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Saffron and Honey

Eat Chic

January 8, 2013

Looking back at some of my favorite tips & tricks

2012-09-14_1347653048

I cannot believe that s&h is now over three years old and is home to over 600 posts! That’s a lot of cooking and a lot of learning.

Here are some of the best tips and tricks I picked up along the way:

  • Toasting nuts and spices really brings out their full flavor potential. And use a mortar and pestle!
  • You really can make a one minute poached egg
  • Trimming artichokes – arm yourself with kitchen shears and a melon baller
  • Save fresh pear and apple peels and add to pans of sautéing fruit or vegetables (squash, onions etc.) or certain stocks for extra flavor
  • Use a French press for infusing or steeping syrups
  • A little bit of sugar and lettuce combine to make the best French peas
  • Compound butter with fresh herbs makes simple dishes shine
  • Use parmesan rind to flavor vegetable soups
  • Add a mixture of cornstarch and water to make your dumplings extra crispy but not browned or burned
  • And, of course, how to pick the best watermelon

And many, many more.

What are some of your favorite kitchen tricks?

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Rufus' Food and Spirits Guide says

    January 8, 2013 at 9:46 pm

    Here’s to the next 600 or so. What are you doing reading this? Get cracking. Happy 3rd. It’s always fun coming here for cheese, new takes on veggies, and of course quiche, among many other things.

    Reply
    • saffronandhoney says

      January 9, 2013 at 9:16 am

      Thanks, Greg and Katherine!

      I’ll get cracking right now haha

      Reply
  2. Kara says

    January 9, 2013 at 12:48 am

    Loved this post! And congrats on 3 years!

    Reply
    • saffronandhoney says

      January 9, 2013 at 9:16 am

      Thank you!

      Reply
  3. Three Well Beings says

    January 9, 2013 at 1:51 am

    Congratulations on three years of blogging and 600 is a lot of posts! Well done! You offer such good information, and I am really grateful for the wonderful links you’ve provided! 🙂

    Reply
    • saffronandhoney says

      January 9, 2013 at 9:16 am

      Thank you very much! That is great to hear 🙂

      Reply
  4. Choc Chip Uru says

    January 9, 2013 at 3:43 am

    3 years is a huge milestone, congrats 🙂

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

    Reply
    • saffronandhoney says

      January 9, 2013 at 9:17 am

      Thank you, Uru! xx

      Reply
  5. Lisa says

    January 9, 2013 at 2:03 pm

    I love these tips and tricks! Bookmarked! 🙂 Happy New Year!

    Reply
    • saffronandhoney says

      January 9, 2013 at 4:04 pm

      Thank you very much! Happy New Year to you too, Lisa!

      Reply
  6. Danny @ 1227 Foster says

    January 9, 2013 at 10:38 pm

    Three years — that’s wonderful! Congrats and I love your tips! Thanks for sharing all these great learnings!

    Reply
    • saffronandhoney says

      January 9, 2013 at 11:15 pm

      Thanks so much, Danny! It’s flown by… 🙂

      Reply
  7. yummychunklet says

    January 10, 2013 at 10:35 pm

    Happy three years! I’m eager to see your next 600 recipes!

    Reply
    • saffronandhoney says

      January 11, 2013 at 11:14 am

      Thank you very much!

      Reply
  8. girlinafoodfrenzy says

    January 12, 2013 at 7:09 pm

    Perfect tips for the practical cook! A very happy (and belated) new year to you 🙂 looking forward to seeing what’s cooking in 2013!

    Reply
    • saffronandhoney says

      January 12, 2013 at 8:15 pm

      Thank you, Alice! Same to you 🙂

      Reply
  9. Tandy says

    January 14, 2013 at 12:34 am

    Wonderful tips. Congratulations on 3 years! I think that using a coffee grinder to grind spices is my best to 🙂

    Reply
    • saffronandhoney says

      January 14, 2013 at 11:29 am

      Thank you, Tandy! That’s definitely a great trick!

