So you’re hosting a dinner party when you get to chatting and momentarily forget about cooking. When you return to the kitchen, the steaks are burned and the green beans are limp. Instead of serving one more round of cocktails and hoping no one notices, here are some ingeniously simple ways to save these and many other dishes.
Limp veggies: Get ’em off the burner and under cold water. This immediately stops the cooking process and prevents further damage. Just before serving, reheat in some hot chicken or vegetable stock and squirt on lemon to perk things up.
Limp noodles: Same strategy; your priority is to stop the pasta from cooking any further. Drain and submerge it in ice water for a minute or two to contract the starch. Then reheat in a pot with an acidic sauce. (Tomato is better than cream or even olive oil.)
Burned meat: Time to get creative. If it’s not too bad, rub it with chili powder and pepper and tell everyone it’s “blackened.” The spice will hide the char. If it’s beyond that, slice into thin strips, add some onions and colorful peppers, and serve in a sizzling skillet as fajitas.
Dry fish: No option here other than to create a sauce that will add moisture and flavor. Brush on melted butter and lemon. Then just before serving, add a sprinkling of snappy herbs such as cilantro or marjoram.
Salty soup: Don’t sweat it. People oversalt their food so much nowadays that they probably won’t notice, especially if it’s a small portion. But if you want things perfect, toss a peeled potato or some pasta into the pot. As it cooks, it will naturally draw the sodium out. (Remove the potato or pasta before serving.)
Wilted greens: Soak the tired leaves in a bowl of cold (not ice) water for a few minutes. Then dry thoroughly in a salad spinner. They’ll look field-fresh.
Finally…garnish, garnish, garnish: Think of all those Food Network shows you watch, and plate your dishes as creatively as possible. Drizzle the sauces, balance the colors, dust with herbs, why even stack if you get the urge! Your goal should be to make your guests say: “It’s almost too beautiful to eat!” (If you’re lucky, maybe they won’t….)
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