Keith Schroeder has made a name for himself in Atlanta as the owner of High Road Craft Ice Cream. Now he is taking his skills as a chef, culinary educator and food writer and has released a cookbook. “Mad Delicious”, which comes out today, aims to teach home cooks how to make healthy food taste amazing. Schroeder is a contributor to Cooking Light’s cooking class column, and he uses similar techniques in this cookbook.
In “Mad Delicious”, playful cartoons illustrate common cooking practices, and Schroeder’s lighthearted voice pokes fun at mishaps. Readers will find that while the recipes may look complicated, they are broken down step-by-step with explanations that not only help you to cook better, but to understand cooking better.
Each cooking method is broken down in chapters:
- Sauces & Dressings
- Hot Liquids
- Harnessing Steam
- Pan Cooking
- In the Oven
- Playing with Fire
Here we talked with Schroeder about his cookbook and he shared some tips on home cooking.
What recipe in this book is the epitome of “mad delicious”? Why?
The Mad Basic Chicken Soup looks ordinary visually, but it's actually layered and complex in flavor. It has aromatic elements—chayote adds a bit of sweetness, fennel softens and becomes a kind of luxe celery and lemon zest punches up the aroma. To make a dish addictive, you've got to balance sweet, salt, acid, and bitterness, so there's lemon juice and a finish with Angostura bitters. Simple chicken soup becomes lush, rich, and super-complex.
How can ordinary cooks discover and understand the science of cooking without getting involved in chemistry and other science-centric methods?
Cook mindfully. Just pay attention. Science is really just systematic observation. Rather than turning the dial to high and letting the heat run roughshod over the space between the steps in the recipe, pay attention to what the heat is doing to the food as you cook. Make ever-so-minor adjustments to coax out the perfect flavors and textures.
Just in time for Thanksgiving, what are some tips you have for healthy swaps?
Turkey, stuffing or dressing, and mashed potatoes with gravy are must-haves for traditionalists. Don't focus on making light versions of them. You don't need a ton of heavy things. Think about the entire palette of the meal. Choose things like the Mad Array of Vegetables to add some color to an otherwise amber and cream-colored plate. You want to keep the sides refreshing.
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