Quotes from Sohla El-Waylly

It can be easy to brush off appearances as unimportant, but tableside presentation is a big part of a baking dishs appeal.

Unlike chicken, duck breast has a hue and texture akin to that of red meat and is safe to consume medium-rare, so bring on the pink. Perfectly cooked duck breast will have moist and juicy meat, with a luscious and crunchy skin.

Unlike food mills, stand mixers, or even the humble potato masher or whisk, the potato ricer breaks down a potato into a smooth and fluffy mash while only rupturing the cells once as they pass through the perforated base.

Unlike tongs, these tweezer tongs are slim and compact, fitting into any tool crock, drawer, or even apron pocket if youre all about that quick draw. Theres no fussy locking mechanism to slow you down while cooking, no weird nooks or pockets for food or hot water to get caught in.

Although the skin on ginger is edible, it lacks flavor and, depending on how you plan to further process the ginger, can also lend an unpleasant texture to a dish.

After working from home with the dogs, Ive learned of the hair splinter: when stiff dog hairs pierce the soles of your feet.

My husband is a chef, and he often brings home a lot of useless kitchen tools.

My mother is cursed with making the best biryani in town. I know everyone says that about their mothers cooking, but this is different. When theres anything going down in Californias San Fernando Valley, she gets a call.

In the 'Test Kitchen', I have a strict knife sharpening process.

At home Im usually cooking for two, and sizzle platters let me make the most of my limited oven space. Because I can roast multiple things at once on several small platters rather than all together on one big baking sheet, each item can go in and out of the oven just when it needs to.

Biryani is a layered rice dish spotted throughout the Middle East and South Asia in countless variations depending on the region.

Treated more like a vegetable than a fruit, plantains can be prepared in various ways depending on their stage of ripeness. Just like a banana, the further the fruit ripens, the more of its starch is converted to sugar.

I find the easiest way to peel ginger is to start with a vegetable peeler to remove the majority of the skin. I then switch to a spoon, which is good for scraping away any remaining skin trapped within the grooves and nooks of the knob.

Toum is a staple of Lebanese cuisine, and more than just another condiment. This garlic sauce is great for stirring into soups and pasta, marinating chicken, and tossing with roasted vegetables; it adds an energetic punch of garlic to anything without requiring the hassle of peeling and mincing.

Biryani can be an elaborate, ambitious affair, packed with layer upon layer of spiced meat and vegetables all steaming together with ghee.

Soon I was using the fish weight for everything. I crushed boiled Yukon golds for the ultimate crispy-crunchy smashed potatoes. I struck the delicate balance of charring vegetables while maintaining their crisp-tender texture.

Although the plantain is a staple ingredient in cuisines around the world, its not as popular in America as the banana just yet. However, with its limitless versatility, the plantain should make its way into your cooking repertoire if it hasnt already.

So don't put a lot of pressure on yourself to try and change something that's been a problem for hundreds of years, you know what I mean? Everyone should just do whatever they can, and that might just mean reaching out to one coworker who you think is struggling... We all just have to keep doing these little things every day.

Instant dashi is to dashi what a bouillon cube is to chicken broth. While dashi is subtle and subdued, instant dashi is a cartoon drawing with all the features enhanced and hyper-expressive.

The standard nine- by 13-inch baking pan is essential for every kitchen. This is the perfect vessel for bubbling casseroles, cheesy lasagnas, even for roasting meat and vegetables.

Queso, homemade or not, is my cheese of choice. It stays saucy even at room temperature, which means I can eat at my typical snails pace and still get good nacho vibes.

Nachos, like a California ranch-style home, should never be built more than two layers high.