Index of Food and Cooking Articles - C

This index is a listing of the many cooking, food, and history articles that I have written about over several years. 
Please click on a letter below to search the articles alphabetically.

A    B    C    D    E    F    G    H    I    J-K    L    M    N    O    P    Q-R    S    T    U-Z
 

Cabbage - Hints and tips on preparing cabbage.
 

Cake - Secrets of successful cake making

Peggy's Baking Corner - Check out some of Peggy Weaver's many cake decorating articles, cake tutorials, and Q&A pages.

Baptismal/Christening Cake
Chocolate Amaretto Snowball Cake Tutorial (with photos)
Crop Circle Cake Tutorial (with photos)
Dogwood Cake Tutorial (with photos)
Ear of Corn Cupcakes Tutorial (with photos)
Easter Egg Cake Tutorial (with photos)
Father's Day Tie Cake Tutorial (with photos)
Mother's Day Triangle Cake Tutorial (with photos)
Ski Slope Cake
Strawberry Cake Tutorial (with photos)
Sunflower Cupcakes Tutorial (with photos)
Valentine's Day Cake Tutorial (with photos)
4th of July Top Hat Cake Tutorial (with photos)

Cakes - History of cakes.
Cakes were considered a symbol of well being by early American cooks on the east coast, with each region of the country having their own favorites. See history of individual cakes below:

Can Sizes and Equivalents - Many recipes specific a can size rather than a volume size. This chart will help you when substituting in a recipe.
 

Candy Thermometer & Candy Temperatures - Learn how to use a candy thermometer.
 

Capers - Capers can range in size from that of a tiny peppercorn (the petite variety from southern France, considered the finest) to some as large as the tip of your little finger (from Italy).

Cast-Iron Pots & Pans - Learn how to use and season cast-iron pans. Also includes lot of recipe using your cast-iron pots and pans. This is one of the favorite web pages on my site, as more and more people are cooking with cast iron.

Ammonia for Cleaning Cast Iron
Ceramic Top (Flat Top) Electric Range and Cast Iron Pots
Hot Fire for Curing & Cleaning
Iron and Carcinogens in Cast Iron
Misc. Questions & Answers
Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Pots
Propane Torch for Cleaning Cast Iron
Salt for Cleaning Cast Iron
Sandblasting Cast Iron Pots
Sanding Cast Iron Pots
Self-Cleaning Oven for Cleaning & Seasoning
Warped or Cracked Cast Iron Pots
Washing Cast Iron Pots
 

Catfish - Fried catfish is considered a quintessential southern dish along with southern fried chicken. Learn about the history of catfish. Also includes fried catfish recipes.
 

Caviar - Learn all about American Caviar. American caviars are a tasty, versatile alternative to endangered beluga caviar.

Celeriac (Celery Root) - Celery root and celery are members of the same family of vegetables, but Celeriac or Celery Root is not the root of the vegetable you buy called celery. This vegetable is cultivated for its root or base instead of for its stalk or leaves.

 

Ceviche - The new "in" food of the beginning of the 21st century is actually an old world dish from South America called Ceviche.
 

Chia Seed - How it Can Benefit Your Health - You may know Chia as the sprouts that grow on the porous clay figurines called Chia Pets, however there is much more to it than that! Chia has both nutritional and medicinal benefits. The seeds are an excellent source of essential fatty acids and are a great addition to a healthy diet.
 

Champagne - A guide to using champagne

Charlotte Russe/Apple Charlotte/Charlotte Malakoff - A cake is which the mold is lined with sponge fingers (Ladyfingers) and custard replaces the apples.

Chef Seasoning vs. Lawry's Seasoning Salt

Chef Titles - Defining chef title in the restaurant kitchen.

Cheesecake, New York Cheesecake, Cream Cheese & Neufchatel Cheese - Ever since the dawn of time, mankind has striven to create the perfect cheesecake. Learn about the history of these famous cheesecakes.

Cheesecakes - Learn how to bake perfect cheesecakes.
 

Cherries (Tart or "Pie") - Tart cherries, which are sometimes called sour, red cherries, or pie cherries, are best known as the key ingredient in desserts.

Health Benefits of Tart Cherry Juice - Some other fruits may have some of these bioactive compounds (such as antioxidants), tart cherries possess a wider variety of them and in greater amounts.  For this reason, it is extremely beneficial to seek out tart cherries at your local grocery store and make them a regular part of your diet.

Chess Pie - The origin of the name, Chess Pie, is uncertain, but there are plenty of guesses and a bit of folklore surrounding the name.
 

Chicken-Fried Steak - In Texas, the reigning queen of comfort food or down-home cooking is chicken-fried steak, or as Texans affectionately call it CFS. Includes history and a recipe.

Chiffon Cake - According to General Mills, Chiffon Cake is the first really new cake in 100 years. It uses vegetable oil in place of conventional shortening. Read about this cake.

