The Craziest Water You Should Be Cooking With — Ingredient Intelligence

Water, 99.9 percent of the time, is not crazy. Most of the time, it’s pretty boring, save for those times you decide to toss that lemon slice or a few fruit and herbs in it. I am not talking about that kind of water. In fact, this a water you wouldn’t throw back in a tall glass (although I wouldn’t judge you if you did); it’s a cooking water that comes from a little corner of Italy and it’s in that crazy 0.1 percent.

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The Kitchn’s Guide to Drinking with Spicy Foods — Drinking While Sweating

(Image credit: Samantha Bolton)

“Beat the heat” takes on a whole new meaning when it comes to alleviating the burn of spicy food. The myriad heat-inducing ingredients and their varying intensity can make matching cuisines with liquid counterparts seem like a constant battle.

But the cultures that developed irresistibly spicy foods also developed ways to relieve scorched palates. From creamy Mexican horchata to light lagers, complements exist that tame even the most tongue-searing dishes.

Across the spice spectrum, cold, low-alcohol beverages always work, but a little strategy can go a long way and keep you reaching for the next chile-laden bite. Read on for the complete guide to pairing your favorite beverages with all things spicy.

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The Best Way to Freeze Pesto Is Not What You Think — Preserve 2.0

(Image credit: Christine Han)

Whenever I am stuck with more fresh herbs than I can manage — be it herbs from my tiny container garden on my balcony or a big bunch from the grocery store — I undoubtedly make pesto. Just last week I made both sage and thyme pesto in order to get a handle on my excess. Then I froze the two to use on pasta, fish, chicken, and even just good bread whenever the craving strikes. But I don’t freeze pesto the way most people tell you to (in ice cube trays). I have a method that I wholeheartedly believe is better.

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Recipe: Rainbow Veggie Noodle Salad — Recipes from The Kitchn

(Image credit: Maria Siriano)

Yes, the spiralizer is a bit of a novelty, but it helps make things a bit more playful. I’ve found that my ambivalence towards cucumbers is immediately assuaged when I turn them into noodles, and I’ve yet to meet a spiralized zucchini dish I haven’t liked. This dish capitalizes on the novelty of the spiralizer to create a vibrant and colorful veggie noodle dish that might just change the way you feel about salad.

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In 3 Years, Your Meal Will Come Wrapped in Milk Instead of Plastic — Food News

(Image credit: NaturalBox/Shutterstock)

The plastic wrap that many food items are sold in at the grocery store is not as great as you think. According to Bloomberg, this plastic is hard to recycle, and even adds harmful chemicals to your food. But this could all change in a matter of three short years.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has been experimenting with a new edible, biodegradable packaging wrapper. The packaging is made out of casein, which is a milk protein. Due to the tighter network of proteins, casein is roughly 500 times better than plastic at keeping oxygen away from food.

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Recipe: Caprese Grilled Cheese — Recipes from The Kitchn

(Image credit: Lauren Volo)

I wait all year to eat my weight in caprese salads during the summer. While I could easily make them through the year, they’re barely average with sub-par, out-of-season tomatoes. So it’s worth it to hold out until tomatoes peak and creamy, fresh mozzarella begs to join in on the fun.

But eating caprese in its classic form is just one way to enjoy it — this twist on a grilled cheese just might rival the original.

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