Home > Cooking & Baking

Free Cooking & Baking Resources & Research

The best baked goods, the tastiest desserts, gourmet food recipes, the best kitchen gadgets, and tips and tricks to make kitchen life easier. “Cooking is an art, and baking is a science” is a well known quote and could not be more true. This resource category will cover topics that will help you get the most out of your time in the kitchen and help you when preparing that special meal. You could page through cookbooks or stumble through countless websites in search of the best recipes on the web. Or, you could check out our collection and have the best of the web right at your fingertips. Find the perfect recipe for the holidays, or learn what it takes to grill the perfect steak. Browse our recipe collection for information on how to bake up the next blue ribbon pie, or a cake to impress your next dinner party. Learn about the sweet specialties of different regions of the world, or discover which baking pans work best. Looking for the best red wines that won’t break the bank? Or wondering why some people use the word “soda” while others use the word “pop?”

Hybridization and its Benefits In Developing New Fruits

Research by Will

Hybridization is the mixing of different varieties of an organism to create offspring with the characteristics of the parent organisms. In plants, this occurs both…

Organic Food: Pros and Cons, Resources and Impact

Research by L.Fuller

Organic foods are those that are produced using environmentally safe methods that do not involve modern synthetic inputs (or very little) such as pesticides and…

Wine Trivia Questions and Answers

Research by Will

Does wine taste different depending on the glass it’s served in? In effect, the answer to this question depends on the wine being served. For…

Storing Rapid-Rise, Instant, Fresh and Active Dry Yeast

Research by AnnaBelle

Yeast is a living organism that requires optimal conditions to perform. Bakers who experience problems with bread rising often have created an environment that isn’t…

Traditional Christmas Cookie Recipes

Research by AnnaBelle

Cookies are a favorite any time of year, but during the holiday season, there is no bigger selection of cookie recipes to choose from. As…

Recipes and Entrees to Serve for Christmas Meals

Research by AnnaBelle

The end of each calendar year brings about many holiday parties and family gatherings for many people throughout the world. Deciding what to cook for…

The Different Types of Flour, How They Are Used, and Flour Substitutions

Research by AnnaBelle

Texture, stability, and the overall result of breads and other baked good are greatly affected by the type of flour called for in the recipe….

Tips for Cooking and Baking with Pumpkin

Research by AnnaBelle

Drive past any country farm stand in the fall, and pumpkins will abound. Pumpkins, like many vegetables, come in a variety of breeds and sizes,…

The Ten Ingredients Every Pantry Needs and Resource to Help

Research by G.Bartlett

Many people go to the grocery store and aimlessly choose food items that look good. Want to save money and help your family eat healthier?…

Facts and Information About High Fructose Corn Syrup

Research by AnnaBelle

About Corn Syrup Sugar and other sweeteners used in food can be derived from a variety of plants, including the sugar beet, sugar cane, maple…

Chocolate: Fun Interesting Facts and Resources

Research by Amy

Fun Interesting Facts about The Sweet Chocolate: who doesn’t like it? Surprisingly, this delicious melts-in-your-mouth treat has not been around for a very long time….

The Difference Between Active Dry Yeast, Instant Yeast, Cake Yeast and Rapid Rise Yeast

Research by AnnaBelle

Each yeast type behaves in its own unique way. Understanding how each type of yeast behaves is essential to finding success in the kitchen. The…

Fish Recipes and Grilling Instructions

Research by L.Fuller

Grilling a fish can be one of the easiest and fastest ways to cook a healthy meal at night. As was the case in smoking…

Recipes and Cooking Instructions for Smoking a Fish

Research by L.Fuller

CHOOSING THE FISH First things first. When smoking fish, make sure you have chosen the freshest fish available. If you have a local fish market…

How to Cook Different Types of Steak

Research by Amy

Gearing up for summer yet? Cleaning off the grill and shining up the tools? One of the biggest favors you can do for yourself this…

Recipes for Cinco de Mayo

Research by L.Fuller

5 recipes for Cinco de Mayo The first recipe is a beverage, which goes well with anything. This is the “Mock Strawberry Margarita”. This takes…

White Wines Guide: Top 10 White Wines Under $20

Research by S.Henniman

The top ten white wines are; Albarino, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Gruner Veltliner, Kerner, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc. Wine is a…

Red Wines Guide: Top 10 Red Wines Under $20

Research by S.Henniman

Though wine preference is for the most part subjective, there are always a few wines that stand above the rest. Decent red wine can be…

Recipes For The Grill This Summer

Research by Amy

Grilled Meatloaf Hamburgers – In a bowl combine 1/2 pound sausage, 1/2 pound ground beef, 1 small diced onion, one egg, 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs, 1…

The Best Way to Cook Lobster Tails at Home

Research by L.Fuller

The best way to cook lobster tails is a topic that is certain to create a vigorous debate among friends, family members, gourmet cooks and…

Best Way to Cook Frozen Shrimp

Research by L.Fuller

First we will get into whether shrimp is healthy or not. Shrimp used to be one of those foods people avoided if they were watching…

Best Way To Marinate A Steak

Research by L.Fuller

Marinating Steaks The first consideration before marinating steak is the cut of the meat. Marinating meat is a way of pre-cooking them. This is because…

Ribs Recipes and Cooking Instructions

Research by S.Henniman

The method of BBQ has been around as long as humans have walked the earth. They used it to preserve their meats. They used pits…

Soul Food: History and Recipes

Research by S.Henniman

Nobody knows for sure where the term “soul food” originated. Some think it started back in the 1960′s during the soul trend. But, others seem…

Salsa Recipes: The Best Salsa Recipes

Research by L.Fuller

One of my favorite dips or side to dishes involving Mexican cuisine or chips is salsa because it tastes great with just about everything including…

Gum: Ten Fun Facts About Its History and Invention

Research by L.Fuller

Every year, over 3.5 billion dollars worth of gum is sold all over the world each and every year. Gum has become popular with many…

Soda or Pop: The History Behind the Names

Research by E.Trio

Everyone loves a cold drink on a hot summer day. A nice big glass of soda with ice will quench the thirst like nothing else….

Side Dishes To Compliment The Summer BBQ

Research by L.Fuller

Ready for some summer grilling? Of course you are. I myself have been ready since January, right around the time the cold winds were blowing…