavor of a glaze.ok