Chiffon Pie - Chiffon pies were popular under the name of Sissy Pies in the early 1900s.
 

Chile Peppers - Preparing Fresh Chile Peppers, Roasting Fresh Chile Peppers, & Preparing Dried Chile Peppers.

Check out Jane Butel's Science of Chile Peppers.
 

Chili, Chili Con Carne - There are many legends and stories about where chili originated. Learn all about chili and its history.

Chimichanga - The chimichanga, or "chimi," has achieved cult status in Tucson. Learn all about the chimichanga.
 

Chitterlings/Chitlins - Let us consider what chitlins are - they are hog intestines or guts. Some people turn up their noses at the mention of chitlins; other leave the house while they are cooking, driven away by their odor.
 

Chocolate - Dark Chocolate is Healthy Chocolate! Dark chocolate - not white chocolate or milk chocolate -- is good for you. There is no question that chocolate procures pleasure for those who eat it. - Never feel guilty again!

Milk Chocolate - The development of milk chocolate by Daniel Peter changed the flavor of chocolate around the world. In 1887, Daniel Peter adopted the original formula for what was to become the first successful milk chocolate in the entire world. Peter called his product, "Gala" from the Greek, which means, "from the milk." Daniel Peter worked in the Nestle factory in Vevey, Switzerland until he was in his 90's. 

Chocolate Substitution Chart - Need a quick substitution for chocolate? Here are some chocolate substitutions, but remember not always do they work as well as the original recipe ingredient.

Dutch-Process Cocoa vs. Unsweetened Cocoa - Learn about the differences between different types of cocoa.

How To Melt and Temper Chocolate - Guidelines For Melting Chocolate.

How To Make Shaving Chocolate - Learn how easy it is to make chocolate shavings.
 

Wine and Texas Chocolates - 25 Years Of Liquid Center Wonders - Article by Doc Lawrence. Learn about Lecia Duke who for over 25 years gained national fame with her one-of-a-kind liquid center chocolates in Fredericksburg, TX.
 

Chowder - What is traditional chowder? The true or traditional chowder is a matter of debate. Check out the history of chowder.

Bermuda Fish Chowder - This chowder is considered to be Bermuda's national dish, differs from American versions by its dark, rich color and the finely minced quality of the ingredients. Learn about the national dish of Bermuda.

Cod Chowder, Fish Chowder/Fish Stew - Most historians agree that the first chowders were brought to North America by English and French fishermen to Newfoundland, Canada. Learn about this famous chowder.

Conch Chowder - Conch meat was a staple food of the early settlers in the Keys, In the early 1800s, people from the Bahamas began migrating there.

Manhattan Clam Chowder - New Yorker's insist on tomatoes in their chowder and call it Manhattan clam chowder. Learn how this chowder came about.

Minorcan Clam Chowder - St. Augustine, Florida, has its own famous hopped-up version called Minorcan clam chowder. Hopped up, it is! Learn about this chowder.

New England Clam Chowder, Down East Chowder, Boston Clam Chowder - Even in New England, known for the Boston or New England-style chowders, you can find different types of clam chowder. Learn about the differences in these chowders and their history.

She Crab Soup - Charleston, South Carolina is known for their elegant She Crab Soup. A cross between a bisque and a chowder, made with their famous blue crab meat.

West Coast Chowder, Clam Chowder - On the West Coast (California, Oregon & Washington), milk or cream is the key. The debate there is whether the chowder should be thick or thin.

Cilantro - Most people either LOVE IT or HATE IT. Taste experts aren't sure why, but for some people the smell of fresh coriander is fetid and the taste soapy. In other words, while most people love coriander, for some people, coriander just doesn't taste good.

Cincinnati Chili - Outside of the state of Texas, Cincinnati, Ohio, is the most chili-crazed city in the United States. Learn all about the famous Cincinnati Chili. Recipe also included.

 

Citrus Fruits - Juicing Citrus Fruits - Learn how to juice your citrus fruits.

Clotted Cream vs. Crème Fraiche vs. Devonshire Cream
 

Club Sandwich - The origin of this sandwich, which is most often associated with hotels around the world, is all a matter of speculation and guesswork. Learn about the history of this sandwich.

Cobblers, Crisps, Crumble, Brown Betty, Buckle, Grunts, Bird's Nest Pudding, Sonker, Pandowdy - They are all simple variations of cobblers, and they are all based on seasonal fruits and berries, in other words, whatever fresh ingredients are readily at hand.
 

Coconut Milk vs. Cream of Coconut
 

Coffee Milk/Coffee Cabinet - Rhode Island may be a small state, the smallest state to be specific, but it is the only place in the world where you can get Coffee Milk. Learn about this drink & how to make it.

Collard Greens - Southerners love their greens. A time-honored tradition in southern kitchens. Learn all about collard greens and how to make them.

