Stovetop Cooking Recipes

STOVE TOP BISCUITS

Steps:

• Combine dry ingredients.
• Cut in margarine with a fork, pastry cutter, or your fingers.
• Stir in milk.
• Form dough into 12 biscuits.
• Melt 2 tablespoons margarine in an iron skillet over medium/low heat.
• Fry half of the biscuits for about 6 minutes on each side, and drain on paper towels.
• Repeat with 2 more tablespoons of margarine and remaining dough.

STOVETOP MOROCCAN TAGINE

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, and cook the chicken, onion, and garlic about 15 minutes, until browned.
• Mix the squash, garbanzo beans, carrot, tomatoes with juice, broth, sugar, and lemon juice into the skillet. Season with salt, coriander, and cayenne pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil, and continue cooking 30 minutes, until vegetables are tender.

BEST STOVETOP POPCORN

Steps:

• In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat, combine the oil and 2 popcorn kernels. Cover the pot and wait for the kernels to pop, which might take a few minutes. In the meantime, place a large serving bowl near the stove so it's ready when you need it.
• Once the kernels pop, turn off the burner, remove the pot from the heat and pour in the remaining popcorn kernels. Cover the pot again, and give the pot a little shimmy to distribute the kernels evenly. Let the pot rest for 60 seconds to make sure the oil doesn't get too hot before the kernels are ready to pop.
• Turn the heat back up to medium, put the pot back onto the burner and continue cooking the popcorn, carefully shimmying the pot occasionally to cook the kernels evenly. Once the kernels start popping, tip the lid just a touch to allow steam to escape (see photo).
• Continue cooking until the popping sound slows to about one pop per every few seconds. (If the popcorn tries to overflow the pot, just tip the upper portion of popcorn into your bowl and return it to the heat.)
• Remove the lid and dump the popcorn into your serving bowl. Sprinkle the popcorn with a couple pinches of salt, to taste, and any other topping you would like. Toss the popcorn and serve immediately, for best flavor and texture. The popcorn will taste good for several hours, though.

PAN-SEARED STEAKS

Steps:

• To begin, pat the steaks dry with paper towels.
• Season the steaks all over with the salt and pepper.
• Turn on your exhaust fan and heat a heavy pan (preferably cast iron or stainless steel) over medium-high heat until it's VERY hot.
• Add the oil to the pan and heat until it begins to shimmer and move fluidly around the pan.
• Carefully set the steaks in the pan, releasing them away from you so the oil doesn't splatter in your direction. The oil should sizzle.
• Leave the steaks alone! Avoid the temptation to peek or fiddle or flip repeatedly; the steaks need a few minutes undisturbed to develop a golden crust. Flip the steaks when they release easily and the bottom is a deep-brown color, about 3 minutes. Continue to cook the steaks for another 3 to 4 minutes on the second side for rare to medium-rare. (For medium, cook 4 to 5 minutes on second side; for well-done, cook 5 to 6 minutes on second side).
• During the last minute of cooking, add the butter and thyme sprigs to the pan with the steaks.
• If you are serving the steaks unsliced, transfer them to plates and serve hot. If you plan to slice the steaks, transfer them to a cutting board and let rest, covered with aluminum foil, for 5 to 10 minutes; then slice thinly against the grain.