Epicurious.com Review

Sometimes it's just time to try something new.  That recipe you've been falling back on for months or years is starting to be taken for granted.  The audience grows restless, know what I mean?  Even you, the "chef" are getting a little bored by it.  Yes, it's time for something new.

This is when Epicurious comes in handy.  Those beautiful thick pork-chops you have sitting in the fridge are just waiting for you.  In as little as 5 minutes, you can come up with a new and exciting way to prepare them for the family.  All you have to do is type in the words pork-chops and hit search.  With Google-like speed you are treated to an array of recipes.  Most have appeared in Gourmet or Bon Appetit magazines.

The Recipes 

Some of my favorite recipes have come from Epicurious.  Sure, I change them a bit here and there and that's part of the fun.  After I've made the dish a few times and tweaked the recipe I go back to the site and rate it.  I'll also leave a comment on how it might be improved or changed to taste.  I aways love reading comments from others who have prepared the meal and look for their feedback.

Of course you can print the recipe in a handy format.  Choose from  full page, half page, index card.  A very nice touch.

My favorite you ask?  That would have to be Pork Chops in Rosemary Vinegar Sauce.  The combination of fresh chopped Rosemary, Cream and Red wine vinegar results in a sauce that can only be described as exquisite.  If you're not into pork, it works just as well with chicken breasts.  My 10 yr-old daughter craves this dish.

The Recipe Box

I don't know about you but I'm always losing recipes.  My recipe folder is simply out of control.  So Epicurious lets you store the recipes you choose in your own recipe box.  And, you can add comments to the recipe so you can remember what adjustments you've made to it or other general notes.  I love that feature.

Cooking Tips

I don't care how experienced a cook you are, there's always something new to learn.  A new technique or a shortcut you'd never considered always comes in handy.  I take help from wherever I can find it.

Cooking Dictionary

For the "newbie" cook, this is a treasure trove.  When I started cooking terms like blanch or parboil were gibberish to me.  What did I know.  And braise?  Who knew?  Well here's where the inexperienced cook can find out what all these strange words mean without having to ask the "dumb question".  And yes, I still find myself here from time to time.

Features

What's a cooking site without some features.  Want to hear Bobby Flay talk about grilling?  you've come to the right place.  Some really great pieces can be found here and they change regularly.

Shopping

Oh, can you ever shop here!  Want a subscription to Gourmet or Bon Appetit?  Get them here.  Need gadgets?  You can get lost looking at the latest.  In fact it can get a bit distracting at times.  Also keep in mind that better deals can be found simply poking around the internet once you've seen things that interest you.

My Viewpoint

The more I use this site the more I like it.  It offers something to everyone regardless of whether you're preparing one of your first meals or you're an old hand in the kitchen.  It's a vast resource of cooking know how.  Try it out.

Now go cook something good tonight!

 Regards,

Rudi