Cookies - History of different types of cookies

Cookies - Secrets to making perfect cookies
 

Cooking Hints & Tips - An index of the cooking hints and tips on this web site.
 

Cooking Oils and Fats - Not all cooking fats and oils are the same. Check out some basics on the various types of fats to help you make sense of what is best for your own body. Includes the smoke point of individual oils.

Butter Ghee and Clarified Butter
Butter vs. Oil in making muffins
Cooking Oils and Fats
Olive Oil - All about olive oil
Olive Oil (rancid)
Olive Oil (refrigerating)
Green Olive Oil
Refrigerating Grapeseed Oil
Reusing Cooking Oil
Rice Bran Oil - The World's Healthiest Oil
Smoking Points of Oils
Truffle Oil
Types of Cooking Oils and Fats
Vegetable Shortening, Shortening vs. Copha
Walnut Oil

Cooking or Meat Thermometer - Have you ever cut into a roast or a turkey to see if it has finished cooking? Learn about using a cooking or meat thermometer when cooking.

 

Cooking the Perfect Steak - Using dry heat is the best way to cook steaks and other tender cuts of meat.

Cooking with Wine - Cooking with wine can be a pleasure and an enhancement to good food and a fine meal! When wine is heated, the alcoholic content as well as sulfites disappears, leaving only the essence imparting a subtle flavor.

Cooking with Sake - Sake 101 - Brewed like beer – tasted and served like wine! Saké is something of a hybrid between beer and wine, with its production and shelf life resembling beer brewing and its taste and body more similar to wine. 
 

Cookware:

Baking Dish and Pan Sizes - The table will help determine substitutions of pans and dishes of similar approximate size if you do not have the specific sized baking pan, dish, or mold called for in a recipe.

Cast-Iron Pots & Pans - Learn how to use and season cast-iron pans. Also includes lot of recipe using your cast-iron pots and pans. This is one of the favorite web pages on my site, as more and more people are cooking with cast iron.

Choosing Cookware - Having a hard time choosing the right cookware set for your home? It’s not easy. The number of cookware brands seems to be growing every day and the range of pots and pans is enormous with materials varying from stainless steel, cast iron, aluminum and copper. And confusing the issue even more is the clad style cookware range which is cookware made up of two or more different metals.

Non-Reactive Pan vs. Reactive Pan - What is a non-reactive skillet?

Toxic Cookware - Beware! - Teflon and its associated by-products are dangerous and pose a significant health hazard to all.
 

Corn - In Native American usage, the word for corn means "our life," or "our mother," or "she who sustains us." Learn about the history of corn.

How To Boil Corn On The Cob
Boiling is the quickest, easiest, and tastiest way to prepare fresh corn. Too many people do not know how to correctly boil fresh corn on the cob. It is a very easy technique and produces the most delicious corn on the cob. Corn should be cooked quickly and not left to sit in the boiling water very long.  Fresh corn is at its best when it is very milky inside. If overcooked, it will dry out quickly. Please, never over corn your corn!

How To Grill Corn On The Cob
Grilled Corn on the Cob is a popular menu item for barbecues and clambakes, and it’s easy to do. Grilled corn on the cob is not only tasty, but grilling your corn never fails to impress your guests. Grilled Corn is especially delicious when you add herbs and spices to the ear of corn before grilling it. The herbs and spices liven up the flavors and add an interesting spin on basic roasted corn. Plus it’s easy to do!

Country Ham and Red Eye Gravy - Virginia hams or Smithfield hams are universally recognized to be the country's finest, and serving these hams with red eye gravy is a regional specialty. Red eye gravy is well known in the South, but little known in the rest of the United States.
 

Cranberries

Crawfish Boil - What looks, tastes, and smells like seafood, but doesn't come from the sea? It's crawfish, a freshwater shellfish that is considered a Louisiana delicacy. Learn how to eat crawfish and how to cook a crawfish boil.

Crawfish Boil, Jazz Brunch, & Reveillon Dinner  - A closer examination of three such meals practiced in New Orleans by Mark Huntsman. The once exclusively rural crawfish boils, the unique jazz brunches, and the adaptations of the French concept of the reveillon dinners - reveals that these meals represent to local individuals both a link to the past and a connection with a current sense of place. 
 

Cream - Types of Cream and Definitions
 

Crepes Suzette - Probably the most famous crepe dish in the world. Learn about the history of this dish.
 

Cuban Sandwich, Cubano Sandwich - The Cuban sandwich, also known as the cubano, is a popular meal in south Florida where many Cubans have settled since the early 20th century. Read about the interesting history of this sandwich.

Culinary Dictionary - A Dictionary & History of Cooking, Food, and Beverage Terms. This Culinary Dictionary is a continual work in progress. I'm always adding new culinary terms and making changes and/or updates. Check it out!
 

Cutting Boards, Chopping Blocks, & Butcher Blocks - Learn all about cutting boards. How to purchase, types care for them, & more.