      Reply

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Welcome to Saffron & Honey, my little place under the sun to cook and live colorfully. I'm Ksenia and I'm a cook, writer, and food photographer. Read More…

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all the feels.. & the coffee is there for you along the way ☕️ // @socialhourcoffee roasted right here on Maui (and the Maui grown coffee is finally back too!) // #partner #localcoffee #mauicoffee #socialhourcoffee

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all the feels.. & the coffee is there for you along the way ☕️ // @socialhourcoffee roasted right here on Maui (and the Maui grown coffee is finally back too!) // #partner #localcoffee #mauicoffee #socialhourcoffee

head over to the blog #saffronandhoney.com for my quick take on the top 5 trends from #winterfancyfaire @specialtyfoodassociation - spoiler alert: big dairy is back and everyone is looking for umami 🍄‍🟫// #specialtyfood #foodtrends #foodtrends2026

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head over to the blog #saffronandhoney.com for my quick take on the top 5 trends from #winterfancyfaire @specialtyfoodassociation - spoiler alert: big dairy is back and everyone is looking for umami 🍄‍🟫// #specialtyfood #foodtrends #foodtrends2026

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Get ready to score big in 2026! @cvspharmacy's got Extra Extra Big Deals on everything goodness & wellness 🫶🏻. Shop smart, save big, and earn rewards! Shop my CVS Storefront in bio! ❤️ #ExtraExtraBigDealsatCVS #cvspartner #cvs

thankful for friends, hugs, and animals // while the rest of the world is going to he 🏒 🏒 in a handbasket //

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thankful for friends, hugs, and animals // while the rest of the world is going to he 🏒 🏒 in a handbasket //

best food of the trip? the random Mexican place by a LONG shot. Also, that is the exact right amount of salsa to serve with fresh warm chips, thank you very much (🍹 for scale!) // 🌮 #sandiego #sandiegoeats #eatsandiego #eatersandiego #foodblogger

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best food of the trip? the random Mexican place by a LONG shot. Also, that is the exact right amount of salsa to serve with fresh warm chips, thank you very much (🍹 for scale!) // 🌮 #sandiego #sandiegoeats #eatsandiego #eatersandiego #foodblogger

things you didn’t know existed, but now you do! #winterfancyfaire edition 🤍 // everything is tasty! go look & ask for it at you local stores & specialty retailers // #foodies #foodblogger #saffronandhoney #newfoodfinds

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things you didn’t know existed, but now you do! #winterfancyfaire edition 🤍 // everything is tasty! go look & ask for it at you local stores & specialty retailers // #foodies #foodblogger #saffronandhoney #newfoodfinds

some of my favorite tastes from the first day of @specialtyfoodassociation #winterfancyfaire - @shiversticksofficial @piggyhawaii @daguzan_charcuterie @super.superlova 🙌 // #specialtyfoodassociation #specialtyfoods

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some of my favorite tastes from the first day of @specialtyfoodassociation #winterfancyfaire - @shiversticksofficial @piggyhawaii @daguzan_charcuterie @super.superlova 🙌 // #specialtyfoodassociation #specialtyfoods

My Instagram Story after I tell everyone I’m at a work event, but I work in food & wine 🍷 @sdbeerwine // #sandiego #foodandwine #sandiegowine #winecountry #sandiego_ca

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My Instagram Story after I tell everyone I’m at a work event, but I work in food & wine 🍷 @sdbeerwine // #sandiego #foodandwine #sandiegowine #winecountry #sandiego_ca

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cannot let us out in public @lyniebell @miamarievineyards @schittscreek 🍷// #wine #winetasting #wineflights #notesoftomato #schittscreek

tea time @muri.cafe // #sandiego #tea #teatime

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happy birthday to my sweet cheeky boy // you’ll always be my baby even though you are 6 (!!) now 🤯

last few days of holiday break and it’s been a good one // #holidaze #holidays #maui #mauihawaii #mauinokaoi

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